Christ’s ministry on earth is full of miracles and stories that strengthen our testimony of the great love that He has for all of us.
In the first chapter of Mark we are presented with a miraculous event: “ And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” (Mark 1:40) But what was even more painful is that leprosy made people ceremonially impure. At some point, this man would have been examined by a priest and diagnosed as a leper. Since then he was forced to live on the margins of God’s people and excluded from the religious life of Israel (Lev 13: 45-46). Coupled with this was the terrible doubt that was raised in the leper as to whether perhaps God Himself rejected him.
The leper’s daring approach to the Lord, against the Law and despite the sure opposition and disgust of the people, indicates that he had heard or seen enough of the power of the Savior to awaken in him a living faith.
On the other hand, it is also important to note the attitude of Jesus. Contrary to what any rabbi of his time would have done, Jesus did not move away from him, but allowed this approach, and even, when the time came, he also approached the leper to the point of touching him to heal him.
“And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.” (Mark 1:41-42)
Let us note that the man was kneeling before Jesus, therefore, when he says that he extended his hand, we must also suppose that he leaned towards him. Here we have a great contrast between Christ and the rabbis. They generally treated lepers with contempt, even throwing stones at them to get away from them. But Christ never rejected them. In this case, the Lord allowed the leper to come near, and He Himself touched Him.
There were very few known cases of lepers who had been healed: Naaman the Syrian (2 Kings 5), Mary, sister of Moses (Num 12: 9-15). But the fearful disease, a true death in life in those times, had to yield to the Prince of Life.
There are no limits to the power or love of the Savior. If men are lost it is never because they are too bad or dirty to be saved, but because they do not want to go to Christ who can save them.
I testify that the love that Jesus Christ has for us is as strong as it was in the days of his earthly ministry. Through repentance and the Atonement of Christ we can have a new start in our lives no matter how big or small the mistakes we have made, just enough to have faith and the desire to change.
