Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy

“Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy”

Scripture Reference: Matthew 8:1-4

Preacher: Pastor Mark Bartsch

Kobe Union Church

2 March 2025

8 When Jesus came down from the mountainside where he just finished teaching, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

My heroes don’t throw balls or punch someone really hard. Don’t get me wrong—I have always loved sports. But I have never been the kind of person who wanted another man’s autograph for sports. My heroes are those who live out their faith, often overcoming amazing obstacles far greater than anything a professional athlete will ever face.

A few weeks ago, Mary mentioned to me how she liked Watchman Nee, a Chinese Christian of incredible depth and love for God. He is one of my heroes. Another of these heroes is a Catholic missionary, Father Joseph Damien. He felt called to serve the least of these in Hawaii—specifically, those suffering from Hansen’s disease, commonly known as leprosy.

Father Damien lived among them, championed their needs, and called for compassion and support for these brothers and sisters who were the least of these. Leprosy robbed them of their health and forced them into isolation, making them literally untouchable. He ministered to them on the island of Molokai, Hawaii. Over time, those suffering grew to love him and revered the sacrificial life he lived before them.

As the story goes one morning, as he was preparing for worship, he accidentally spilled hot water on his foot which should have caused pain. He saw the water hit his skin but felt nothing. In that moment, he knew. He had contracted Hansen’s disease. He had been warned to keep his distance, to protect himself, not to touch them. But he did it anyway, because he didn’t know how to minister to them without touching them.

That morning, as he stood before his congregation, he addressed his congregation not as, “My fellow believers,” but as, “My fellow lepers.” He became one of those he served. He continued to serve until his death in 1889, never leaving the people he loved. His body succumbed to disease, but his heart and faith remained alive. Our world puts so much value on the body but our Lord puts value on our faith. I remember a guy telling me about his dog. He had a physical deformity on his face that made most people look away. He told me God is like his dog. He sees only me and love me for who I am not how I look. I felt a little ashamed because the first time I met him I had to force myself to look at him. God doesn’t have to do that. What condition is your heart in?

The Biblical Significance of Leprosy

We now know that leprosy (Hansen's disease) is a bacterial infection that mainly affects the skin, nerves, and sometimes the eyes and respiratory system. But in biblical times, it was considered a symbol of sin and separation from God. A curses or judgment from God. 

• Exodus 4:6 – God gave Moses a sign by making his hand leprous and then restoring it, showing that He was in control.

• Leviticus 13-14 – Detailed laws about diagnosing and handling the disease, including purification rituals for those healed.

• Numbers 12:10-15 – Miriam, Moses' sister, was struck with leprosy as punishment but later healed after Moses interceded for her.

But one of the most dramatic stories of leprosy is found in 2 Kings 5, the story of Naaman. Naaman, a powerful commander, suffered from leprosy and sought healing from the prophet Elisha. He heard of the prophet from his slave girl who happened to be Jewish but thought so much of her master that she told him of the great prophet Elisha. So, he journeyed to Isreal causing quite a stir but eventually the prophet Elisha said he would deal with him. However, when he came to Elisha’s hut but he didn’t even meet Naaman. Instead, he sent a message telling Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River.

Naaman was furious. Don’t you know who I am? Don’t you know my need? He expected a dramatic miracle, a grand display. Or an impossible task and yet all he was told to do was wash in the Jordan 7 times. He complained that the rivers in his own land were better than the Jordan (We know that the Jordan river is muddy and cold). But his servants urged him to listen to the prophet: "If the prophet had told you to do something difficult, wouldn’t you have done it?" (2 Kings 5:13). Humbled, Naaman washed in the Jordan—and his skin was restored not just to what it had been, but like that of a young child!

God often gives us more than we ask for. Naaman wanted healing, but God gave him full restoration. He expected a prophet's touch, but he received a lesson in humility and obedience.

I remember my old computer I used through seminary. It was old and beaten up. It took forever to start and lost its charge quickly. When I typed there was a lag of 3 seconds from when you touched the keys to when you saw the letter. But I was used to it but when Word Documents wouldn’t work I asked a brother who was a computer scientist to look at it. He took it and gave it back to me a week later. I was just hoping for the Word Doc to work but when I got it back it started immediately. He fixed it all more than I could have asked for. It was amazing. It took me a little while to get used to the fact that the letters appeared immediately on the screen. That is what God did for Elisha. 

Modern Leprosy: Who Do We Avoid?

In Jesus' time, lepers were expelled from their communities. If they approached anyone, they were required to cry out, "Unclean! Unclean!" People would flee from them. And don’t we still do this today?

• "I have COVID."

• "I have AIDS."

• "I struggle with mental illness."

People move away, treating the illness instead of the person. There’s a phrase in Christian circles: "Hate the sin, not the sinner." But too often, we roll them into one and hate them both. Just like the disciples asked Jesus, "Who sinned, this man or his parents?" (John 9:1-3).

We should have learned better, but we haven’t. In the 1980s, AIDS patients were treated like lepers, isolated in special hospital wings. What many won’t tell you (because it doesn’t fit a certain narrative) is that Christian nurses were among the first to take off their latex gloves and touch them with compassion. Some of those early patience talk about with tears in their eyes as a nurse put their bare hands on their shoulder.

And just recently, during the COVID pandemic, we saw the same thing. Fear running rampant. People placed in isolation.

A few months ago, I was riding the subway. A homeless man sat next to me. Immediately, the businessman on the other side jumped up and walked away. The man smelled. He was dirty and talking to himself. I won’t lie—I wanted to stand up too. But instead, I prayed silently for him until I reached my station. I prayed to God to heal him. To give this troubled man peace because he was so tortured by the thoughts in his head. 

When we encounter difficult people, we don’t want to touch them, physically or emotionally. But Jesus shows us another way. Will we follow our human instinct, or will we follow Jesus? Many of us will never see a miracle like a person being healed of leprosy but all of us can and should be willing to extend a hand, a shoulder a pat on the hand to encourage a person going through the wringer.

After delivering the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was surrounded by crowds. A man with leprosy came before him, kneeling, and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."

First, this was not a question. It was a statement of faith. He didn’t ask, "Can you heal me?" He declared, "You CAN heal me. Are you willing?"

Jesus responds first with touching him. He touches him before he is even healed. So he touches him while he is contagious and yet Jesus touches him anyway.  Because this man had not been touched in years. Before healing his body, Jesus healed his loneliness.

If you feel like a leper and some of us do. I know some here have felt like the church has treated them like a leper (Forgive us) but when you reach out to Jesus know that he is already reaching out to you.