Made Clean and Whole by Faith (Luke 5:12-16)

“While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ And immediately the leprosy left him.” (Luke 5:12-13)

Leprosy is the symbol of fallen humanity because the severity and uncleanness of disease forbid having any fellowship in community even with families. This is the picture of lost race who is cut off from all access to the throne of grace. They couldn’t go to the synagogue, a shadow of meeting with the God of grace and mercy. They were cut off from all social activities. They were the outcast and abandoned.

“No one comes to the Father unless God draws them,” says Jesus (John 6:44). No one is righteous, not even one, says the Scripture. No one can escape the law of God and live. The whole race is under the yoke of the law which constantly condemns the hearts of the guilty.

However, when the man with leprosy pleaded mercy to Jesus Christ, he was immediately made clean and whole. Through the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the broken channel was fully restored and the flow of God’s abundant grace resumed from within like rivers of living water.

It is notably true that our God is pleased for man to reach to the point of total bankruptcy and impoverishment that they cannot do anything at all but plead mercy to the One who is eternally compassionate and merciful.

Our God is pleased to give mercy to the humble and poor in spirit even thousand times a day. He is just and faithful that He forgives our sins and cleanses from all unrighteousness if we admit our sins and faults honestly and realistically (1 John 1:9).

Whereas, what people value highly is detestable to God (Luke 16:15). There is no value found in man in the sight of God. “But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.” (John 2:24-25)

Therefore, this we shall do over and over: Delight our humiliation by admitting our mistakes and faults, ask mercy for God, knowing that it is the only way, and take it by faith that He has already made us clean and whole through the blood of Jesus Christ.

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1-2)