Lent Day 11: A Man with Leprosy

Pause

Lent is traditionally a time of fasting, of denying an appetite to focus on and recognize your dependence on God. Think about what you could give up today so that you could better focus your attention on God.

Read & Journal

Read Luke 5:12-16. Think through what these verses reveal about Jesus entering into brokenness with these reflection questions:

• What does this interaction with a man with leprosy teach you about Jesus’ character? About His mission and purpose?

• How do you see Jesus entering into brokenness in this passage?

• Since the man’s leprosy is referred to as “advanced,” he had probably experienced noticeable tissue damage. His request that Jesus heal him meant that he believed Jesus could remove every trace of the disease, even the tissue damage. Are there areas of your life that you think are too damaged or messed up to bring to Jesus? What steps will you take today to bring those before Him?

Ponder

As someone with leprosy, this man would have been considered unclean, which would have excluded him from the Temple and the religious activities that punctuated Jewish life. He would have been an outcast, unable to interact with his family and denied physical touch. Yet Jesus reached out and touched the man. Despite his scars and damage. Despite the society norms that forbid it. Despite the fact that Jesus could—and had—healed others by just speaking the word. For a man who was desperate for healing and hungry for human touch, in His kindness, Jesus touched him. This man was willing to bring his broken, battered, devastated body before Jesus and ask for healing. He didn’t try to hide the ugliness or make the damage less noticeable; he just brought it to Jesus and asked for healing.

You may think that there are parts of your life that are too damaged and too ugly to bring to Jesus. Maybe your instinct is to try to make things better before you come before Him. Maybe it seems too embarrassing or needy to come before Jesus just as you are and ask Him for healing from the sin that is ravaging your life. You can be honest with Jesus, especially when it comes to your sin. And in His kindness, He will draw near and offer hope with His words and compassion with His gentle touch.