Mark 1:40-42 (NASB)
40 And a leper *came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and *said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

It is very difficult to describe how out of character it was for Jesus as a Jew to touch an unclean person. Jewish law was especially strict with regard to how lepers were to be treated. They were to be kept completely separate. In fact the word quarantine comes from the Jewish practice, which was not something that was done in other parts of the world. It was a slow death, with no treatment available. Depending on the type of leprosy, the person infected could expect to live anywhere from 9 to 30 years, all of it in isolation, cut off from the rest of society and in constant pain. Rabbis would throw stones at them and run away if a leper came within visible distance.

The news of the compassion of Jesus must have touched the heart of the leper in Mark 1. He saw something different about Jesus. And so, he took the extraordinary step and approached Jesus with a prayer asking for healing. And Jesus responded as only the Son of God could do. He reached out and touched the leper and healed him.

As I read this passage today, it made me realize that I am that leper. Only Jesus can heal me. Only Jesus can save me. For I am as unclean as that leper. And yet He touched me.

Father, Jesus is the only path to salvation and I praise You for sending Him to save a sinner like me. I thank you that my heart that was unclean is now alive through the mercy and grace that You provided when You touch it. I pray that Your gospel will spread throughout the world and cleanse it from the disease of sin. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,