Most of the time I avoid people who have are sick.  I really try not to touch them.  Does that sound weird?

Matthew, Mark and Luke each record the story of a leprous man who runs up to Jesus, falls on his face, and humbly, desperately begs Jesus to heal him. This was his plea: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Whew, Andrew thinks. That was a close call. I’m so glad that leper is staying face down on the ground. Then you can imagine Simon the Zealot gasping out loud. Jesus steps forward, kneels on the ground, reaches out His hand, and places it on the side of the leper’s face. Now, it’s the leper who bolts to his knees and gasps out loud. What is the Lord doing?

For years the leper hadn’t felt the touch of another human being. Yet here is a holy man, a great teacher, the miracle worker of Nazareth, stroking his face, wiping away his tears. “Willing?” Jesus laughs. “Yes, I’m more than willing. Look, you’re clean.” And, just like that, the outcast is healed.

Of course, Jesus did more than touch sinners. Ultimately, Jesus carried all that sin upon Himself.  Jesus paid for our sins, “and not ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” [1 John 2:2 ESV]. That is the Good News it is our privilege to share with people in our world. 

This is Andrew Palau.