God is Love

In the Bible there was a man who was afflicted with leprosy. He kneeled before Jesus and begged Jesus to “clean him.”

“If you want you can make me clean,” the man said to Jesus. The man meant for Jesus to clean him not only physically, but also spiritually. At those times spiritual cleanliness and holiness were considered the same by the Jews.

There are various commentaries in the Old Testament with regarding leprosy. The Jews considered leprosy a punishment from God because the person has committed sin. Lepers were considered dirty and in the realm of religion, they were considered “spiritually unclean.” They were also outcasts of society.

The lepers were regulated by the Jews to stay at least fifteen feet away from “clean people.” They and their families were not allowed to work. So the only choice they can have was to become beggars.

The man begged for Jesus to clean him both spiritually and physically so he can live and work among men. The Lord Jesus pitted him so much that he held his hands and told him, “I want you to be clean.”

The inequity against the poor and the needy could have changed when Jesus came into the world. But even at present, there are still people who are afraid to mingle with the poor and the needy. They look down on them and consider them sick, dirty, and the “garbage of society.” They distance themselves from these people or they send them away.

Because Jesus loves his people equally, he didn’t care about touching the leper. He cured and cleaned them. Jesus also visited the sick and cast out demons from the possessed.

Amidst all the pain and injustice we experience, we must remember that Jesus loves and blesses everyone who believes in him. Above all else, in this season of love we must not forget that God is Love.