This account at the start of the book of Mark is one of my favourite accounts where Jesus heals a person.
This leper had no hope, so threw himself at Jesus and pleaded to be made clean (Mark 1 v 40).
I tried to imagine, or see, what happened next; and I saw Jesus, with tears in His eyes, bend down to the level of the leper, reach out with His hands and touch him.
I remember the power of a news story once when footage was shown of Princess Diana touching a victim of leprosy; it showed the care and compassion of the woman.
This account in the Word shows us love, mercy and compassion flowing from Jesus.
I think that His show of compassion by simply touching the leper is more powerful than the actual healing.
Lepers were outcasts of society; they were ignored and feared, shut away in colonies hidden from the rest of the people.
Jesus was not only healing this leper, but He was going against all the “rules” of the day; He was showing that this leper was a person and not only a disease.
He showed the person love and compassion and then healed him.
This must have been an amazing experience for the leper, as I don’t imagine he had felt the touch of a fellow human being for a long time.
Never underestimate the power of a touch to or from a fellow human being.
But the person that touched this leper was not only human but God, and He was also the ultimate Healer.
Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for the love and compassion of Jesus, and thank you that nothing I am suffering from today is outwith His healing power”.
Mark 1 v 41…..And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean
Heilan Word Ministries 