The Chosen – Episode Six – Reflection

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.

“I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Luke 5:13

As a Father, there are so many things I want to give my children. From the very best academic and athletic opportunities to permanent health and happiness, there is a long list of blessings I would love to bestow on my beloved sons and daughters – but I am not able! There are also many things my children want from me that I am able but unwilling to give them, namely such privileges as more screen time, later bedtimes, and more money! In the few times, however, that I am both able and willing to provide something for my children, we all rejoice together! With this in mind, I can only imagine the joy people felt in discovering, like the leper of this episode did, that Jesus was both able and willing to serve their greatest needs! So often, in their society and ours, those who are able to help are unwilling, and those who are willing to help are unable. In Jesus, we find that God is both more than willing and more than able!

It is especially noteworthy how Jesus is willing to help and heal those who were long rejected by society. It is difficult for many of us to comprehend the shame a leper in Jesus’ day would have experienced. The law was clear: “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as they have the disease they must remain unclean. They must live alone. They must live outside the camp” (Leviticus 13:45-46). Most of us know what it is, to some extent, to feel “outside the camp.” In one way or another, we have not belonged. Perhaps we have even felt cast out from the circles that are supposed to be most accepting of us, such as family, friends, or religious groups. Friends, do you know that Jesus does His best work “outside the camp”? Not only did He serve outsiders throughout His ministry, but He suffered and died “outside the camp.” “So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured” (Hebrews 13:12-14). Jesus was crucified outside the holy city Jerusalem in order to demonstrate his willingness to rescue people in the wilderness!

And, how do we come to Jesus? We find Him in the wilderness! We meet Him outside the camp – we acknowledge our own sin and how undeserving we are to be part of God’s family, and to run to Him! For, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”  As we recognize, like the lepers of the gospels, our own need for cleansing, we are ready for Jesus. As we cry out “unclean!” we can know that He hears us, draws near to us, and responds to our call for saving. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus!” (Romans 3:23-24). In His grace he is willing, and in His might He is able! For even lepers, and you and me.