"UNCLEAN!"
December 10, 2009
Luke17:11-13 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
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The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 90 miles. It would take at least three days, perhaps more, if Mary was not feeling well. As Joseph and Mary made their journey they may well have passed by some who Jesus would encounter in his ministry. Among them might well have been some lepers.
"Unclean! Unclean!" That is what the lepers might well have called out as they saw this strong, gentle man leading his donkey with his very pregnant wife, It was required that they call out. But they might have done it anyway. Who would want to spread this dread disease?
Little did they know the baby this young mother was to bear would one day not be put off by their "Unclean!" He would approach them; He would touch them; He would heal them.
There is little chance we will come across any physical lepers on our journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. But we will pass by many who are afflicted with the leprosy of sin. We know this is true, because we ourselves have the disease.
The good news is that the One who healed those with physical leprosy, has also healed us who have the leprosy of sin! He did it by His suffering, death, and resurrection. Though we might well have needed to call out "unclean!" He has made us clean.
The question is, what will those who observe us on our journey to Bethlehem see?
THE PRAYER: May we, afflicted with the leprosy of sin, know and share the healing made possible by Jesus, the Christ!
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