Following the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus descends the mountain and encounters a man afflicted with leprosy. This oft times incurable disease would cause the flesh to be eaten away, the finger and toe joints to drop off, and raw sores that would spread over the body. Such a person was considered unclean and forced out of the community. Despite his quarantine, this leper makes his way to Jesus, imploring and kneeling before Him, saying, “If You will, You can make me clean” (Matthew 8:1; Mark 1:40; Luke 5:12). Faith in Christ is evident here. Humble prayer sought relief from the Lord.

“Moved with pity, He stretched out His hand and touched him and said to him, ‘I will; be clean.” Christ’s purity touches what is impure, and makes it clean. “And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean” (Mark 1:42). Christ’s Word of grace restored the leper to wholeness. We sinners beseech the Lord for healing and wholeness before each worship service. We acknowledge our sinfulness in thoughts, words, and deeds. We implore the Lord, kneeling before Him in faith, to make us clean again. “You can make me [us] clean.” The Pastor stands before the Altar, and speaks Christ’s words of Absolution: “I will; be clean” (Mark 1:42; John 20:23). The Lord touches us leprous beggars with His Word of compassion, the nail-pierced hands of His rescue. He alone is ever ready, willing, and able to hear our prayer, eager for us to acknowledge our sins and look to Him for grace and forgiveness.

From Lutheran Hour Ministries, February 16, 2003, there is the story of Christians touring ancient Egypt: the pyramids, the Sphinx, the tombs of the pharaohs. One of the travelers noticed a child playing on what appeared to be a garbage dump, and said loudly, for all to hear: “You’d think a loving mother would care to clean her dirty child!” Over the loudspeaker of the bus, the driver, a native Egyptian, spoke: “Until love for a child and hatred of dirt come together, these children are likely to remain as they are.” Everyone on the tour bus turned silent, thinking what the driver had said. For positive change to happen in our world, our communities, families, churches, and lives, love and power need to come together. Love and power have come together in Jesus Christ. Our heavenly Father, moved by love, sent His only Son to be born as one of us. As the omnipotent Son of God, Jesus was willing to live, suffer, die, and rise for us. Because power and love came together in the Savior, all who believe on Him are changed. No longer are they covered by sin (Rev. Ken Klaus).

Jesus has come with true love and power to affect everlasting change for the better. He touches us with His Word of grace and Sacraments. The gospel shows the Savior at work to save us. The visible elements of water, bread and wine, joined with God’s Word, do as God wills and is able to accomplish, the forgiveness of sins. Our lives are restored by His grace. His power is made manifest in weakness, clothed in our humanity, bringing God’s kingdom of grace to the poor (Matthew 5:3). Jesus will suffer for our leprosy, and die as a leper, unclean and despised, on a cross. Jesus rises again to life, triumphant over sin, death, and the devil. He lives to bestow His compassion, His touch, His grace, His love and power, to restore all who beseech Him, “If You will, You can make me clean.” He is quick to respond, “I will; be clean.” The leper in the gospel text is an example of humble prayer and faith to beseech the Lord daily for healing and restoration to wholeness and life. Christ’s love and power enable us to touch others with His Word of cleansing. Humble prayer, addressed to Jesus, brings His immediate and compassionate touch. The sign of the cross, both upon your forehead and upon your heart, mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.