Thank you. In biblical times, if you were diagnosed with leprosy, that was physically, socially, and

economically devastating. Essentially, it rendered you a walking dead man. Today on Truth for Life, we'll hear about a leper's encounter with Jesus,

and we'll learn that all of us are spiritually leprous.

So what's the cure?

Alistair Begg is teaching from chapter 5 of Luke's Gospel.

In the passage that we've just read, both in the end of four and then into five,

it's clear that Jesus has been moving from town to town in Judea.

And as he reaches one of these particular towns, he runs into a man who is covered with leprosy.

No one who suffered from this disease could live within the community.

They lived isolated from others.

Therefore, the individual knew nothing of the regular blessings of family life,

didn't enjoy the company of friends, or was not allowed the privileges of employment.

So this man that Jesus meets here is, if you like, a dead man walking. He is a prisoner of his

own skin. And he knows what he needs. He needs to be cleansed and cured. It's therefore no wonder that

coming face to face with Jesus, Luke tells us that he fell with his face to the ground and he begged

Jesus to cleanse him. The phraseology makes it clear that he's absolutely convinced of Jesus' ability

to clean him up, to cure him.

And the only question is whether Jesus is willing.

And if you look at verse 13, you see there that Jesus does the unthinkable.

He reaches out his hand and he touches the man.

No one touched a leopard.

The disease was dreaded. But in compassion, Jesus reaches out his hand and he touches the man and he declares his willingness, addressing his hopeless condition.

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