Greater Need

-Written by Joy Gilman-

"A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. 'If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,' he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be healed!' Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed." Mark 1: 40-42 NLT

"If you are willing..." They are four words heavy with self abasement and uncertainty. They are words spoken by a man who was familiar with isolation, rejection, and self-loathing. He was a man with leprosy.

Leprosy is a contagious disease that ravages the skin and peripheral nerves. If left untreated, leprosy can cause severe disfigurement, blindness, and paralysis of the hands and feet. In biblical times, those who had leprosy were forced to remove themselves from society and live in isolation in order to prevent further transmission. Some even believed those with the dreaded disease received it as a curse from God due to wickedness. To be stricken with leprosy was to live a life absent of close human contact and starved of physical touch. It was social distancing on steroids. How many years had passed since this man's last embrace? When was the last time he shared laughter and a meal with good friends? How he must have yearned to feel the gentle kiss of his mother's lips on his brow or her soft hand caressing his face. No one wanted to come near him now, let alone touch him. For this man, he had full confidence in Jesus' power to heal him but he wasn't sure if he would want to heal him.

Jesus' response to this man's request revealed just how in tune He was with this man's suffering. He saw not only the man's disease, He saw the deeper need of his heart. "Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him." There are many accounts in the bible where Jesus heals individuals with a few simple words. But this encounter was different. Jesus recognized this man needed something more. For Jesus, it wasn't enough to just restore the man's afflicted flesh. He wanted to reinstate his worthiness to be touched, and hugged, and included, and loved. That was the greater need. Jesus is always interested in the greater need...

Recommended reading:

Mark 1: 40-45

Mark 14: 1-9

Luke 13: 10-17