Thanksgiving restrictions imposed by authorities leave some of us feeling as if we’re in social, relational, or spiritual exile. We’re encouraged to cover our faces and discouraged from gathering with families, friends, or faith communities. Separation can be painful, leaving us longing for liberation. Sounds similar to the suffering lepers faced because of the constraints imposed by Mosaic law. The word translated leprosy in the Bible refers to various skin diseases. Although biblical leprosy may include what we call leprosy today—Hansen’s disease, scholars believe the term was more inclusive. 

Leprosy ~ A Symbol of Sin

The Bible portrays leprosy as God’s punishment for sin, a divine curse. When Miriam grumbled against her brother Moses, God punished her with leprosy. (Numbers 12:1-15) Later, King Uzziah, filled with pride, arrogated the priests’ right to burn incense in the temple. While raging at the priests who confronted him, leprosy broke out on the king’s forehead. Scripture says, “The LORD had afflicted him.” (2 Chronicles 26:16-21) 

Leprosy became a symbol of sin, a disease only God could heal since only he could forgive sin. Leviticus prescribed a ritual for a priest to declare someone cleansed from leprosy but provided no cure. Instead, there was a form of exile.

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 remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.

Leviticus 13:45-46

The Talmud added a leper had to remain at least six feet away from another person. So, some of the faithful threw rocks to keep those with leprosy at a safe distance. 

Even with questions about whether religious leaders rigidly enforced the regulations in Jesus’ day, social distance defined a leper’s life. Any forced separation and the resulting shame would be painful for someone from a collectivist honor/shame culture. Because shame, like honor, is contagious, both the leper and his family suffered. 

Beginning of the End of Exile

Jesus began his public ministry with an announcement:

The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near.

Mark 1:15

In other words, God has kept his promise to return, offering forgiveness of sins and rescue from exile. Throughout the next three years, Jesus painted a picture of the kingdom of God through what he said and did. His miracles directed attention to the coming messianic age.

The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

Luke 7:22, referring to Isaiah 35:5-6

Matthew, Mark, and Luke describe Jesus’ cleansing of a leper. A man, desperate and covered with leprosy, fell on his knees before Jesus and begged for healing:

If you are willing, you can make me clean.

Mark 1:40

Jesus responded by touching and cleansing the leper; something only God had the power to do. 

A Message About Exile and Purification

What was Jesus saying by cleansing a leper? Leprosy was a symbol of sin, and the Babylonian captivity the result of sin. Although the Jews had returned to Israel, Roman oppression meant their freedom wasn’t complete. In the minds of many, they were still in exile, holding onto the hope God would return and rescue them. As he had assured them he would. Was Jesus proclaiming he was the fulfillment of God’s promise? The One who could forgive sin and lead them out of exile?

Mark emphasized Jesus’ authority to forgive sin by following the leper’s cleansing with the paralytic’s healing. (Mark 2:1-12) We’ll explore the connection in my next post.

Leprosy rendered a person unclean, so the temple was off-limits to him. Just as changing the water to wine pointed to Jesus’ power to purify, so did cleansing the leper.

Strategies for Success

Regardless of how we define whatever exile we’re experiencing, we long for the end. Can the leper steer us in the right direction?

• Be observant. The man with leprosy paid attention to the events surrounding him. Somehow, he knew this wandering rabbi could deliver what he most desired. With courage and humility, he seized the opportunity to present his plea. How many God-encounters do we miss because we’re focusing on ourselves?
• Be open. Rather than telling Jesus how to meet his need, the leper trusted Jesus’ heart and wisdom. We, too, can count on God to answer our prayers in the best way at the ideal time.
• Be obedient. After Jesus cleansed the leper, he warned him not to tell anyone but show himself to the priest.

Instead [the leper] went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places.

Mark 1:45

No doubt, the healed man was grateful, but his disobedience cost him, the priests, and Jesus. Without the priests’ declaration of cleansing, the former leper’s healing was incomplete, and his banishment from the temple continued. Plus, the priests missed out on the testimony Jesus intended for them. Finally, the man’s disobedience restricted Jesus’ freedom to move and minister.

A Word of Warning

Thanksgiving is a time when many of us express love and gratitude to God for his blessings. Jesus equated love for him with obedience. Do our lives communicate love? What is our disobedience costing us, others, and God? Our actions, not our words, expose what’s in our hearts.