The Lone Leper; Learning Under Jesus

Note: This series is written as a first-person narrative in order to present Jesus in the context he walked with the unknown disciple that narrates presenting my thoughts and sparking more thoughts with his questions. Enjoy.

We were approached one day by a man. As he got closer I noticed his bandages. “Couldn’t be..” I thought, “lepers shout for people to keep their distance so they don’t contract leprosy.”

“Leper!” another disciple hissed behind me. We slowly started backing away. Except for Jesus.

The man fell to his knees, tears in his eyes, he pleaded with Jesus. “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Jesus tenderly reached out and touched him.

“Jesus…?” I asked. I know he knows that by touching the man he can’t worship in the temple. He just made himself ritually unclean until he purifies himself. Jesus also put himself at greater risk to catch it.

Jesus ignores me, focused on the desperate man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

We watch new skin replace diseased skin as the man rejoices. Jesus laughs, grabbing him in an embrace, then steps back with both hands on the other’s shoulders. He stares intently at him and says, “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

The man went on his way and I reflected on what happened. Jesus wasn’t annoyed at the interruption, giving the man his full attention. Then he actually touched him. I’d seen people throw rocks at lepers to keep them away.

On the way to Jerusalem, the guy must’ve told everyone. We couldn’t enter any town openly without being swarmed, so we stayed away as much as possible. The people found us regardless. People focused more on the healing than the message about the approaching kingdom. Still, he healed those that came to him and taught those that would listen.

Mark 1:40-45