“When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a case of leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests…”

Leviticus 13:2 (ESV)

Leprosy is not something we think about much these days, but in Bible times it was a significant disease. The Hebrew word described a number of infections that could occur in humans, in clothing, or even in a house. Evidently, the word was used to describe mold and mildew along with the infection we know today as Hansen’s disease. It starts out small and slowly spreads throughout the body, numbing and corrupting the tissue and bringing a slow, certain death. Leprosy is incurable. How like sin it is! Perhaps this is why the Holy Spirit devoted so much Scripture to it.

The person who had a positive diagnosis of leprosy was considered unclean and was isolated from others. If people approached the leper, he was to shout, “Unclean! Unclean!” to warn them to stay away. Imagine what a lonely, isolated life this would be. We are made for human fellowship, but lepers had to live in colonies, isolated from family and friends. Sin also makes a person unclean. It isolates him from God and the people of God. It is incurable through natural means. It is a slow, certain death.

James well describes the effects of sin:

“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”

James 1:14–15 (NLT)

But God has provided the remedy for sin. It is found through the blood of Jesus Christ. We can be cured of the insidious disease of sin by simply coming to Jesus in faith and asking Him to make us clean.

My wife and I watched an episode of the TV series The Chosen where a leper came to Jesus for cleansing. Even the disciples recoiled when they saw him. He said to Jesus, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus replied, “I am willing,” and touched him. Thank God Jesus is also willing to cleanse each of us of sin when we confess it to Him (1 John 1:9). He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

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