Be Healed

In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. "Lord," he said, "if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean." Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Then Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone what had happened. He said, "Go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed." But despite Jesus' instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. Luke 5:12-16

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. Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: "Don't tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed." But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn't publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him. Mark 1:40-45

 

Down from the mountainside.

Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. "Lord," the man said, "if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean." Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Then Jesus said to him, "Don't tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed." Matthew 8:1-4

 Meditate. Consider God’s guidance in scripture.

 

God was protecting His creation—people—as He established the laws like those for skin diseases listed in Leviticus 13. Leprosy was a disease that was very contagious, uncurable, and feared during Biblical times. It is a sad disease that attacks the nerves, muscles, and skin, causing the skin to rot away, deforming the person. It is caused by bacteria, so with modern medicine, it is now treatable, and found not to be contagious by casual contact. Few people have it today.  

A person with leprosy was isolated from their community and as they traveled, they had to shout “unclean” to warn others nearby of their disease. You can imagine how this man whom the Lord healed, was overjoyed. He was told to Don't tell anyone about this…but of course he was so happy that he was probably dancing and singing on his way to the priest for confirmation of his cure. Everyone could see that he was healed, so in turn they told others about this miracle performed by Jesus. It is no surprise that Jesus became so well known that He had to retreat from public view. No privacy for this poor guy! He withdrew to the hills where He could go talk to His Father uninterrupted. Imagine that conversation. “Hey Dad, what’s next? What should I do about all these needy folks? Why can’t they listen and be obedient…and not yap about everything they see? How are things back home? I miss the peace and quiet of Heaven.”

Jesus provided salvation from disease to that leper—and salvation for all mankind from spiritual sins. People came to Him with diseases, but left with hope of an eternal future. Jesus told the leper He was willing to cleanse him. Be healed. That healing was likely physical and spiritual. Visualize how that man’s life changed. Relationships could be renewed with family and friends. Life could be normal.

What do we learn about Jesus from this passage? Compassion. Gentleness. Honesty. Hope. What are you seeking from the Lord?

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, did You miss Heaven while You were here on earth? It was very gracious of You to heal this man with leprosy…and all the others. Thank You for that…and for healing me of my minor irritations, for healing and encouraging my family and friends with their infirmities, trials, and tribulations. You are still the miracle worker! I praise You.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ This is what the LORD says: "At just the right time, I will respond to you. On the day of salvation I will help you. I will protect you and give you to the people as my covenant with them. Through you I will reestablish the land of Israel and assign it to its own people again. Isaiah 49:8

Happy Birthday Isaac!
Blessing today and always!

 

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

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