The Touch That Makes Clean
8 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”
Matthew 8:1–4
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The Touch That Makes Clean
The leper’s condition left him ceremonially unclean, isolated from others, and unable to restore himself. Yet he came to Jesus in faith, trusting that the Lord possessed both the authority and the compassion to make him clean. Our sin is far worse than any outward disease. It renders us unclean before God, and no amount of human effort can cleanse our hearts or reconcile us to our Creator. Yet Christ does what we cannot. He does not turn away from sinners. He draws near to cleanse, forgive, and restore. At the cross, Jesus took upon Himself the uncleanness of our sin. The Holy One was numbered among transgressors, bearing our guilt and suffering sin’s wages in our place. His blood cleanses us, not because we deserve His mercy, but because He willingly gave Himself for us. The same gracious Lord still comes to us through His Word and Sacraments, delivering the forgiveness He won at Calvary. When guilt weighs heavily upon you, do not despair of Christ’s willingness. Look to His cross. There you see His love for sinners, and there you find the cleansing your soul needs.
Matthew 8:1–4
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The Touch That Makes Clean
The leper’s condition left him ceremonially unclean, isolated from others, and unable to restore himself. Yet he came to Jesus in faith, trusting that the Lord possessed both the authority and the compassion to make him clean. Our sin is far worse than any outward disease. It renders us unclean before God, and no amount of human effort can cleanse our hearts or reconcile us to our Creator. Yet Christ does what we cannot. He does not turn away from sinners. He draws near to cleanse, forgive, and restore. At the cross, Jesus took upon Himself the uncleanness of our sin. The Holy One was numbered among transgressors, bearing our guilt and suffering sin’s wages in our place. His blood cleanses us, not because we deserve His mercy, but because He willingly gave Himself for us. The same gracious Lord still comes to us through His Word and Sacraments, delivering the forgiveness He won at Calvary. When guilt weighs heavily upon you, do not despair of Christ’s willingness. Look to His cross. There you see His love for sinners, and there you find the cleansing your soul needs.
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