Powerless, but not Hopeless

“While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy” (Luke 5:12a). 

Jesus is in a town in the hill country around the Sea of Galilee.  What happens here is highly unusual because a leper isn’t supposed to come into town. As he’s walking through town, he’s looking for Jesus; he’s heard the rumor that Jesus is in town.  

But he’s not supposed to be there. He’s required to cry, “Unclean, unclean,” out loud every time a person comes within earshot. People are running from him, cussing him out, demanding that he get out of town. He is unkempt. He hasn’t bathed for years, because you can’t clean skin that is so ragged, open with sores and seeping wounds. He’s had rocks thrown at him. 

But nothing will deter him. This man is determined to get to Jesus. He refuses to turn aside. He searches until he finds Jesus.

Powerless but not Hopeless

Leprosy has devastated this man, body and soul. He’s powerless to do anything about it; but he’s not helpless. He goes searching for help by refusing to be turned away from his quest for Jesus. Luke says he is “covered with leprosy.” That is a medical diagnosis from the physician, Luke, who pens the book. This isn’t a man who recently obtained the infection. He has open sores all over his body, on his ears and his nose and his eyelids and his lips and his fingers, his face is covered. 

So, “When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him” (Luke 5:12b). This is utter humility, total desperation, and complete reverence for Jesus. Do you think it was difficult for him to get down on his face? If his condition was as advanced as Luke indicates, he may not have had all his fingers and toes; his joints would have been affected; if his nervous system was still functioning this would have been very painful. Rather than kneeling gracefully, he simply does a face plant in the dirt, right at Jesus’ feet. And he “begged him,” the Bible says.  

This man is desperate, he knows that he is powerless to change his condition. Some of us, when we feel self-sufficient and there isn’t a visible crisis, don’t tend to pray much. Some of us pray on occasion as a need arises, and some of us are desperate pray-ers. We beg God, because we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that apart from his grace, we are doomed, and our life is hopeless, powerless. That’s this guy. You can hear the agony in his voice, you can see the tears in his eyes; this man is desperate. 

“Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean” (Luke 5:12c).  

The first thing you notice after you notice the desperation of his powerless state, is the humble faith.  “You don’t have to, but I’m asking that you would.” That’s a humble prayer of faith. That’s a good way to pray when you’re asking God to intervene on something that you’re powerless to change. 

But he’s very bold too! The fact that he’s laying there in the dirt right in front of Jesus in the center of this town is testimony that this man is bold. If he wasn’t bold he would have turned around at the first nasty encounter with one of the citizens. To be a follower of Jesus, I have to be OK with God answering my prayer as he wills—which may or may not be what I want.  

So there’s this crowd of people around Jesus and this guy crashes right into the scene; people are scurrying, screaming ducking for cover. This guy is laying on the ground, face in the dirt, and he’s probably thinking, “Oh my, what have I done?” Anxiety and fear start creeping in; he’s put himself in a vulnerable position where the mob could come and kick him, or literally pick up rocks to kill him or to drive him out of town. 

He has put himself out there!  He’s broken, he’s powerless, he’s desperate, covered with leprosy, face down in the dirt, and he’s begging Jesus, “Please help me.”

Powerlessness Can Drive Us to Mercy

“Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man” (Luke 5:13a).

And Jesus answered. He touched him. 

How long do you think it has been since anyone touched this man? Years, at least; it may have been decades. His condition is advanced. He has been in this state for a long time. He’s used to people running from him. The greatest fear that others have is  touching him, and what does Jesus do? Touches him. 

He doesn’t simply look at this man and say, “Be clean.” He could have done that.  Instead, he touches him right in the middle of that town, with the crowd and the religious leaders looking on in horror. Jesus stops his teaching, stops answering questions, and touches this man that no one dares touch.   

This is one of the reasons those of us who love Jesus, love him so much. Jesus touches the untouchables. He shares his power with the powerless. Jesus is being affectionate to this man and he is publicly dignifying this man.

Isn’t that amazing? This man’s been alone for years and his new life begins when Jesus touches him as a friend. How amazing is that? And we, as the church, get to be the hands and feet of Jesus today.  We get to reach out and touch hurting, broken, desperate, needy, unclean people with the love of Jesus. It’s amazing. I read this story and I picture in my mind Jesus embracing this man. I can’t get over it, how wonderful that is. And Jesus says "I am willing. Be clean!"