S O C I A L
J U S T I C E
S E R I E S
ISTOCK.COM/TINNAKORN JORRUANG
If You are Willing By Charles Mills
Charles Mills is the author of more than 50 published books and over 300 articles. Mills began his career at Faith for Today and the Adventist Media Center in Newbury Park, California. For the past 35 years, he has been an independent media producer, writer, and radio/television host.
12 Pacific Union Recorder
L
eprosy. While it’s rare today, there was a time when it was one of the most feared diseases in the world. Those so afflicted were considered outcasts, undesirables, and dangerous. They were forced to live a life of isolation and abandonment. Consider this description: Signs of leprosy are painless ulcers, skin lesions of hypopigmented macules (flat, pale areas of skin), and eye damage (dryness, reduced blinking). Later, large ulcerations, loss of digits, skin nodules, and facial disfigurement may develop. The infection spreads from person to person by nasal secretions or droplets (medicinenet.com). If there was ever a reason to shun an individual—to keep your distance, to drive a person into seclusion—this would seem to be it. Yet, someone suffering from leprosy approached Jesus in a small town near the shores of Galilee. This man wasn’t at the beginning stages of his disease. He was covered with it. “When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean’” (Luke 5:12, NIV). “If you are willing.” There was no question of ability. He wasn’t saying, “If you are able.” The leper knew of Christ’s power to heal. He’d overheard stories about Him. He had confidence that this man—this stranger, this traveling teacher—could rid him of his deadly curse. “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man” (verse 13). Jesus touched him. You didn’t touch lepers. You didn’t even come close to them. Why? Because the disease could pass from them to you. Everyone believed it was highly contagious. To touch a leper was
