Leper: Touching the Untouchable
In Mark 1:40-45, a man with leprosy approaches Jesus with a desperate plea: “If you are willing, you can make me clean” (Mark 1:40). Leprosy in Jesus’ time wasn’t just a physical illness; it was a condition that led to social and religious ostracism. Many with leprosy were considered unclean and were forced to live apart from their communities, isolated and often forgotten – like AIDS patients in the ‘80’s.
Jesus’ response is nothing short of revolutionary. Moved with compassion, he reaches out and touches the man—something no one else would dare to do. With just a word, Jesus heals him, saying, “I am willing. Be clean!” (Mark 1:41).
This act of love went beyond physical healing. By touching the man, Jesus affirmed his worth and dignity, breaking through the barriers of fear and prejudice that surrounded leprosy. Jesus didn’t see the man as his illness but as a beloved child of God.
This story challenges us to love those who are physically or socially ostracized in our own lives, those struggling with chronic illness, disability, or circumstances that leave them feeling unseen or untouchable. Like Jesus, we are called to see their humanity, offer compassion, and bring them back into the community.
Peter: Forgiving and Restoring the Betrayer
In John 21:15-19, we find Jesus and Peter having a poignant conversation by the Sea of Galilee. After denying Jesus three times on the night of his arrest, Peter must have been carrying deep guilt and shame. Yet, Jesus meets him with love and grace.
Three times, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?”—mirroring Peter’s threefold denial. Each time Peter responds affirmatively, Jesus gives him a commission: “Feed my lambs,” “Take care of my sheep,” “Feed my sheep.” Far from condemning Peter, Jesus restores him, reaffirming his role as a leader in the early church.
Jesus’ love for Peter was a love that forgave and reconciled. He didn’t let Peter’s betrayal define their relationship. Instead, he gave Peter a new purpose, showing that even in our failures, we are still loved and called by God.
This story calls us to love those who have hurt us, offering them the possibility of forgiveness and reconciliation. It’s not an easy call, but it’s a reminder that Jesus’ love has the power to heal even the deepest wounds.
A Call to Action: Love That Heals and Restores
These two stories reveal the depth of Jesus’ love: a love that heals physical and social wounds and a love that restores relationships broken by betrayal. As we reflect on these stories, we are invited to embody this kind of love in our own lives.
Who in your life might be feeling untouchable or unseen? How can you offer them dignity and compassion? Who has hurt you, and how might you take a step toward forgiveness and reconciliation?
Take time this week to reflect on these questions:
- How can we, like Jesus, reach out to those who feel isolated or unworthy?
- Where in our lives do we need to offer or seek forgiveness to restore relationships?
As we conclude this series, remember that the love Jesus showed to the leper and to Peter is the same love Jesus extends to each of us. It is a love that heals, restores, and invites us to love others in profound and life-changing ways. May we carry this love forward into every part of our lives, embodying the compassion and grace that Jesus calls us to live out daily.