Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Hope for the Hurting – Luke 5:12-14 Submitted by Kay Crumley
In alignment a recent sermon by Pastor Jim, Jesus loves the vulnerable. That is good news for each of us, His followers. How often do we hear, or think, my problem isn’t big enough to take to God, He won’t care about that. The truth is that we are told in 1 Peter 5:7 to throw all our concerns/anxieties on Him because He cares for us. As a child I never hesitated to run to my parents with even the smallest of concerns knowing they would hear me, care about me, and put a band aid on even the most minor injury. We don’t just have to gently, shyly lay our cares at His feet; we can, with all our might cast them on Him. We are taught that our God cares about us more than any earthly parent in Isaiah 49:15. This is the best news we can have. Even more, He cares for those who are rejected by society as we see in Luke 5. No where in scripture does it say we must first ‘measure up’ to be loved by God.
While Jesus was traveling from one town to another people were talking about what He was doing and saying. A man who was covered with a skin disease that caused him to be an outcast heard about this man Jesus. A leper was feared in that time because a disease like this might be contagious, incurable, lead to death. As a result, one suffering leprosy was rejected, unable to worship in the temple, enter the village, hold a job, or have any contact with one who did not have the disease. In desperation he ran to Jesus, fell at His feet and begged to be healed, made clean.
12 While he was in one of the towns, a man was there who had leprosy all over him. He saw Jesus, fell facedown, and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
This man didn’t know Jesus but had heard of His power to heal. This was his last hope to be restored to health and life in his community. The most amazing thing happened – Jesus touched him. He could have spoken to heal the man, but He broke all the rules of the Jewish leaders and made physical contact with him. Just the touch of the Master’s hand healed the man who was an outcast, vulnerable in every way. Then Jesus commanded the man to follow all the requirements of the Law but to not tell people what had happened. The man was restored to health, Temple worship, community with others, and able to hold a job. He was fully restored by the Master because he came to Him with his pain, his anxiety.
13 Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean,” and immediately the leprosy left him. 14 Then he ordered him to tell no one: “But go and show yourself to the priest and offer what Moses commanded for your cleansing as a testimony to them.”
Verse 15 shows that the word did get out about the man’s healing and Jesus was bombarded with people coming to Him, bring their sick to be healed.
16 Yet he often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.
But Jesus response in that time of extreme demand was to get away and pray. This passage teaches two responses we should practice. The man went to Jesus probably not expecting what happened but knowing Jesus held the answer to his problem. We are to take all our cares to Him trusting that He will provide the right answer in His perfect time. And then, following Jesus’ example, go to a quiet place and pray. In those times we feel overwhelmed with the demands of life; our only real solution is to step away and pray. Striving harder, sleeping less, digging deeper is not the answer. We are not the ones who have power or strength that will overcome. In Matthew 28:18 Jesus declared that All power has been given to Him in heaven and earth. In all things, go to the power source. He has the power to save, heal, comfort, and provide all. He cares for us.
