Cleansing Faith
“Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of Elisha, the man of God.
His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child,
and he was clean of his leprosy.”2 Kings 5:14
As Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem, ten lepers approached Him. What do you think they said to Jesus? Probably, “Please heal us of our leprosy!” right? But that was not what they said. Instead, the exclaimed, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” This group of lepers likely consisted of both Galileans and Samaritans, yet they called out to Jesus as their Master. This would have been a very big step for the Samaritans “for Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans” (John 4:9b). In fact, the Samaritans strongly disliked the Jews for what they did to them in the past, including destroying their temple! So, for the Samaritan leper to not only reach out to Jesus, but also to call Him Master was unthinkable. Even non-Jews acknowledged Jesus as Master and Lord, and it was this faith that cleansed them.
The cleansing and saving power of Jesus is not limited to only a select group of people. It is extended to all who calls upon Him, all who reaches out to Him, and all who puts their faith in Him. Just as we hear about Naaman, the servant of a foreign king, who at the word of the Prophet Elisha, bathed in the water and was cleansed of his leprosy, so too the lepers who approached Jesus were cleansed as they ran to the priest at His command. In the same way, we too may be healed from whatever is plaguing us if we believe that Jesus and His love for us.
Is there something that is weighing on you that is keeping you from approaching God? What is the leprosy that is eating away at you? Look up and call out to the Lord, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on me!” knowing that He hears you and looks at you with love and compassion, and desires only to heal you. But, He cannot unless you allow Him to and welcome Him into your heart. May we ask for the faith that moved Naaman and the Samaritan leper to call out to God because when we do, and when we truly believe, that faith will become a faith that cleanses us and sets us free.
