"... and behold, a leper came and worshiped him..."
To receive worship from this leper - indeed, to reach out and touch the leper - was an intentional act of a compassionate God willing to fully associate with his fallen Creation.
Praise God for the leper - the outcast of culture - who had it in him enough to know that, even in his wretchedness, he could bow before the One who had created him in his own image. Society had it's label: unclean and cursed. God had his label, too: beloved, welcomed, and blessed. How this leper knew he could come before Messiah Christ in his horrid state, no one knows. But it all came together as he fell down before him and worshiped him.
As we worship God we soon realize his absolute power to heal everything. Even our leprous nature becomes in before the Healer becomes insignificant, for the greater radiance of loosing all in the worship of Christ.
And, in that place of Divine Communion, Jesus knows. He sees. He asks. For he longs to hear our "if you are willing you can make me clean!" "I AM willing," he replies and, reaching his hand from above, he so identifies himself with our angst that be becomes one with our leprous nature. In the unconditional exchange he chooses to become our leprosy so we can be made whole and testify to his Name.
Many of us say, "I will worship God after I am properly cleansed." Or, "One day, when all is well, I will return to the Father and say 'such and such' a thing. Perhaps I'll be good enough then." Yet, in Christ, we have the Prodigal's Privilege to rise from the pig fields and come boldly to the Throne of Grace - even in our most horrid and stinky state. And, when his father saw him, he ran to him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him!
Father, give us the humility and desperation of this leper, that you would touch us and make us whole as we wholly worship you. For you are Holy.
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