The Leper’s Prayer

The leper kneels and asks Jesus for cleansing if he is willing. Jesus is moved with compassion, touches him, speaks the word, and the leprosy leaves at once.

T⁴⁰hen a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” ⁴¹Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” ⁴²And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed.

Jesus sends the man away with a stern warning to tell no one, but to show himself to the priest and bring Moses’ offering. The man instead proclaims the news openly, spreading it far.

⁴³Jesus promptly sent him away with a stern warning: ⁴⁴“See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” ⁴⁵But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news.