Miracles of Jesus

Lesson #5 Jesus Heals a Leper (Matthew 8:1-4)

In this lesson Jesus heals a leper. Leprosy is a type of sin in the bible as we show in this lesson and we will also use this passage to show how the cleansing of leprosy is a type of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The interesting thing in this miracle is that Jesus touched the leper which will we connect with Jesus being our high priest.

Why does it matter that Jesus touched him?

According to the Law if you touched a leper you were considered unclean (Leviticus 13:45-46 with Leviticus 15:1-11). So in a sense you would say that Jesus would be unclean. So why could Jesus touch the leper without being unclean? The answer is found in the cleansing of a leper (Leviticus 14:1-32).

Note that in the cleansing of a leper the High Priest would take the blood of the trespass offering and apply it to the right ear, right thumb, and right big toe. Therefore in cleansing the leper the High Priest could touch the leper who was made hole. Jesus Christ had the blood of God in him (Acts 20:28) and was cleansing the leper in the process of touching him. Therefore, he is a High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) and had the right to touch him because he was cleansed in the process.

The Cleansing Process of a Leper is a type of the Crucifixion:

 Note what was to be used in the offering when a man had been cleanses from leprosy (Leviticus 14:1-7). Two birds, alive and clean, cedar wood, scarlet, hyssop. One of the birds is killed with running water over it. The living bird and the other items were dipped in the blood. The cleansed person is to be sprinkled 7 times and the live bird is to be set free.

These items picture the crucifixion of Jesus Christ:

1)  Two Birds

• One to die and one to live pictures death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

2)  Note the water and blood and earthen vessel connected with death.

• See John 1:34-35 for water and blood from Jesus’ side.

3)  Scarlet

• Jesus was made to where a scarlet robe (Matthew 27:27-32)

4)  Cedar wood

• We are not told what type of wood the cross was made from, but the wood pictures the cross.

So in the cleansing of leprosy we have a type of the Jesus Christ dying on the cross to cleanse us from all our sin.

Miracles of Jesus

Lesson #5 Jesus Heals a Leper (Matthew 8:1-4)

Handout

 1)  Give a brief description of this miracle.

2)  Why is it interesting that Jesus touched the leper?

3)  How does touching the leper make Jesus a type of the High Priest?

4)  What are the items used in the cleansing of a leper in the Old Testament?

5)   How do the above items picture the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross?