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Luke 5:12-16

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12While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

13Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

14Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

15Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.

16But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

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1)       What did the leper begging Jesus with his face to the ground indicate?

o   It indicated

§  Humility.

§  And earnestness.

 

1)       According to verses 12 and 13 did the leper break the socio-religious rules the way he approached Jesus and why?

o   Yes, because he came within close proximity of Jesus.

o   Such that

o   Jesus could touch him.

 

2)       According to verse 12 what made the leper consider himself to be unclean, given that he equated the healing of his leprosy to making him clean?

o   He considered himself to be unclean because of his leprosy.

 

3)       Was the leper’s need for healing more psychological than physical and why?

o   Yes, because feeling unclean is

§  Not a physical condition.

§  But a psychological one.

 

4)       According to what the leper said in verse 12 did he think that Jesus was able to heal him of his leprosy and why?

o   Yes, because to the leper it was a matter of whether Jesus was willing to heal him or not.

 

5)       According to verse 12 did the leper’s faith in Jesus’ ability to heal him translate into his confidence of Jesus’ willingness to heal and why?

o   No, because he was expressing uncertainty about Jesus’ willingness to heal him in saying to Jesus, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

 

6)       Why did the leper come within close proximity of Jesus so that it would be possible for Jesus to touch him, given that social acceptance is important for a leper?

o   The leper was longing for social acceptance from Jesus.

 

7)       According to verse 13 did Jesus break the socio-religious rules in the way he acted toward the leper and why?

o   Yes, because he touched the leper.

 

8)       According to verse 13 did Jesus really need to touch the leper in order to heal him of his leprosy and why?

o   No, Jesus could have just said the words.

o   And the leper would still have been healed.

o   Because

o   The leprosy immediately left the man upon Jesus uttering those words. 

 

9)       Why then did Jesus touch the leper?

o   Jesus touched the leper to show his social acceptance of him.

 

10)   Would the leper have been healed emotionally if he had stayed at a distance and why?

o   No, because then Jesus could not have

§  Touched the leper.

§  And accepted him socially.

 

11)   What status change would the former leper enjoy after showing  himself to the priest and offering the gift Moses commanded?

o   He would be

§  Certified to be free from leprosy.

§  And allowed to live in the community again.

 

12)   Did the leper get to know Jesus better and in what way?

o   Yes, the leper realized that Jesus

§  Was not only willing to heal him physically.

§  But also accept him socially.

 

13)   According to what Jesus said in verse 14 why did he tell the former leper not to tell anyone?

o   Jesus did not want to draw attention to himself.

 

14)   According to verse 15 what happened as a result of the news about Jesus spreading all the more?

o   Crowds of people came

§  To hear Jesus.

§  And to be healed of their sicknesses.

 

15)   According to verse 16 how did Jesus handle his increasing popularity?

o   Jesus

§  Often withdrew to lonely places.

§  And prayed.

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Luke 5:12-16

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