Carlo Ratilla — Even in the Impossible: Illness and Healing

This miracle points to Jesus’ heart and compassion for those who are afflicted. More than the physical healing that Jesus provided for the leper, He touched him and responded to him with compassion. Many times in Scripture we see that God responding to physical healing leads to spiritual healing (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17). In this case, Jesus even restored the leper, relationally. He restored the leper’s social status by healing him and commanding him to declare himself healed among the priests as a custom for healed lepers. We sense Jesus’ heart to heal and restore us holistically.