Another chilly night last night. I can’t remember when I last slept in a bed next to my wife. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I entered town. I have not been in a place of worship since I was declared unclean, so long ago now. Yet I thank my God that I am alive, and that he provides adequately for my minimal needs.
Sleep is fleeting. I am always uncomfortable. The putrid swelling that often affects my sores causes me some pain almost all of the time. And when I lay the wrong way on these open lesions, I am jolted awake. Of course, the parts I can’t feel don’t cause pain, but they can be distracting. My big toe feels no pain, but also is unaware when I kick something, or get scratched, or bitten.
What did I do to deserve this? Why does God not care about my plight? I pray for rescue, but He does not answer. I am banned from his presence in the Holy Courts. Does He notice people like me? Does He remember our condition? Would he ever consider entering into my physical pain, or the pain in my soul? Could God exhibit any pity for those who are unclean?
I know even Kings of Judah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord in their youth yet were afflicted as we are. Azariah neglected to remove distant idols. Surely the people still worship the created over the creator. And Uzziah was overcome by pride. Have we been judged for the same?
So now it’s time for another day of begging for food from travelers. I am more than willing to work for my food and shelter, but no one will allow me to do so.
My pleas would probably be better received if I did not look so ignoble. The white spots, torn clothes and uncovered hair scare people off. And the required covering over my lower face is obvious from such a long way off. I would not hurt anyone intentionally. I would not even draw close. But if they would just leave a little food as they pass by, we would wait until they walk on before we would collect it.
With no head covering in this heat and the dusty breeze I probably look even worse than I actually am[1]. I would prefer to protect my head from the sun, but that is not allowed for people like me. And I would prefer to have enough water to get me through each day. Sometimes I feel like Jonah[2], sitting outside Nineveh, in the desert heat, waiting to see the destruction of the city. Except in this case it is me that is slowly being destroyed. I long for shade just about every day, and for shelter and comfort just about every night.
So here we exist, along the border between Samaria and Galilee – between cultures, yet separated from both. When I was growing up in Samaria I sometimes felt what it was like to be an outcast among the Jews, but that was almost nothing compared to how I am an outcast today. We also exist between the living and the dead, not really a part of either group. If I would only turn white all over, I could again be declared clean. But as it is, it is just large portions of my flesh that are snowy white, both my flesh and the hair that grows from it.
All ten of us seem to work pretty well together. We watch out for each other, mostly, though we are all in need of the same things.
Those who pass by here are often not the best of humankind. Out here there are more people who hope to pass unnoticed by society, than on the Roman roads to our west. Still, sometimes, there are larger groups passing that are more apt to leave us some food than do most individuals or small families. May God bless each person that shares what they have with us!
Passover[3] is coming soon. Traffic is picking up a bit more each day. I wish I could be with my family at this time of year. Yet this is my lot.
Here comes a group of men! We must fulfill our duty to warn them.
“Unclean! Unclean!”
They see us now, and slow a bit.
It looks like one of them is important, based on the surrounding crowd, yet he is not dressed as an important person, not travelling in the way important people do. They have no animals with them, and no load-bearing servants in their procession.
From this distance it is quite difficult to tell who they might be, or what their intensions might be.
Oh! One is drawing closer. He bears no weapon, nor burden. He speaks:
“Keep your distance! This is Yeshua, the Nazarite, with whom we travel. He must NOT be made unclean, as we travel to Jerusalem for Passover!”
Yeshua the Nazarite? Is this the man they say raised a man from death a couple of weeks ago?
Could this be the same Yeshua that reportedly touched a leper and healed him in front of a crowd a couple of years ago?
My companions must know.
“Hey friends, if that man is who I think he is we MUST appeal to him, and now! He has power to heal and has healed many! Stand up, you unclean, and let us shout together that he might hear our plea! All together now:
“Yeshua, Master, have pity on us!”
“Go, show yourselves to the priests.” He shouts back.
“Could this be? Sons of Abraham, let’s get going to the priest and see what this Yeshua has done with just a word!”
But wait, I do not feel healed. How do we know we will be healed? If we are not healed by the time we get to the priest, we will be as fools, or worse.
Yet they say he healed many others. Can we trust him in this? He did not touch us though. Could he heal without doing that?
“Let’s get going! This is our best hope ever!”
Now the debate begins. They don’t feel healed yet either. Some expect the worst.
“This is no time to argue. This is a time move!”
Now where will we find the birds and lambs for the required offering? Offerings for 10! It will be a good day for the priest and his family, as they will feast abundantly.
I cannot wait to enter my home again, though I understand that I must wait the full 7 days after first being declared clean.
I don’t feel healed yet.
Now let me see, can I remember how the law says that this should be done? If he recognizes that I am clean, the priest will order two birds, some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop. One bird is killed and the other bird is dipped in the dead bird’s blood, along with the other items. Then the living bird is used to spatter the blood on the person – on ME! – 7 times. Reminds me of Naaman, dipping 7 times in the Jordan… Then the priest declares me clean… the first time.
Then the week starts, when I can go into the city, but not into my own home. Even Miriam had to stay away from her tent for seven days when she was leprous. How could I expect otherwise? I must cut off all the hair on my head – oh Yes! Even my eyebrows. Then I can bathe and wash these filthy clothes! Then I wait a week and go back to the priest for another exam. I can finally get rid of these torn clothes (thank you God!), shave again, get washed again, and put on NEW clothes before that second exam. On the eighth day I take two male lambs and a ewe lamb, each one year old, and without any blemish – no injury or scar, no illness or deformity. And I must take with me flour and oil for a grain offering. Where will I find those things? Who will help me? Surely someone will! Otherwise I will need to take the smaller items allowed for the poor. But I think there will be enough joy for my return that my family and friends will help assemble the required items.
Then, when I see the priest again, the lamb will be killed as a guilt offering, and its blood is spread on my right earlobe, my right thumb, and my right big toe. Then I will be anointed with oil covering all the places where the blood is, and the rest of the oil goes on my bare head.
After the blood and the anointing, I will be clean indeed!
Wait! I can feel my big toe again! And the white patches are gone! The lesions have closed up! No more swelling! No more putrid, raw flesh! I HAVE been healed! Even before seeing the priest!
Now I can stand confidently before the priest. No more doubt!
We are drawing near to the town, and to that priest. I cannot delay! I must be declared clean while it is still true!
Wait! What of that man, Yeshua the Nazarite? Does he KNOW that we are healed? How did he do this for us? Why did he do this for us? I must go back to see him now, before I see the priest! I must thank him!
Running feels so different now! What freedom! What sensation!
Where will I find him? He was travelling when we saw him. He must certainly have moved on from that spot. No matter, I will search him out.
Who could have the power to heal this way? And for one who did, why would he use it on a person like me? For I am a leper; a Samaritan; one who is despised and rejected by men. Oh, what could he know of such things[4]? He is an important, respected and powerful prophet. Some say he is even more than that. Yes, perhaps he is!
There he is! Or at least the gathered crowd looks the same from this distance. Yes, I will be able to catch up to him if I keep moving like this.
I have overtaken them! How close can I get to the teacher? I will fall at his feet if I am not hindered.
“Thank you, thank you Rabbi! And praise to the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! I do not understand how this can be, but I cannot deny that which I see and feel! I have been healed! My heart lives again! I am beginning to develop hope for a future in this wonderful creation, and I look forward to worshipping our LORD once again among my people! For having pity on us, again I say Thank you!”
“Were not all ten cleansed?” he says.“Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”
I may be a foreigner to these men, but I have never felt closer to the LORD yir’e than I do in this moment! He IS my provider! His presence is with me, even though I am not on the Holy Mountain. Yet I remain alive…
“Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” He says.
Faith? Yes, I suppose so. But not faith in men. I know now that the LORD deserves my faith! He says I am well even before the priest’s rituals. Still, I am ready to follow his orders! I rise and fly to the priest!
What did he mean that my faith made me well? He healed me. Is there another type of healing that faith delivers? May I come to understand this healing. I will tell all who will listen about this prophet!
Such joy fills my heart! May the feet of this prophet also be anointed, and those of his followers. May they share in the joy of new life, and tell everyone about their connection to this special one. Will he change the world with his power? Will hard hearts become soft[5], as mine is, when others meet him?
I do hope that the priest will still have time for me this day after he finishes with the others. I don’t want to lose even one day in finishing my required cleansing process.
After the week is out, I can go back to my family! It is as if I have been given a new life! A new hope!
(C) 2018 Chuck Curtiss
To read other similar stories in this series see The Witness List.
Based on Luke 17: 11-19
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[1]For the instructions regarding skin diseases provide to the priests, read Leviticus 13:29 – 14:32 as well as Numbers 5:1-4. For other situations of leprosy read Numbers 12, 2 Kings 7-8, 2 Kings 15:1-5, 2 Chronicles 26: 1-22
[2]Jonah 4
[3]The celebration and feast that recalls how God led the Jews out of Egypt in the days of Moses and ultimately into the promised land with Joshua.
[4]Isaiah 53:3
[5]Ezekiel 36:25-27
Percipient Witnesses 