JESUS CHRIST

In the modern world, leprosy-commonly referred to as Hansen’s disease-is quite rare in developed countries. The condition can be treated through modern medicine; however, it is fatal if left untreated. Actual leprosy severely deforms the skin and bones, slowly crippling its victims and rendering them permanently disabled before a painful death.

In the twentieth century, archaeologists have uncovered first-century evidence of Hansen’s disease in Judea and Galilee, providing clear evidence that popular depictions of disfigured and deformed victims may be more accurate than recently thought.

The Mosaic law devotes an entire chapter (Leviticus 13) to the identification, treatment, and quarantine of leprosy victims. The description of the symptoms of leprosy in that chapter is not consistent with what we call leprosy today. Instead, the chapter appears to group a number of severe skin diseases under the title of leprosy.

Psychologically, leprosy was associated with being cursed by God (see 2 Chronicles 26:16-21). When people in biblical times were healed from leprosy, they were required to offer sacrifice and undergo purification (Leviticus 14:1-32). The elaborate cleansing ritual associated with being healed from leprosy lies behind Jesus Christ’s statement to the healed person with leprosy in Mark 1:44. In contrast to other healings Jesus performed, with leprosy he commanded those he healed to follow the cleansing guidelines of the law of Moses subsequent to their healing (Matthew 8:1-4; Luke 5:12-14; 17:11-19).

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