FULLFILLING THE LAW

The Lord Jesus fulfilled the Law and Prophets. The Law clearly stated you could not touch an unclean person (Leviticus 5:3). So when Naaman, commander of the army of the King of Syria, contracted leprosy, he sought a cure from Elisha, a prophet of God. Elisha would not come near him sending out his messenger to tell him, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” (2 Kings 5:10) After washing in the Jordan River seven times as directed he was instantly healed of his leprosy. Jesus went beyond the Law touching the leper in the Gospel of Luke 5:12-13 and he was healed instantly.

John Chrysostom (347-407) Archbishop of Constantinople wrote concerning this, “He was able to cleanse by a word, or even by mere will, but he put out his hand, “He stretched forth his hand and touched him,” to show that he was not subject to the Law, and that to the pure nothing is impure. Elisha truly kept the Law in all strictness, and did not go out and touch Naaman, but sends him to wash in Jordan. But the Lord shows that he does not heal as a servant, but as the Lord heals and touches; his hand was not made unclean by the leprosy, but the leprous body was made pure by the holy hand. For he came not only to heal bodies, but to lead a soul to the true wisdom. And then he did not forbid to eat with unwashed hands, so here he teaches us that it is the leprosy of the soul we ought only to dread, which is sin, but that the leprosy of the body is no impediment to virtue.”

“Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him.” Jesus