What does Luke 5:15 mean?
When Jesus heals the man with leprosy, He tells him to go to the priest and show that he is cleansed (Luke 5:14). Jesus cares about the physical suffering the man is going through. However, the ceremonial cleanness that allows the man to fully engage in worshiping his God is more important. Even now, God doesn't always heal us, but He does make sure His followers are cleansed by being washed in the Spirit (Titus 3:5), able to approach His throne with confidence (Hebrews 4:16; 10:22).The man's joy, however, overcomes his discretion and the value he places on being able to go to the temple again. "He went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news…" (Mark 1:45).
Physical healing is an important part of Jesus' ministry, but it's not the most important part. He told Peter, Andrew, James, and John, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out" (Mark 1:38). His touch provides physical healing, but His teaching is the conduit for eternal life. People and ministries that emphasize God's ability to heal can undermine the spread of the gospel. Even so, when Jesus sees a crowd of people in need of healing, His first reaction is compassion (Matthew 14:14).
Luke 5:12–16 explains how Jesus heals a man with leprosy. This would have been some serious skin condition, but not necessarily the exact "leprosy" which today is known as "Hansen's disease." Jesus has called His first disciples; now He performs the first of two attention-getting healings. Leprosy was thought to be a curse and came with social and religious stigmas. Jesus breaks tradition by touching the man and healing him, physically and religiously. Next, Jesus will heal a paralytic, but not before declaring the man's sins are forgiven (Luke 5:17–26). The story of the man with leprosy is also found in Matthew 8:2–4 and Mark 1:40–45.
Luke 5 continues Jesus' Galilean Ministry (Luke 4:14—9:50). The passage alternates calls to discipleship with miracles and teachings which demonstrate what discipleship entails. Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, and their business partners, James and John, to follow Him and make more disciples. Then Jesus makes a man with leprosy ceremonially clean. He forgives the sins of a paralytic. After He calls Levi to follow Him, Jesus celebrates instead of fasting. This draws critical questions from the crowd. The religious leaders consider Jesus' actions blasphemous. His message of forgiveness, faith, and repentance cannot be contained by their tradition.
