Disciples Digital Library

Paul chided the Galatians over their desire “ to return to bondage under the weak and beggarly rudiments ” of the world, including calendrical observations and circumcision. Since they were no longer “minors” but full heirs who lived in the age of fulfillment and had the Gift of the Spirit, resorting to outmoded rituals was tantamount to returning to a state of slavery.

Jesus cleansed a leper by touching him contrary to the regulations governing ritual purity, and his actions did not render him “unclean” in God’s eyes .  The touch of Jesus cleansed a leper from ritual impurity, thus restoring him physically AND religiously. Remarkably, he touched the man BEFORE he was cleansed, and before the required ritual by a priest. Any concern over contracting “uncleanness” did not stop the Messiah from healing one of the sons of Israel.

God has spoken His decisive and superior “ word ” in His son, and He did so “ upon the last of these days .” This refers to the end of the period epitomized by the Levitical code with its priesthood and repeated animal sacrifices, a system of worship centered in the Tabernacle and the later Jerusalem Temple. With the appointment of Jesus as the High Priest “ after the order of Melchizedek ,” a new and final era of salvation commenced.

The touch of the Nazarene cleansed a leper from ritual impurity, restoring him physically  AND  religiously. Moreover, Jesus touched the leper  BEFORE  he was cleansed of his ritual defilement. Any concern over contracting “uncleanness” did not prevent the Messiah from healing a son of Israel. In fact, the Son of Man’s touch drove out the disease and the impurity - (Mark 1:40-45).

In  Mark , the city of Jerusalem is the headquarters of the opposition to Jesus, especially the priestly authorities of the Temple. As his popularity grows, he experiences growing conflict with the religious authorities, the Pharisees, the scribes, and the representatives of the high priest. And his enemies began to plot his destruction.

  The Touch of Jesus Cleanses a Leper . Leprosy was a skin ailment, one of the most feared afflictions in the ancient world and particularly dreaded in Israel. Contracting leprosy meant inevitable death preceded by isolation from one’s family, home and society for however many miserable years remained in one’s life. Most ominous for the leper was his or her exclusion from the religious institutions and practices of Israel.

Jesus healed two women, restoring both to a state of ritual purity  –  Mark 5:21-43 . Mark  presents two stories about women in need of healing. The theme that links the two accounts is that of a woman in need of physical healing and restoration to a state of ritual purity. Both were “unclean” due to their physical condition; the first was because of a flow of blood, and the second due to her recent death.

The Law of Moses specified what foods the people of Israel could eat by distinguishing between the “clean” and the “unclean.” The consumption of the latter was strictly forbidden. Israel was summoned to be “holy” since Yahweh was holy. It was inappropriate, therefore, for members of the covenant people to eat anything that was ritually “unclean.”

Fasting was a customary practice on the annual Day of Atonement among Jews of Christ's time, although the Mosaic Law did not specify or require fasting on that feast ( Leviticus 16:29 ).