Cleansed

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is M'tzora, meaning "Infected one". This year this particular reading portion, which comes from Leviticus chapters 14 and 15, occurs on the Sabbath called Ha-Gadol, the Great Sabbath, which is the Sabbath before Passover, which occurs next week. Keeping that in mind, we will see how this M'tzora reading portion will help to prepare us for the coming Passover. The first verse of Lev. 14 says: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'This shall be the law of the leper (sara- to be diseased of the skin [flesh], stricken with leprosy, to scourge, to strike down, one stricken or smitten [see Isa. 53:4], scabbed) for the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest."

     Leprosy is a condition of the flesh. For those who are called to walk in the Spirit of God, we understand that we are not to walk in the flesh or its cravings which lead to death. Paul wrote that in his flesh, nothing good dwells, but in his own strength, he is unable to change this (Rom. 7:18-20). However, as Paul continued to write about the sin in his flesh, or spiritual leprosy, he also asked the question: "Who will deliver me from this body of death?" His answer to his own question is Jesus Christ (Rom. 7:22-25). We see that within the Hebrew meaning of the word "leper", is "to scourge", "one stricken or smitten". The Roman scourge marks that covered Jesus' body, front and back, were for the healing of the spiritual leprosy of our flesh. Isaiah prophesied about the Messiah, the Servant of God: "Surely He has borne (nasa- bear, lift up, take away, carry, forgive, endure, be swept away) our griefs (holi/halal - sickness, calamity, disease, grief, an evil/profane, pollute, stain, defile, wounded, desecrate, pollute oneself, to violate a covenant, to wound, bore through or pierce) and carried (sabal - to bear a load, drag oneself along, to carry a heavy burden) our sorrows (makob/ka'ab - pain, sorrow, anguish, affliction, pain of soul/hurt, mar, feel pain, a sorrowing soul, afflict); Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." (Isa. 53:4-5). Jesus was scourged, stricken and smitten with our spiritual leprosy in order to carry it away from us and heal us.

     The Gospels tell us that Jesus had the authority to cleanse lepers: "...behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, 'Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.' Then He put out His hand and touched (aptomai/apto - to attach oneself to, to adhere to, cling to, to fasten fire to a thing/to fasten to, set on fire, light, kindle) him, saying, 'I am willing; be cleansed.' Immediately the leprosy left him. And He charged him to tell no one, 'But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded." (Lk. 5:12-13, see also Lk. 17:11-19). The disciples of Jesus were also sent out with His commands, including the command to "cleanse the lepers". (Mt. 10:5-8). Jesus could have just spoken the Word and the leper would have been healed, but He touched the leper. As we see above in the Greek meaning of the word, this wasn't a simple touch, but Jesus adhered Himself to the leper, and cleansed him with spiritual fire. Are we, His disciples, ministering to the spiritual lepers in this same manner? We will see more about this cleansing fire later.

     Jesus also healed a woman who was afflicted with the same affliction, a continual bloody discharge, as is mentioned in this Sabbath's reading portion from Lev. 15:25-28. The woman who encountered Jesus had the discharge for twelve years and was therefore considered to be "unclean" according to the Law of Moses. She had not found healing anywhere else although she had spent all of her money to do so. She was healed by touching (aptomai, same as above) the hem/fringe/specially knotted tassels (tzitzit) of His garment (tallit - prayer shawl) (see Lk. 8:40-48). Jesus felt the healing power flow out of Him to her.

     Our starting verse in Lev. 14:1 above talked about the day of the leper's cleansing. The word "cleansing" in Hebrew, tahora/tohar/tasher, means much more than we would think. It means: "purifying, cleansing, blood of purification, purity of heart/purifying, clearness, glory, luster, brightness, splendor, majesty/to be clean, pure, purge, purifier, to be bright, shine, uncontaminated, morally innocent, holy, wash oneself with water, perfect, miraculously freed from leprosy, to become clean and pure as opposed to the filth of leprosy." The cleansing associated with leprosy is also associated with the bright, shining, splendor, majesty, holiness and perfection of the glory of God, according to the Hebrew root word meanings above. This glory is the root or source of the cleansing, as well as its result. The cleansing that cleanses the leper is by the power of God. Sometimes, I find that often we view this kind of cleansing as something determined and accomplished by ourselves. We want to decide what needs to be cleansed, and how and when it will be cleansed. In an opposite manner, David's prayer to the LORD was: "Purge me...Wash me...Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Ps. 51:7, 10). David put his cleansing into the hands of the LORD.

     Even the disciples had difficulty understanding the difference between the sovereign work of God in cleansing and ineffective "self-help" religious ideas. Just before the day of the Passover feast, Jesus, our Passover Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world (Jn. 1:29-36), had a meal with His disciples. Judas had already decided to betray Jesus, and Jesus knew that He was about to leave this world and go the Father. Jesus got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing and wrapped Himself in a towel (lention - linen cloth [see info Shroud of Turin], towel or apron). He poured water in a basin and began to wash (nipto - to cleanse) His disciples' feet and wipe (ekmasso - wipe off, wipe away, to handle or squeeze away) them with the towel. When Jesus got to Simon Peter, Peter was reluctant to be washed by His Master, saying, "Lord, are You washing my feet?" Jesus answered him: "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." Peter said to Jesus: "You shall never wash my feet!' Jesus answered him, 'If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Peter then agreed to be washed whole-heartedly. (Jn. 13:1-9). Again, Jesus physically touched and cleansed them, and wiped the filth away.

     We see this kind of sovereign cleansing again in the reading portion of this Sabbath that is directly related to Shabbat Ha-Gadol, the Great Sabbath that precedes Passover. This reading is from Malachi 3: "But who can endure the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, see note below) day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire (es - fire, burning, fiery, flaming, heat, altar-fire, splendor, brightness) and like launderers' (kabas - to wash by treading with feet, also in the sense to purge from sin) soap (borit/bor/barar - alkali used in washing, something having a cleansing property/cleanness of hands, purity/chosen, clean, manifest, bright, purge out, make shining). He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, see note below) sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness." (v. 2-3). This prophecy is directed towards the (Messianic, see note below) priesthood of God, which will be cleansed and refined, purified and purged by the LORD Himself.

     It is interesting that included in the tradition of the Passover Seder, or meal, hands are washed twice under flowing water during the course of the meal. As we can see by the reading selections for this Sabbath before Passover, the theme of the LORD is "cleansing". Passover is not only observed by the Jewish people, but because of its relationship with the blood of the Lamb many Christians also observe Passover. The blood of the Passover Lamb painted on the door frames caused the angel of death to pass over the houses of the Israelites leaving them untouched, while at the same time, the plague of the death struck all of the first born of the Egyptians. Because of this final plague of the LORD, the Israelites were set free from slavery in Egypt. see (Ex. 12:5-14, 29-33). Our Communion, or Lord's Supper, came to us as Jesus revealed the meaning of Passover's Lamb (Himself), bread and wine to His disciples (Mt. 26:26-29, 1 Cor. 11:23-26).

     Passover is often viewed and observed in a tradition-based manner as a memorial of a past miraculous deliverance by God's Might, rather than of His continuing present-day power. We are assured by God's Word that He is not a relic confined to the past, but He also inhabits and miraculously works in our present and our future. From this Sabbath reading portion for the Great Sabbath before Passover, the LORD said: "For I am the LORD, I do not change...Return to Me and I will return to you." (Mal. 3:6-7, see also Heb. 13:8). Passover was also a prophecy of the Lamb of God to come, the Messiah/Christ Jesus (see Jn. 1:29-36), whose blood would deliver us from sin and death and, as we can see from our study above, Passover is still full of the deliverance power of God. Who else but God can cleanse us of the vanity and death of our mortal flesh?  This could be why God wanted Passover to be remembered throughout all future generations. Passover is still working on our behalf. As Passover is observed this year, whether by Jews or Christians, we must understand the meaning of that doorway painted with the blood of the Lamb and approach it reverently with head bowed. It is a doorway of power as well as past, present-day and future faith (Jn. 10:7-10). Through the blood-stained doorway is Spirit and life. Outside the doorway is flesh and death. It is a doorway that, as we enter through it, we enter by the life and the blood that was shed for our deliverance. Let us take this opportunity to ask and allow the Lord to do a Passover work in us - to purge us, wash us, and create in us a clean heart and a steadfast spirit, as David prayed. Let us return to the LORD, and He will return to us. 

     *NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as Α Ω , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.

     If you would like to learn more about the cleansing of God, you can join me in my prayer: "Father God and LORD of all, You have commanded Your people to remember Your Passover. You still deliver Your people by Your mighty right arm. You sent Your Passover Lamb, Your own Son, Jesus, to deliver us from the death of our own sins and flesh. By Your Holy Spirit, which You sent to lead me into all truth, teach me to walk in the knowledge of Your Passover and to teach future generations that You still deliver. As I pass through the blood-stained Doorway that You provided for me, into Your covenant of Spirit and eternal life, let me put all other things aside, and seek Your cleansing. Forgive me, Lord, when I have limited Your Passover to the past and tradition, and not recognized the eternal power of Your Passover. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my Passover Lamb. AMEN."