03/11/2026
Have you ever felt overlooked or left out? In today’s society, many of us are carrying burdens, some visible and some hidden, that make us feel like outsiders who do not quite belong. This is the kind of moment we witness in Luke 5:12-13. Jesus encounters a man covered with leprosy, which made him an outcast.
Under Old Testament law, people with leprosy were separated from their family and forced to live outside the community. The man falls before Jesus and says, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Yet instead of stepping back, Jesus reaches out, touches him, and the man is immediately healed.
This moment does not just amplify Jesus’ power. It reveals His heart. And it shows us what rule-breaking love really looks like.
Rulebreaker #1: The marginalized are helpless and hopeless.
The leper mentioned in the book of Luke was pushed aside and forgotten by everyone but Jesus, as is the case today. Some people walk into rooms wondering if they will be welcomed. Others carry labels from their past that make them feel disqualified before anyone even knows their name. Some may not be physically sick, but they are emotionally drained, spiritually weary, and wondering if anyone truly sees them.
And yet, the leper who came into contact with Jesus reminds us that no one is invisible to our Savior and Lord. The very people society overlooks are often the ones Jesus moves closest to. No one is ever beyond His reach.
Rulebreaker #2: Approach Jesus with faith, not fear.
When we feel overlooked or abandoned, our first instinct is to pull back and remain hidden. We also wonder if God is disappointed, distant, or too busy to heal the burdens we are carrying. But the leper in Luke Chapter 5 shows us how to respond differently to the situation. Even in in his shame and despair, he came to Jesus and we should too.
Notice the humility in his request, “Lord, if you are willing.” We must remember that no matter what burden we carry, we do not have to clean ourselves up before coming to Jesus. We can come as we are and ask boldly to be healed, trusting that He both sees us and cares deeply about what concerns us.
Rulebreaker #3: Jesus’ touch transcends tradition and Old Testament laws.
In Jesus’ day, touching someone with leprosy would have made a person ceremonially unclean in Jewish culture, a strict “No, No.” People kept their distance. Lepers understood this rule and didn’t dare to cross the line. But Jesus did the unthinkable. He reached out, touched the leper, and made him whole. Even in today’s world, Jesus is still in the business of touching people who are sick physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
So, here is the bottom line: Jesus breaks rules to bring wholeness.
Here is your challenge for the week. Look for one person in your everyday spaces who may feel unseen or overlooked. Offer a kind word, a listening ear, or act with compassion. As followers of Christ, we cannot allow anything to keep us from touching someone with the love of Jesus.
Sometimes the most Christ-like thing we can do is simply move toward the very people others avoid so we can share Jesus and help them know they are seen, valued, and deeply loved.
