This morning’s reading from Luke 5:12–16 reminds us of both Jesus’ compassion and His commitment to prayer. A man with leprosy, desperate and untouchable by society, comes to Jesus and says, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Jesus responds, “I do choose,” and—remarkably—touches him. That touch not only heals but restores the man’s dignity. In a world that cast him out, Jesus draws him in. And after healing, Jesus again withdraws to pray—showing us that even in the busiest moments, communion with the Father is essential. May we learn to extend compassion like Jesus and ground our lives in prayer, especially when things get overwhelming.

Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our

Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God’s Word.

Click here if you’d like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST.

Click on the image above or this link to watch today’s video.

You can read today’s passage here.

You can podcast this reflection here. You can subscribe through Spotify or Apple Podcasts as well.

Or, if you’d like to read the transcript of the video, keep reading!

Good morning. It’s good to be with you today on this wonderful Thursday morning. I hope all is well for you as we continue together in our time in Luke’s Gospel.

Today we’re reading from Luke 5:12–16:

Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.”
Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do choose. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him.
And he ordered him to tell no one. “Go,” he said, “and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them.”
But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad. Many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases.
But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.

There are a few important things in this short passage that I want us to notice.

First, we once again see Jesus withdrawing to a deserted place to pray. Back in chapter 4, we saw this same thing—Jesus stepped away from the crowds. Luke adds something more here: he withdrew specifically to pray. This rhythm of solitude and prayer is a constant in Luke’s Gospel. It’s clear that prayer was essential to Jesus.

If Jesus Christ—the very Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, God in the flesh—valued regular prayer, how much more should we? Our prayer time shouldn’t be an afterthought. It should be the rock that anchors the rest of our lives. I once read a quote attributed to Martin Luther: “I have so much to do today that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Often, when life gets busy, prayer is the first thing we cut. But for Jesus, it was the thing he prioritized most when the demands of ministry grew heavy.

Now, to the healing itself.

A man with leprosy approaches Jesus and says, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” Jesus replies, “I do choose. Be made clean.” And immediately, the leprosy leaves him.

Leprosy was a devastating disease—not only physically, but socially and spiritually. It was highly contagious and marked by visible, disfiguring symptoms. For most of human history, those diagnosed with leprosy were exiled. They lived apart from the community, unable to participate in worship, commerce, or even family life. Lepers were quite literally untouchable. They lived outside the town and outside society.

This man comes to Jesus in desperation. He doesn’t question Jesus’ ability—he knows Jesus can heal him. The only question is whether Jesus is willing. And Jesus says, “I do choose.” But he doesn’t just speak healing—he does something deeper.

He touches him.

That matters. Because Jesus could have healed him with just a word, like he did with Peter’s mother-in-law or with the man possessed by an unclean spirit. Jesus had healed from a distance before. He didn’t have to touch this man. But he did.

This is likely the first time this man had been touched since he was diagnosed. Touching a leper was illegal under both religious and civil law. Yet Jesus reaches out and touches him.

That touch isn’t just about physical healing—it’s about dignity. It’s about compassion. It’s about restoring someone who had been cast out by every layer of society.

And more than that, the touch of Jesus didn’t make Jesus unclean. That’s how it normally worked: if someone unclean touched someone clean, their uncleanness was transferred. But Jesus flips that reality. His holiness transfers instead. Jesus touches the man—and the man is made clean.

That’s grace. That’s the Gospel. Our sin doesn’t make Jesus unclean. His grace makes us clean. As the hymn says, “Grace, grace, God’s grace—grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace that is greater than all our sin.”

And still—he touched him.

Who in your life today feels untouchable?

Who has been cast out, forgotten, dismissed, or avoided?

Who do you know that everyone else has given up on?

Jesus touched the leper. And today, he still reaches out to touch people the world calls untouchable. He still heals. He still restores. And he calls us to do the same.

Maybe someone in your life needs a hug today—or a handshake, or a kind word. I’m not much of a hugger myself, but sometimes a hug is exactly what someone needs. Who is that person for you? Who is waiting on a simple act of compassion?

Jesus touched the leper—and he touches us. He makes us clean, not because we’re worthy, but because he chooses to. So may we do the same—may we extend the love and touch of Christ to those who need it most.

Thanks for being with us today. Tomorrow, we’ll pick up with verse 17 of chapter five. See you in the morning.