One of the ways that the Bible describes what Jesus did for us is reconciliation, the restoration of our relationship with God (See 2 Cor. 5; Romans 5:1-11; 8:1).  In the OT Law of Moses (Leviticus 13-14) various skin diseases were condemned as “unclean.”  If someone suffered from an unclean disease they were required to live outside the Israelite camp as the people wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.  Even worse, if someone came near to them they were legally required to cry out “UNCLEAN,” announcing to the “clean” person to steer clear so they would not become contaminated.  

Part of this was for public health.  But the greater issue was purity.  The people of Israel were called to be a living symbol of God’s holiness.  Impure things, including people, were not allowed.  

We know that the Israelites were filled with sin.  King David wrote the famous Psalm 51 after his affair with Bathsheba.  He openly admitted to his spiritual and moral “uncleanliness.”  “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!”  (Psalm 51:2).  However, lepers became a living symbol of separation from God’s people and, ultimately, God.  

Jesus came to reconcile and restore the situation.  All of us are spiritual “lepers” like David, but some can hide it better than others.  The man with actual physical leprosy knew that he needed Jesus.  He had nowhere else to turn.  David knew this, too.  He was completely dependent on God’s mercy.  

In Christ we find that mercy overflowing in an eternal well of living water (John 4).  Jesus removes the condemnation of the Law of God (Romans 8:1) and gives us the new, reconciled, restored life of a beloved child of God (John 1:12-13). Jesus came into this world because He was willing to cleanse us from anything and everything that cuts us off from God.  That is the good news, the Gospel, “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16).