Through The Bible in a Year - June 10, 2026

"When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, 'Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.' And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, 'I will; be clean.' And immediately his leprosy was cleansed." - Matthew 8:1-3

The Sermon on the Mount is over. Jesus has said:

• You can't measure up to God's perfect standard

• You can't make it up with your performance

• God is going to have to provide some help

And then He comes down from the mountain.

A leper approaches. In that society, leprosy was seen as the visible manifestation of hidden sin. Lepers were outcasts—unclean, untouchable, condemned.

The leper kneels and says: "Lord, if You will, You can make me clean."

He doesn't say, "I deserve healing." He doesn't say, "I've been good enough." He doesn't say, "I've earned this."

He simply says: "If You will, You can help me."

And Jesus stretches out His hand, touches him, and says: "I will. Be clean."

Immediately, the leprosy was cleansed.

Who can Jesus help? The one who says, "Jesus, You can help me."

And Jesus says, "I will."

Next comes a Roman centurion—an enemy soldier, a foreigner, unworthy. He says, "Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed."

Jesus marvels: "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith."

Faith in what? That Jesus can provide for one who is unworthy, who does not deserve it.

Then Peter's mother-in-law, sick with fever. Many who were oppressed by demons. Jesus healed all who were sick "to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 'He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.'"

Not just physical diseases. Spiritual diseases. Sin. Iniquity. The worst of spiritual oppression. Jesus bore our iniquities. He bore by stripes on His own back and nail prints in hands and feet the punishment we deserved.

Respond: What's the path to receiving Jesus' help?

1. "Jesus, I need some help." Be honest about your brokenness, your sin, your inability to save yourself.

2. "I'm not worthy to ask." Humble yourself. You don't deserve His help. You can't earn it. You can only receive it.

3. "But I believe You can help me." Put your faith in Him—the One who provides for those who cannot provide for themselves.

4. "So Jesus, will You help me?" Ask. Call out. Kneel before Him and say, "Lord, if You will, You can make me clean."

And when we humble ourselves, the broken receive the blessing. He will help.

Grace comes in many versions. Mrs. Grady's grace—driving two hours round trip to get books for a tough kid who was stealing from her library—changed a lifetime. The grace of Jesus Christ can change an eternity.

This week, pray this prayer from your heart:

"Jesus, I need some help. I'm not worthy to ask, but I love mercy. I love Your mercy. Jesus, be merciful to me, a sinner."

And when that is your prayer, He will be merciful forever.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I need some help. I can't measure up to Your perfect standard. I can't make it up with my performance. I am like the leper—unclean, unworthy, unable to save myself. But I believe You can help me. I believe You bore my illnesses and carried my diseases. You took the punishment I deserved. So I ask: Lord, if You will, make me clean. Be merciful to me, a sinner. I'm not worthy to ask, but I believe You can and will help me. I put my faith in You. In Your name, Amen.