All was ready for my trip to the US this year. Aside from a strange burning sensation on my face, everything seemed fine. The flight ran without any major eventualities, and I arrived to long-missed friends who kindly hosted me. Next day, all would change. My skin began reacting to ‘something;’ as if I was having a bad reaction to medication.
Dermatology is not my strength (it is a common secret among physicians that dermatology is its own strange world; only known well to dermatologists). It took a while to put things together—or rather, accept a new diagnosis. After an initial consultation and a confirmation in the UK, it was clear: I’ve got psoriasis!
Funny enough, the last word study I did before the summer break on the medical language of Leviticus was psora agria (wild ‘psora’; from which we got the word Psoriasis). Now, enough about me. This is what’s cool!
Has it ever happened to you that after a certain experience, things in Scripture become ‘clearer’? Not to say that we interpret Scripture through our experiences. We don’t—we shouldn’t! And yet, adopting does help to deepen our understanding of some passages about adoption. Getting married helps in understanding the concept of being chosen as the ‘bride of Christ’. That’s all I mean. In that sense, this psoriasis opened my eyes to three portions of Scripture I’d like to share with you.
Sanctified for Service
Leviticus 21 is quite an interesting chapter. It is written to set the priests apart from the rest of the people of God as a class that must preserve itself especially holy, clean, undefiled. The purpose of this chapter, of course, is to emphasize God’s holiness, since the priest is approaching God’s presence in the tabernacle and God’s altar, which God sanctifies (Lev 21:23). Among many others, those with itchy diseases are prohibited from serving (Lev 21:20). So, how is it that I can still minister when Scripture forbids others with my condition to do so under the Old dispensation? The answer is two-fold. First, my ministry is different: I do not offer sacrifices, for the ultimate sacrifice has offered himself once and forever (Heb 10:12–14)! Second, I present myself as holy to the Father, through the Spirit’s application of Christ’s righteousness to my favor (1 Co 1:30). Thus, I (and others) can serve Him even while scratching here and there from time to time.
Cleansed by a Willing Savior
As I’ve been scratching my body, I’ve also been scratching my head thinking of that leper who approached Christ (Mk 1:40–45) —the boldness, the faith. I told Laura, “I can definitely understand why he came to Jesus.” When one has been struggling with these diseases for a while, even daily activities become challenging: sleeping, eating, walking, working, or socializing. Tiresomeness becomes a friend and pain a close ally (Ps 31:9–10). To hear that there’s someone able to cleanse you would have been great news—the only question would be: Is He willing? This is the leper’s petition to Jesus: “If you will, you can make me clean” (Mk 1:40). Jesus’s response is short: “I will. Be clean.” Then, He touched him, and he was made clean (Mk 1:41–42). Apart from the power and purity of Jesus, it is His willingness to condescend and touch an unclean leper that should amaze us all there. This is the gospel we preach: Be cleansed by a willing Savior!
Waiting for the Last Dose
With a new diagnosis came a new routine. Wash face, clean it, let it dry, apply medication, let it dry, apply sunscreen, let it dry, repeat. Wash body, let it dry, apply medication, let it dry, get dressed, repeat. Wash elbows and knees, let them dry, apply a different medication, let it dry. Wash hands and feet, let them dry, apply yet a different medication, let it dry, repeat. Each has a different pattern of repetition—face thrice a day or more; hands and feet twice a day or more; elbows and knees once a day…you get the idea. But there’s a promise for those with new and old diagnoses for both physical and spiritual ailments: there is a last dose. There is a river flowing with water of life from the throne where a tree may be found. This tree bears fruit continually; its leaves are for the healing of the nations. The result of this healing tree and life-giving water is not only or ultimately health, but face-to-face worship to God and to the Lamb (Re 22:1–5). And the best news is: this is taking place soon (Re 22:6–7).
Isn’t this fantastic? We are able to approach holy and loving God day to day through the cleansing work of the Spirit, applying the redemption purchased by a willing Lord until the final day, where, as far as the curse extended, God’s grace will be found.
I wrote this article with many in mind—those I’ve had the privilege to minister to, and those who, through their faithfulness in pain, have ministered to me. I’m joining the club. May the Lord use our shared struggles to encourage and build up others.
To donate to our family & ministry, click here!
To know more about what God has called us to, click here.
