Chapter 17—The Leper Healed
Jesus was frequently obliged to hide himself from the people; for
the crowds collected so densely about him to witness his miracles,
and the enthusiasm ran so high, that it became necessary to take pre-
cautions, lest the priests and rulers should take advantage of the great
assemblies to arouse the Roman authorities to fear an insurrection.
Never had there been such a period as this for the world. Heaven
was brought down to men. All who came to Jesus for the purpose
of instruction realized indeed that the Lord was gracious and full of
wisdom. They received precious lessons of divine knowledge from
the great source of intelligence. Many hungering and thirsting souls
that had waited long for the redemption of Israel now feasted upon
the bounteous grace of a merciful Saviour. The expected Teacher had
come, and a favored people were living under the full splendor of
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his light, yet many comprehended it not, and turned from the divine
radiance with indifference or unbelief.
Jesus healed many and various cases of bodily disease, while he
was preaching and ministering to sin-sick souls. Many hearts were
liberated from the cruel bondage of sin. Unbelief, discouragement,
and despair, gave place to faith, hope, and happiness. But when the
sick and wretched applied to the Saviour for help, he first relieved the
poor, suffering body before he attempted to minister to the darkened
mind. When the present misery of the suppliant was removed, his
thoughts could better be directed into the channel of light and truth.
Leprosy was the most fearful and loathsome disease of the East.
It was looked upon with great dread by all classes on account of its
contagious character and its horrible effect upon its victim. Great
precautions were taken to prevent the disease from spreading among
the people: With the Hebrews the leper was pronounced unclean.
He was isolated from his family, restricted from the privileges of
society, and cut off from the congregation of Israel. He was doomed
to associate only with those who were similarly afflicted with himself.
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