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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
previously examined him, and whose decision had banished him from
his family and friends.
Joyfully he presented his offering to the priests and magnified the
name of Jesus who had restored him to health. This irrefutable testi-
mony convinced the priests of the divine power of Jesus, although they
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still refused to acknowledge him as the Messiah. The Pharisees had
asserted that his teachings were directly opposed to the law of Moses,
and for the purpose of exalting himself; yet his special directions to the
cleansed leper to make an offering to the priest according to the law of
Moses, evidenced to the people that these accusations were false.
The priests were not allowed to accept an offering from the hands
of one who had been afflicted with leprosy, unless they first thoroughly
examined him and proclaimed to the people that he was entirely free
from the infectious disease, was in sound health, and could again
unite with his family and friends without endangering them. However
unwilling the priest might have been to accredit this marvelous cure
to Jesus, he could not evade an examination and decision of the case.
The multitude were anxious to learn the result of the investigation, and
when he was pronounced free from disease, and privileged to return
to his family and friends, great was the excitement. Such a thing had
never before been known.
But notwithstanding the caution of Jesus to the cleansed leper he
published the matter abroad. Conceiving that it was only the retiring
modesty of Jesus that laid these restrictions upon him, he went about
proclaiming the mighty power of this great Healer. He did not under-
stand that every new manifestation of divine power on the part of Jesus
only made the chief priests and elders more determined to destroy him.
The restored man felt the boon of health was very precious. The pure
blood coursing through his veins quickened his entire being with a new
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and delightful animation. He rejoiced in the full vigor of manhood
and in his restoration to his family and society. He felt it impossible
to refrain from giving full glory to the Physician who had made him
whole.
But the publicity of this affair created so great a commotion that
Jesus was obliged to retire beyond the city. “And they came to him
from every quarter.” These miracles were not worked for display; the
acts of Christ were in direct contrast to those of the Pharisees, whose
greatest ambition was to secure the praise and honor of men. Jesus