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First Leper to Be Cleansed by Christ
157
The leper was guided to the Savior as He taught beside the lake.
Standing far away, the leper caught a few words from the Savior’s
lips. He saw Him laying His hands on the sick, the lame, the blind,
and the paralyzed, and those who had been dying of various illnesses
rose up and praised God for their deliverance. Faith strengthened in
his heart. He went closer, forgetting the restrictions laid on him and
the fear everyone had for him. He thought only of the blessed hope
[116]
of healing.
He was a repulsive spectacle, his decaying body horrible to look
at. When people saw him, they fell back in terror, crowding one
another in their eagerness to avoid any contact with him. Some tried
to prevent him from approaching Jesus, but he neither saw nor heard
them. He saw only the Son of God. Hurrying to Jesus, he threw
himself at His feet with the cry, “Lord, if You are willing, You can
make
me
clean.” (Italics added.)
Jesus replied, “I am willing; be cleansed,” and laid His hand on
him.
Immediately a change came over the leper. His flesh became
healthy, the nerves sensitive, the muscles firm. The rough, scaly
surface on his skin disappeared, and a soft glow, like that of a healthy
child’s skin, took its place.
Christ urgently instructed the man about the necessity of silence
and prompt action. Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to
anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for
your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony
to them.” If the priests knew the facts concerning the healing, their
hatred of Christ might lead them to give a dishonest judgment. Jesus
wanted the man to present himself at the temple before rumors of
the healing had reached them. In this way, the restored leper could
secure an impartial decision and be permitted to unite with his family
and friends again.
The Savior also knew that if news of this leper’s healing spread,
other sufferers from this disease would crowd around Him, and the
cry would be raised that the people would be contaminated. Many
lepers would not use the gift of health as a blessing to themselves or
others. And by drawing lepers around Him, Jesus would open the
way for His enemies to accuse Him of breaking down the restrictions
of the law. This would hinder His preaching.