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Touch of Faith
41
suspected of having the disease must present himself to the priests,
who were to examine and decide his case. If pronounced a leper, he
was isolated from his family, cut off from the congregation of Israel,
and doomed to associate only with those who were similarly afflicted.
Even kings and rulers were not exempt. A monarch attacked by this
terrible disease must yield his throne and flee from society.
Away from friends and kindred, the leper must bear the curse of
his malady. He was obliged to declare his condition, rend his clothes,
and sound the alarm, warning all to flee from his contaminating
presence. The cry “Unclean! unclean!” coming in mournful tones
from the lonely exile, was a signal heard with fear and abhorrence.
In the region of Christ’s ministry were many of these sufferers,
and as the news of His work reaches them, faith begins to spring
up in the heart of one man. If he could go to Jesus, he might be
healed. But how can he find Jesus? Doomed as he is to perpetual
isolation, how can he present himself to the Healer? And will Christ
heal him? Will He not, like the Pharisees, and even the physicians,
pronounce a curse on him and warn him to keep away from places
where people congregate?
He thinks of all he has been told of Jesus. Not a single person
who has asked His help has been turned away. The wretched man
determines to find the Savior. Though forbidden to enter the cities,
it may be that he can cross the Healer’s path on some mountain trail
or find Him as He is teaching outside the towns. The difficulties are
great, but this is his only hope.
Standing afar off, the leper catches a few words from the Savior’s
lips. He sees Him laying His hands on the sick. He sees the lame,
the blind, the paralytic, and those dying of various maladies rise up
in health, praising God for deliverance. His faith strengthens. Nearer
and yet nearer he approaches the listening crowd. The restrictions
laid upon him, the safety of the people, and the fear with which
everyone regards him—all are forgotten. He thinks only of the
blessed hope of healing.
He is a loathsome spectacle. His decaying body is repulsive. At
sight of him the people fall back. In their terror they crowd upon one
another to escape from contact with him. Some try to prevent him
from approaching Jesus, but in vain. He neither sees nor hears them.