Basic HTML Version
42
The Ministry of Health and Healing
He sees only the Son of God, he hears only the voice that speaks life
to the dying.
Pressing to Jesus, he casts himself at His feet with the cry, “‘Lord,
if You are willing, You can make me clean.’”
Jesus replies, “‘I am willing; be cleansed,’” and lays His hand
upon him.
Matthew 8:2, 3
.
[32]
Immediately a change passes over the leper. His blood becomes
healthy, the nerves sensitive, the muscles firm. The unnaturally
white, scaly surface peculiar to leprosy disappears, and his flesh
becomes as the flesh of a little child.
If the priests were to learn the facts concerning the healing of the
leper, their hatred of Christ might lead them to render a dishonest
sentence. Jesus desired that an impartial decision be secured. He
therefore advised the man to tell no one of the cure but without
delay present himself at the temple with an offering before rumors
concerning the miracle are spread abroad. Before the priests could
accept such an offering, they were required to examine the offerer
and certify his complete recovery.
This examination was made. The priests who earlier had con-
demned the leper to banishment testified to his cure. The healed
man was restored to his home and society. He rejoiced in the vigor
of manhood and in being restored to his family.
Notwithstanding the caution of Jesus, the man could no longer
conceal the fact of his cure, and joyfully he went about proclaiming
the power of the One who had made him whole.
When this man came to Jesus, he was “full of leprosy.” Its deadly
poison permeated his whole body. The disciples tried to prevent
their Master from touching him, for anyone who touched a leper
became unclean. But in laying His hand on the leper, Jesus received
no defilement. The leprosy was cleansed. Thus it is with the leprosy
of sin—deep-rooted, deadly, impossible to be cleansed by human
power. “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. From
the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but
wounds and bruises and putrefying sores.”
Isaiah 1:5, 6
. But Jesus,
coming to dwell in humanity, receives no pollution. His presence
provides healing virtue for the sinner. Whoever will fall at His feet,
saying in faith, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean,”
shall hear the answer, “I am willing. Be cleansed.”