MH page 69

He is a loathsome spectacle. The disease has made frightful inroads, and his decaying body is horrible to look upon. 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. Their expressions of loathing are lost upon him. He sees only the Son of God, he hears only the voice that speaks life to the dying.

Desperate need and focus on Christ overcome social barriers and fear. This paragraph continues the narrative description of the leper's condition and his determination to reach Jesus.

Pressing to Jesus, he casts himself at His feet with the cry, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.”

A suppliant expresses complete reliance on the will and power of Jesus for cleansing. This paragraph contains a direct quotation of a supplication made to Jesus.

Jesus replies, “I will; be thou clean,” and lays His hand upon him. Matthew 8:2, 3 .

Divine willingness and touch bring instantaneous healing. This paragraph narrates the direct action and words of Jesus in healing the leper.

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.

Miraculous divine healing instantly transforms physiological tissue and bodily fluids. Describes the miraculous physical transformation of the leper's body following divine intervention.

Should the priests 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 bids the man tell no one of the cure, but without delay present himself at the temple with an offering before any rumors concerning the miracle should be spread abroad. Before the priests could accept such an offering, they were required to examine the offerer and certify his complete recovery.

Prudence and adherence to established institutional verification are valuable when securing impartial decisions. This paragraph explains the prudential reasoning behind sending the healed man to the temple priests for official examination.

This examination was made. The priests who had condemned the leper to banishment testified to his cure. The healed man was restored to his home and society. He felt that the boon of health was very precious. He rejoiced in the vigor of manhood and in his restoration to his family. Notwithstanding the caution of Jesus, he 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.

Official verification confirms recovery, leading to restoration of social ties and irrepressible testimony. This paragraph describes the verification of the cure by authorities and the subsequent joy and proclamation by the healed man.