Luke 5:15
But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
Reports of His healing power spread all the more widely, and great multitudes gathered both to hear His teaching and to be healed of their infirmities as He met their spiritual and physical needs. He had charged some whom He healed to tell no one, because the more the religious leaders heard of His miracles the more they would try to hedge up His way. The cleansed leper nevertheless publicly proclaimed his cure, thinking the warning came only from modesty and feeling compelled to praise the Healer who had restored him to family and society. The crowds drawn by that publicity became so great that His preaching was hindered for a time, gave His enemies opportunity to oppose Him and strengthen their resolve to destroy Him, and forced Him to withdraw lest the gatherings be used to make the Romans fear an insurrection. Amid that demanding work He withdrew to a solitary place to pray, seeking divine strength in unbroken communion with His Father, showing continual dependence on God as the example for His followers and that His miracles were to serve those in need rather than for display.
Setting and Spread of Fame
The fame of Jesus as the great Healer had spread through the region of His ministry until it reached even the lepers in their isolation. That report put hope in their hearts that if they could come into His presence He might relieve them. His chief work lay among the crowds in cities and villages, and because lepers were shut out from entering any city or village it seemed impossible for them to reach Him. As He taught by the lake, people watched Him heal the sick, and the leper became convinced that He was the promised Savior, authorized by God and able to heal even him.
He had charged some whom He healed to tell no man, because the more the Pharisees and Sadducees and rulers heard of His miracles the more they would try to hedge up His way. Yet notwithstanding those precautions His fame spread all the more widely. The cleansed leper publicly proclaimed his cure despite the warning, thinking the warning came only from modesty and feeling compelled to praise the Healer who had restored his health and returned him to family and society.
Reports of His healing power spread from every quarter, and great multitudes came together both to hear His teaching and to be healed of their infirmities. They came to hear Him teach and to receive healing, for He met the spiritual and physical needs of those who sought His help. His miracles were performed to serve those in need rather than for display or human praise, and as the great Restorer and Medical Missionary His healing ministry offers lessons for those who serve others.
Opposition, Withdrawal, and Lessons
The multitudes drawn by the publicized cure became so great that for a time His preaching work was hindered and He had to stop it. The crowding resulted from the healed man publicly proclaiming his cure despite the warning to tell no one. The cleansed leper thought the warning came only from modesty and felt compelled to praise the Healer who had restored his health and returned him to family and society.
The publicity brought such commotion and excitement that He was forced to withdraw. The withdrawal was needed in part because priests and rulers might use the gatherings to make the Roman authorities fear an insurrection. The healed leper's public account of his cure increased the commotion, and the miracles had not been performed for display.
The spreading fame drew large crowds to hear and to be healed despite His efforts to keep some healings from being publicized, and the growing attention exposed Him to opposition from religious leaders. The more the Pharisees and Sadducees and rulers heard of His miracles the more they would try to hedge up His way, yet notwithstanding His precautions His fame spread all the more. Priests again and again followed Him and expressed violent feeling against Him to stir up the enmity of the people, and the publicity strengthened the resolve of those who wanted to destroy Him and gave His enemies opportunities against His work.
When it was no longer safe to remain in one place He moved elsewhere, going from place to place. Amid this demanding work He withdrew to a solitary place to pray. There in unbroken communion with His Father He sought divine strength and found comfort and joy, and His continual dependence on God enabled Him to serve others and is an example for His followers.
His miracles served those in need rather than being performed for display or human praise. People came from every quarter both to hear His teaching and to be healed of their infirmities, as He met the spiritual and physical needs of those who sought His help. He is the great Restorer and Medical Missionary whose compassion in healing the leper and touch of faith give encouragement, and His healing ministry offers lessons for those who serve others, including that those doing medical missionary work will meet the same opposition.