And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
As soon as He spoke the leprosy left the man and he was made entirely clean by the power of His word. His diseased and decaying body was made wholly sound again, with healthy flesh and skin restored to full health. The cure met a case long counted incurable and hopeless, for leprosy was the most dreaded disease of the East and was regarded as a judgment for sin that cut the sufferer off from home and society as unclean. The instant change in answer to the leper's faith showed divine compassion and willingness to heal even the most hopeless sufferer. It stands as proof that none are turned away, and that Christ the great Physician can cleanse the soul from the leprosy of sin.
The Instant Cleansing
As soon as He had spoken, the leprosy departed from the man and he was cleansed, for by His spoken word and command the cure was immediate and complete. The word itself removed the disease at once, and the cleansing was total, leaving nothing of the affliction behind. The change answered the leper's faith that Jesus could make him clean, and it was wrought the moment Jesus declared His willingness.
The diseased, dying and decaying body became wholly healthy, returning him to sound health. Diseased skin became healthy flesh and skin, with sound and sensitive nerves and firm muscles restored. What had been wasting and insensible was made vital and whole, flesh renewed, nerves quickened, and muscles strengthened.
The case was one long regarded as incurable, pronounced incurable by human judgment. Leprosy was the most dreaded of all diseases known in the East because of its incurable and contagious character and its horrible effect upon its victims. It left its victim facing a living death with no hope, a condition from which there seemed no relief. Among the Jews it was regarded as a judgment on account of sin, called the stroke and the finger of God, and being deep-rooted, ineradicable and deadly, it was looked upon as a symbol of sin. By the ritual law the leper was pronounced unclean, like one already dead and shut out from the habitations of men, with whatever he touched unclean and the air polluted by his breath. One suspected of the disease must present himself to the priests to examine and decide his case, and if pronounced a leper he was isolated from his family, cut off from the congregation of Israel, and doomed to associate only with those similarly afflicted. The law was so inflexible that even kings and rulers attacked by it must yield up the scepter and flee from society. Away from friends and kindred he must bear the curse of his malady, publish his own calamity, rend his garments, and sound the alarm with the mournful cry, Unclean, unclean, warning all to flee from his contaminating presence.
The man thus cleansed had the worst, advanced form, judged incurable and forced to leave his home and society. With lepers excluded from cities and villages it was difficult to reach Jesus, yet hope that Jesus could relieve him led him to seek Jesus despite barriers and the crowd's fear. He saw Jesus alone as the one who could heal, and that hope drew him forward when others feared his approach. Seeing others restored had kindled longing to come to Jesus and be healed, with growing conviction that Jesus as the promised Saviour, authorized by God, had power to heal even his incurable disease. Jesus acted with compassion and willingness toward him. The instant change in answer to the leper's faith displayed divine power to restore even an incurable case, an example of compassion and power to heal.
Witness and Restraint
Sending the cleansed man to the priests gave a lawful, publicly certified testimony of healing power beyond the restoration of his health. It showed respect for the law and that there was no opposition to the code of Moses, by directing him to make the offering required by that law. The required examination by the priests confirmed that he was free to return to his family and society.
After cleansing the leper, silence was commanded and publicity was restrained as part of going through Galilee publishing the message in other places. This was because the priests and rulers would come right after to hedge up the way in every possible way, and they did try to do so. Publicity was also restrained because crowds of lepers, seekers coming for selfish reasons, accusations of violating ritual restrictions, and opposition from enemies could hinder preaching and reach to priests and teachers, and the miracles were not performed to win public praise. The healing did become widely known through the man's public announcement and drew many people to Jesus, and the resulting crowds did in fact interrupt the work.
Hope for Sinners
The cleansing stands as an example of compassion and of power to heal. Christ, the great Physician, can cleanse the soul from the leprosy of sin, and His servants can lead sinners to Him for that cleansing. Jesus turns none away; even loathsome lepers find access to His presence, are not refused, and are healed. That reception proves His miraculous power to cure and His willingness to receive the most hopeless sufferers.
Because even lepers could come to Jesus and receive His help, the friends of the paralytic had reason to hope. They concluded that the helpless paralytic also could be relieved if brought under His notice.
His recovery from a disease that had left him with no hope illustrates the help given to people who seemed incurable. In cleansing the leper the Lord Jesus was working to save, and its instruction is to be read and received as a call to partake of a rich banquet.
As soon as He spoke the leprosy left the man and he was made entirely clean by the power of His word. His diseased and decaying body was made wholly sound again, with healthy flesh and skin restored to full health. The cure met a case long counted incurable and hopeless, for leprosy was the most dreaded disease of the East and was regarded as a judgment for sin that cut the sufferer off from home and society as unclean. The instant change in answer to the leper's faith showed divine compassion and willingness to heal even the most hopeless sufferer. It stands as proof that none are turned away, and that Christ the great Physician can cleanse the soul from the leprosy of sin.
The Instant Cleansing
As soon as He had spoken, the leprosy departed from the man and he was cleansed, for by His spoken word and command the cure was immediate and complete. The word itself removed the disease at once, and the cleansing was total, leaving nothing of the affliction behind. The change answered the leper's faith that Jesus could make him clean, and it was wrought the moment Jesus declared His willingness.
The diseased, dying and decaying body became wholly healthy, returning him to sound health. Diseased skin became healthy flesh and skin, with sound and sensitive nerves and firm muscles restored. What had been wasting and insensible was made vital and whole, flesh renewed, nerves quickened, and muscles strengthened.
The case was one long regarded as incurable, pronounced incurable by human judgment. Leprosy was the most dreaded of all diseases known in the East because of its incurable and contagious character and its horrible effect upon its victims. It left its victim facing a living death with no hope, a condition from which there seemed no relief. Among the Jews it was regarded as a judgment on account of sin, called the stroke and the finger of God, and being deep-rooted, ineradicable and deadly, it was looked upon as a symbol of sin. By the ritual law the leper was pronounced unclean, like one already dead and shut out from the habitations of men, with whatever he touched unclean and the air polluted by his breath. One suspected of the disease must present himself to the priests to examine and decide his case, and if pronounced a leper he was isolated from his family, cut off from the congregation of Israel, and doomed to associate only with those similarly afflicted. The law was so inflexible that even kings and rulers attacked by it must yield up the scepter and flee from society. Away from friends and kindred he must bear the curse of his malady, publish his own calamity, rend his garments, and sound the alarm with the mournful cry, Unclean, unclean, warning all to flee from his contaminating presence.
The man thus cleansed had the worst, advanced form, judged incurable and forced to leave his home and society. With lepers excluded from cities and villages it was difficult to reach Jesus, yet hope that Jesus could relieve him led him to seek Jesus despite barriers and the crowd's fear. He saw Jesus alone as the one who could heal, and that hope drew him forward when others feared his approach. Seeing others restored had kindled longing to come to Jesus and be healed, with growing conviction that Jesus as the promised Saviour, authorized by God, had power to heal even his incurable disease. Jesus acted with compassion and willingness toward him. The instant change in answer to the leper's faith displayed divine power to restore even an incurable case, an example of compassion and power to heal.
Witness and Restraint
Sending the cleansed man to the priests gave a lawful, publicly certified testimony of healing power beyond the restoration of his health. It showed respect for the law and that there was no opposition to the code of Moses, by directing him to make the offering required by that law. The required examination by the priests confirmed that he was free to return to his family and society.
After cleansing the leper, silence was commanded and publicity was restrained as part of going through Galilee publishing the message in other places. This was because the priests and rulers would come right after to hedge up the way in every possible way, and they did try to do so. Publicity was also restrained because crowds of lepers, seekers coming for selfish reasons, accusations of violating ritual restrictions, and opposition from enemies could hinder preaching and reach to priests and teachers, and the miracles were not performed to win public praise. The healing did become widely known through the man's public announcement and drew many people to Jesus, and the resulting crowds did in fact interrupt the work.
Hope for Sinners
The cleansing stands as an example of compassion and of power to heal. Christ, the great Physician, can cleanse the soul from the leprosy of sin, and His servants can lead sinners to Him for that cleansing. Jesus turns none away; even loathsome lepers find access to His presence, are not refused, and are healed. That reception proves His miraculous power to cure and His willingness to receive the most hopeless sufferers.
Because even lepers could come to Jesus and receive His help, the friends of the paralytic had reason to hope. They concluded that the helpless paralytic also could be relieved if brought under His notice.
His recovery from a disease that had left him with no hope illustrates the help given to people who seemed incurable. In cleansing the leper the Lord Jesus was working to save, and its instruction is to be read and received as a call to partake of a rich banquet.