When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
When he came down from the mountain great multitudes followed him, and this opens the account of his meeting the leper with healing and help. His healing work drew people to him and could lead them beyond relief from physical suffering to eternal life. The coming down followed his discourse on the mountain, which a very large congregation had heard in the open air.
The ministry gathered many to hear him teaching by the lake outside the city limits. The crowd watched him lay hands on the sick and heal them, seeing the lame, the blind, the paralytic, and those dying of various maladies rise up restored at his word. He came down to work among the people as a teacher and healer who drew people from every direction, preaching and ministering to sin-sick souls while healing many and various cases of bodily disease.
In meeting the multitudes he showed humility and tenderness and care for the erring and for those needing sympathy and love, bearing with people whose lives and character show the deformity of sin. He first relieved the suffering body before ministering to the darkened mind, so that when present misery was removed thoughts could better be directed into light and truth. Many hearts were liberated from bondage of sin and unbelief, and discouragement and despair gave place to faith, hope and happiness.
His fame as the great Healer spread through the region and reached even the isolated lepers debarred from city and village. The leper had heard of his mighty works, and standing afar off as near as he dared he heard his words and saw him heal the sick, which strengthened his belief that Jesus was the promised Saviour who could heal him. When the leper approached, the frightened crowd drew back and pressed against one another to avoid him and then gathered close to see the healing, while the leper pressed forward in hope in Jesus' power despite the restrictions on him and the crowd's fear. Even lepers could approach him and receive healing, showing his compassion.
In that healing which the verse introduces, he directed the healed man to go to the priests and present the offering required by the law of Moses, thereby affirming the law that required offerings. His bearing with such ones who have not honored the cause of God teaches that even such ones must be borne with, remembering how wicked and sinful all have been and how he still bears with them.
When he came down from the mountain great multitudes followed him, and this opens the account of his meeting the leper with healing and help. His healing work drew people to him and could lead them beyond relief from physical suffering to eternal life. The coming down followed his discourse on the mountain, which a very large congregation had heard in the open air.
The ministry gathered many to hear him teaching by the lake outside the city limits. The crowd watched him lay hands on the sick and heal them, seeing the lame, the blind, the paralytic, and those dying of various maladies rise up restored at his word. He came down to work among the people as a teacher and healer who drew people from every direction, preaching and ministering to sin-sick souls while healing many and various cases of bodily disease.
In meeting the multitudes he showed humility and tenderness and care for the erring and for those needing sympathy and love, bearing with people whose lives and character show the deformity of sin. He first relieved the suffering body before ministering to the darkened mind, so that when present misery was removed thoughts could better be directed into light and truth. Many hearts were liberated from bondage of sin and unbelief, and discouragement and despair gave place to faith, hope and happiness.
His fame as the great Healer spread through the region and reached even the isolated lepers debarred from city and village. The leper had heard of his mighty works, and standing afar off as near as he dared he heard his words and saw him heal the sick, which strengthened his belief that Jesus was the promised Saviour who could heal him. When the leper approached, the frightened crowd drew back and pressed against one another to avoid him and then gathered close to see the healing, while the leper pressed forward in hope in Jesus' power despite the restrictions on him and the crowd's fear. Even lepers could approach him and receive healing, showing his compassion.
In that healing which the verse introduces, he directed the healed man to go to the priests and present the offering required by the law of Moses, thereby affirming the law that required offerings. His bearing with such ones who have not honored the cause of God teaches that even such ones must be borne with, remembering how wicked and sinful all have been and how he still bears with them.