7. JESUS HEALS A LEPER Mark 1:40-45 (Matthew 8:2-4; Luke 5:12-16) 40 And there cometh to him a leper,--"A man full of leprosy." (Luke 5:12.) One of the greatest unfortunates the world contains physically. This awful disease demands special notice, for a description of which consult Leviticus 13:1-46, where a variety of symptoms and manifestations are described. God selected this disease as a type of sin. beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.--That is, "Thou canst completely heal my leprosy." According to Matthew he called him "Lord," but the term was used with much latitude. The clearness of faith shown by his words we must notice. His only doubt is as to Christ's willingness, but the words do not imply strong doubt even of this. 41 And being moved with compassion,--This expresses the Savior's feelings of pity. We may be assured that he looks on no scene of suffering without deep sympathy. If thus tenderly compassionate to the type of the sinner, how much more to the more wretched antitype? he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou made clean.--Jesus is just as compassionate now as ever. He will be as sympathizing with us as with the poor leper. If you are not saved through him it will not be because he is not willing, but because you are not. 42 And straightway the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.--The offensive appearance was all gone on the instant, and his flesh was like the flesh of those about him. The certainty and suddenness of the cure without means was a proof of his Messiahship. Jesus not only showed a willingness but power and authority. The instruction which this miracle gives us is that our soul is overspread with the leprosy of sin, and that we must apply for help to the healing power and recovering grace of this same Jesus. His blood is our remedy. We appropriate its cleansing power to ourselves by complying with all conditions upon which salvation is promised in the gospel. 43 And he strictly charged him, and straightway sent him out,--It was characteristic of the miracles of Christ that they were neither preceded nor followed by unnecessary words or acts, but as soon as the desired change was wrought, the subject was dismissed to make way for another. Peter's mother-in-law instantly returned to her household duties (verse 31) without any interval of convalescence. So the leper is no sooner healed than he is sent away. 44 and saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man:--He was not to talk about being healed to any one except the priest. Our Lord frequently gave such prohibition. (5:43; 7:36.) His reasons for doing so varied according to circumstances. but go show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things which Moses commanded,--That is, for his ceremonial cleansing, in order that he might be officially declared free of the disease. This was the duty of subjecting himself to the inspection of a priest and making the offering Moses commanded. While Christ was Lord also of the law, yet he required the man to make the offerings prescribed in the Mosaic law for such occasions. (Leviticus 14:1-12.) for a testimony unto them.--Unto whom? Meyer says "Unto the people that thou art healed." Crysostom says "For a testimony that I do not destroy the law." We do not think either the true meaning. If the man shall go to the priest, be pronounced clean, offer the sacrifices and be restored to his family, whenever the question of the claims of Jesus shall arise, all this will be a "testimony unto them," which will also be a testimony against them if they reject him. Prior to this the priest had pronounced him unclean, and had cast him out of the congregation, and now the priest must pronounce him clean and restore him to society. 45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to spread abroad the matter,--He gives vent to his joy not realizing the importance of obeying his Lord in the matter. He was so deeply affected and overjoyed with the cure that he followed the dictates of his own feelings rather than the command of his Lord. Probably his intentions were good, but his disobedience to Christ's command was a fault and shows the weakness in human nature in following the dictates of human feelings rather than obeying exactly what the Lord commands. He might have felt that he was honoring Christ, but it is a sin to do anything against the command of Christ, though with ever so good a meaning, purpose, and intention to exalt and honor him. Christ can never be exalted and honored save through his own appointments. He can never be honored and exalted through the appointments and institutions of men. These are only parasites sucking the life's blood out of the appointments and institutions ordained of God and sealed by the blood of his Son. Whether the healed man went to the priest at all is no record. insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was without in desert places:--Any city. Perhaps on account of a false report of a legal defilement contracted by his contact with the leper, which had made scandal, or perhaps on account of the disturbance made by the crowds which thronged around him. and they came to him from every quarter.--Every quarter of Galilee. Out in the wilderness the great throngs could incommode no one but themselves. So the fame of Jesus is spreading in ever-widening circles.