The Leper

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In the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of Matthew, we find Jesus up on a mountain, teaching the disciples, while multitudes of people were around listening.
The truths Jesus taught are very wonderful and precious. And if you will read and study carefully these three chapters, you may learn many helpful lessons.
“When He (Jesus) was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.” Matthew 8:11When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. (Matthew 8:1).
Among this great number was a leper. A leper is a person who has leprosy, and leprosy is a terrible disease that cannot be cured.
In this country people who have leprosy are sent to places that are called leper colonies, so that other people will not get the disease from them.
In olden times if a leper was near people who did not have the disease, he was expected to cry, “Unclean, unclean,” so that they would know he had leprosy, and would keep away from him.
The leper we are reading about in the 8th chapter of Matthew, had no right to be in the crowd of people that were following Jesus, but he had heard of this wonderful Man who healed diseases, and he had faith in Him.
“If only I can get close enough to speak to Jesus,” he thought, “He will cure me.”
So he pushed through the crowd and when he got close to Jesus, he worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.”
“And Jesus put forth His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I will; be thou clean.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”
No one else in all that multitude of people would have dared to touch this man, sick with such an unclean and terrible disease, But Jesus’ love went out to him just the same as to others, and restored him to health.
Dear children, because leprosy is incurable, it is used in God’s word as a type of sin. We are all sinners.
“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).
And we cannot get rid of sin, any more than the poor leper could get rid of his leprosy. God alone is able to cleanse us.
Do not think you can make yourself good. And do not think the good deeds you may do can wipe out, or atone for the bad ones. Nothing less than the death of His own beloved Son, bearing your sins on the cross, could satisfy God.
Jesus suffered the punishment you deserve, and if you turn to Him for salvation, your sins will be forgiven.
“There is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.” Psalm 130:44But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. (Psalm 130:4).
ML 01/11/1931