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e Son of man。 None of the means that men employ to win allegiance or command homage did Jesus use。 Centuries before His birth； it had been prophesied of Him；
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〃He shall not cry； nor lift up； nor cause His voice to be heard in the street。 A bruised reed shall He not break； and the dimly burning flax shall He not quench： He shall bring forth judgment unto truth。 He shall not fail nor be discouraged； till He have set judgment in the earth。〃 Isa。 42：2…4； margin。
The Pharisees sought distinction by their scrupulous ceremonialism； and the ostentation of their worship and charities。 They proved their zeal for religion by making it the theme of discussion。 Disputes between opposing sects were loud and long； and it was not unusual to hear on the streets the voice of angry controversy from learned doctors of the law。
In marked contrast to all this was the life of Jesus。 In that life no noisy disputation； no ostentatious worship； no act to gain applause； was ever witnessed。 Christ was hid in God； and God was revealed in the character of His Son。 To this revelation Jesus desired the minds of the people to be directed； and their homage to be given。
The Sun of Righteousness did not burst upon the world in splendor； to dazzle the senses with His glory。 It is written of Christ； 〃His going forth is prepared as the morning。〃 Hosea 6：3。 Quietly and gently the daylight breaks upon the earth； dispelling the shadow of darkness； and waking the world to life。 So did the Sun of Righteousness arise； 〃with healing in His wings。〃 Mal。 4：2。
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Chapter 27
〃Thou Canst Make Me Clean〃
Of all diseases known in the East the leprosy was most dreaded。 Its incurable and contagious character； and its horrible effect upon its victims； filled the bravest with fear。 Among the Jews it was regarded as a judgment on account of sin； and hence was called 〃the stroke；〃 〃the finger of God。〃 Deep…rooted； ineradicable； deadly； it was looked upon as a symbol of sin。 By the ritual law； the leper was pronounced unclean。 Like one already dead； he was shut out from the habitations of men。 Whatever he touched was unclean。 The air was polluted by his breath。 One who was suspected of having the disease must present himself to the priests； who were to examine and decide his case。 If pronounced a leper； he was isolated from his family； cut off from the congregation of Israel； and was doomed to associate with those only who were similarly afflicted。 The law was inflexible in its requirement。 Even kings and rulers were not exempt。 A monarch who was attacked by this terrible disease must yield up the scepter； and flee from society。
Away from his friends and his kindred； the leper must bear the curse of his malady。 He was obliged to publish his own calamity； to rend his garments； and sound the alarm； warning all to flee from his contaminating presence。 The cry； 〃Unclean！ unclean！〃 coming in mournful tones from the lonely exile； was a signal heard with fear and abhorrence。
In the region of Christ's ministry； there were many of these sufferers； and the news of His work reached them； kindling a gleam of hope。 But since the days of Elisha the prophet； such a thing had never been known
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as the cleansing of one upon whom this disease had fastened。 They dared not expect Jesus to do for them what He had never done for any man。 There was one； however； in whose heart faith began to spring up。 Yet the man knew not how to reach Jesus。 Debarred as he was from contact with his fellow men； how could he present himself to the Healer？ And he questioned if Christ would heal him。 Would He stoop to notice one believed to be suffering under the judgment of God？ Would He not； like the Pharisees； and even the physicians； pronounce a curse upon him； and warn him to flee from the haunts of men？ He thought of all that had been told him of Jesus。 Not one who had sought His help had been turned away。 The wretched man determined to find the Saviour。 Though shut out from the cities； it might be that he could cross His path in some byway along the mountain roads； or find Him as He was teaching outside the towns。 The difficulties were great； but this was his only hope。
The leper is guided to the Saviour。 Jesus is teaching beside the lake； and the people are gathered about Him。 Standing afar off； the leper catches a few words from the Saviour's lips。 He sees Him laying His hands upon the sick。 He sees the lame； the blind； the paralytic； and those dying of various maladies rise up in health； praising God for their deliverance。 Faith strengthens in his heart。 He draws nearer and yet nearer to the gathered throng。 The restrictions laid upon him； the safety of the people； and the fear with which all men regard him are forgotten。 He thinks only of the blessed hope of healing。
He is a loathsome spectacle。 The disease has made frightful inroads； and his decaying body is horrible to look upon。 At sight of him the people fall back in terror。 They crowd upon one another in their eagerness to escape from contact with him。 Some try to prevent him from approaching Jesus； but in vain。 He neither sees nor hears them。 Their expressions of loathing are lost upon him。 He sees only the Son of God。 He hears only the voice that speaks life to the dying。 Pressing to Jesus； he casts himself at His feet with the cry； 〃Lord； if Thou wilt； Thou canst make me clean。〃
Jesus replied； 〃I will； be thou made clean；〃 and laid His hand upon him。 Matt。 8：3； R。 V。
Immediately a change passed over the leper。 His flesh became healthy； the nerves sensitive； the muscles firm。 The rough； scaly surface peculiar to leprosy disappeared； and a soft glow； like that upon the skin of a healthy child； took its place。
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Jesus charged the man not to make known the work that had been wrought； but straightway to present himself with an offering at the temple。 Such an offering could not be accepted until the priests had made examination and pronounced the man wholly free from the disease。 However unwilling they might be to perform this service； they could not evade an examination and decision of the case。
The words of Scripture show with what urgency Christ enjoined upon the man the necessity of silence and prompt action。 〃He straitly charged him； and forthwith sent him away； and saith unto him； See thou say nothing to any man： but go thy way； show thyself to the priest； and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded； for a testimony unto them。〃 Had the priests known the facts concerning the healing of the leper； their hatred of Christ might have led them to render a dishonest sentence。 Jesus desired the man to present himself at the temple before any rumors concerning the miracle had reached them。 Thus an impartial decision could be secured； and the restored leper would be permitted to unite once more with his family and friends。
There were other objects which Christ had in view in enjoining silence on the man。 The Saviour knew that His enemies were ever seeking to limit His work； and to turn the people from Him。 He knew that if the healing of the leper were noised abroad； other sufferers from this terrible disease would crowd about Him； and the cry would be raised that the people would be contaminated by contact with them。 Many of the lepers would not so use the gift of health as to make it a blessing to themselves or to others。 And by drawing the lepers about Him； He would give occasion for the charge that He was breaking down the restrictions of the ritual law。 Thus His work in preaching the gospel would be hindered。
The event justified Christ's warning。 A multitude of people had witnessed the healing of the leper； and they were eager to learn of the priests' decision。 When the man returned to his friends； there was great
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excitement。 Notwithstanding the caution of Jesus； the man made no further effort to conceal the fact of his cure。 It would indeed have been impossible to conceal it； but the leper published the matter abroad。 Conceiving that it was only the modesty of Jesus which laid this restriction upon him； he went about proclaiming the power of this Great Healer。 He did not understand that every such manifestation made the priests and elders more determined to destroy Jesus。 The restored man felt that the boon of health was very precious。 He rejoiced in the vigor of manhood； and in his restoration to his family and society； and felt it impossible to refrain from giving glory to the Physician who had made him whole。 But his act in blazing abroad the matter resulted in hindering the Saviour's work。 It caused the people to flock to Him in such multitudes that He was forced for a time to cease His labors。
Every act of Christ's ministry was far…reaching in its purpose。 It comprehended more than appeared in the act itself。 So in the case of the leper。 While Jesus ministered to all who came unto Him； He yearned to bless those who came not。 While He drew the publicans； the heathen； and the Samaritans； He lo