Healing A Leper
Preaching
Preaching The Miracles
Series III, Cycle B
A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, "If you choose, you can make me clean." Moved by pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I do choose. Be made clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.
Background Material
There is considerable variety to the miracles performed by Christ. One was performed in a synagogue (curing the demoniac), another in a home (healing Peter's mother-in-law), and this one he performed on a public thoroughfare. While Jesus and his disciples were walking, a man afflicted with the terrible disease of leprosy approached them. Fear of leprosy was so great that strict laws had been passed concerning the actions of one so afflicted. The law demanded that lepers should isolate themselves from society, and keep themselves some distance from other people lest they contaminate them. A leper was called upon to shout out "unclean" when approaching others, to warn them to keep their distance. A leper was to come no closer than six feet to anyone. But this man desperately sought a cure and had faith that Christ could bring this to pass. So he came up to Christ, humbly kneeling before the Lord as a gesture of great respect. His confidence, or faith, in Christ is evident when he says: "You can heal me if you choose." He had broken the rule about non-approach. Jesus, taking pity on the man and wishing to reward his faith, touched the man. This act of touching a leper meant breaking another man-made rule. And to the wonder of all those present, Christ's touch brought instant healing to the pitiful leper. It was an amazing miracle, revealing Christ's power as the Son of God. Christ is still the great healer to whom we may turn for cleansing from sin and evil.
Next Jesus issued a stern command to the healed man. He was to follow the prescribed method for being declared one who was healed. He was to go to the priest and fulfill the prescribed rites. Perhaps Jesus issued this order to make sure the man was accepted back into society.
Secondly, Jesus sternly commanded the man not to tell others about his healing. This seems strange, but Christ had a purpose in his directive. But the healed leper was so overcome with joy and relief that he could not contain himself. He went about everywhere, reporting to all who would listen that Christ had healed him of the dreaded disease. Jesus had given the command of silence because he wanted people to come to him for spiritual ministry, and not to witness a miracle worker. Performing magic was a far cry from Christ's call for repentance and his offer of God's grace. He was teaching about faith in God's plan of redemption through Christ's sacrifice on a cross.
Because of the man's persistent witnessing, large crowds formed to see the man who had cured an incurable disease. To avoid the large assembly of people, Christ went to the countryside, seeking privacy. But in huge numbers the crowds sought him out even there.
The validity of the report of this miracle taking place receives its credence from the fact that it was witnessed by a group of people, and by the resultant rush of people who wanted to see the miracle worker. They brought their own sick and lame to Christ to receive his healing powers.
By our own faithful witnessing for Christ we can help build the kingdom of God on earth. The challenge before every Christian congregation is for its members to tell the unchurched about the wondrous works of God. The result will be a rush of people who want to hear more.
The Disease Of Leprosy
Today, cancer seems to be one of the most feared of all ills that can be inflicted upon us. It is so silent that often the first one hears about it is when the awful words of possible doom are pronounced: "You have about six months to live."
In Christ's day the horror of horrors was leprosy. It continued to strike terror into human hearts across the centuries until fairly recent times. Finally a cure was discovered which is effective in most cases.
Because it was so terrible, leprosy totally isolated the one afflicted from all of society. The leper was to live apart and forego all human relationships. The disease was terribly mutilating. Fingers and toes could rot and drop off. The face could become grotesque with the loss of a nose. Its awful effects have been aptly described by William Barclay in his book, The Gospel of Mark:
It begins with pain in the joints. Then there opens on the body patches (discolorations). On them, little nodules form. The skin is thickened. The nodules gather especially in the folds of the cheek, the neck, the lips, and the forehead. The whole appearance of the face is changed till the man loses his human appearance. The nodules grow larger and larger. They ulcerate and from them comes ... a discharge. The eyebrows fall out, the eyes become staring, the voice becomes hoarse and the breath wheezes because of the alteration of the vocal cords. Slowly the sufferer becomes a mass of ulcerated growths. The average course of the disease is nine years and it ends in mental decay, coma, and ultimately death. The sufferer becomes utterly repugnant both to himself and to others.
There is no doubt that it is a living hell, and it had to be endured while separated from the support of family, friends, and society in general.
What Power Jesus Possessed To Overcome So Terrible A Tragedy
People avoided the leper, fearing for their very lives if it should contaminate them. But Jesus did not. He approached the man and did the unthinkable: he touched him. The man with the dreaded leprosy was healed because Christ shut the door to no one. It was he who said: "Come unto me, ALL ye ..." He also declared: "He who comes to me I will in no way turn out." Christ's welcome to the leper reminds us that we may all be welcomed by him. No sin is so great as to separate us from God's love. Jesus is the bridge to our Father's forgiveness. But we can block out Jesus from our lives, to our own severe loss. What unnecessary weight we carry when we do not turn to God in any time of trouble. After all, he is waiting with open arms to receive us, and to grant us help, and rest, and the wondrous provision of his grace.
What power Christ revealed in performing this miracle. What authority he demonstrated. We are reminded of the soldier at the foot of the cross who, having witnessed the death of Christ, declared, "Truly this was the Son of God."
Sermon Material
This Miracle Is Applicable To Everyone
This man had leprosy and we do not. So how does the miracle apply to us? In this instance leprosy can be understood to mean any form of disease; when properly understood, this places each of us in the shoes of the leper. Even though we do not have leprosy, the miracle is not irrelevant to us. Today we still have seemingly unconquerable health problems. Cancer can strike anyone; and only a percentage of cancer victims are able to achieve recovery. AIDS is another form of modern-day "leprosy." It is spreading fast and is a threat to everyone. In such instances we are dependent upon Christ to answer our pleas for help, and to receive his mercy. The answer is not always what we wish, but the opportunity to be in touch with Christ is available.
We need to remember Christ's power to heal. Even turning to him as a last resort can produce many benefits. There are faith healings today that baffle doctors and lay people. Without the desired cure, it is beneficial to have the blessings available through contact with Almighty God. And the age of miracles is not over, as many can attest.
"Tell No One"
As stated in the introduction to this book, Christ did not want his basic message to be diluted. He had come to call people to repentance and to live according to God's will. He realized that the widespread telling of his cures would bring multitudes to him who would come out of curiosity and without regard for his basic message of salvation from sin.
Christ Touched Him
The leper was supposed to stay at least six feet away from everyone, and to touch him was unthinkable. But Christ let him draw near and actually reached out his hand to touch him. And the touch of Christ healed.
There are many ways in which Christ can touch our lives, and always with positive results. We can make contact with him through prayer, by reading the Bible diligently, and in worship in his sanctuary or in private; and always the result is a genuine blessing.
Christ can touch our self-centeredness, leading us to think of others and even to associate with the unfortunate. Without Christ's influence, our first reaction to such people can well be to turn away, not even to see them sometimes, as though they did not exist, and quickly to reject their call for help. But when Christ touches us, we respond affirmatively to such needs.
That same touch or influence can strengthen our resolve to resist whatever temptations assail us to live for ourselves alone, strengthening our resolve to live instead as one of God's concerned people.
Christ's touch can change a personality. It can make us meet life bravely, freeing us from fear of unacceptance, anxiety about what tomorrow might bring, and even fear of death. Through him we can become fearless, happy individuals who meet life's challenges with courage and a smile.
The Need For Faith
Having heard about the miracles which Christ was performing, this leper knew that Christ could heal him. However, he was not certain that Christ would do so. After all, he had been cast out of society. When Jesus said to the leper, "I am willing," he spoke words of encouragement to us. We need to remember God's promise to us that he will never leave us nor forsake us. How reassuring are the words in Psalm 50:15 where God assures us: "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you."ÊFaith plays an important part in our relationship to God.
The Value Of Reverence
The leper fell on his face before Jesus. It was an extreme act of reverence. Reverence has its rewards. Unfortunately it has largely disappeared in today's society. God's name is often taken in vain. Those in authority are demeaned. It seems that only the Boy Scouts with their statement that "a Scout is reverent" are left to support this worthwhile attitude.
Christian Service
We are by nature selfish. "What's in it for me?" is an oft-repeated question. It is well said that self-preservation is the first law of life. One accomplishment of the Christian life is to draw people out of their natural self-centeredness and induce them to perform acts of mercy for others. In this, the model is Christ, who said that even he came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give himself as a ransom for many.
In the instance of this miracle, Christ went against the self-protective attitude of society in his day. Remember, a leper was considered to be beyond human sympathy. But Christ went against the grain, not hesitating to touch the leper, and so to heal him. Christ's pity was in stark contrast to the condemnation of society.
Should we not follow Christ's example today? There is a crying need for pity and understanding for those whom the world would reject. An advertisement once headlined the words: "There are no bad children." It aimed to turn criticism from the action which was unjustifiable, and replace it with consideration of the child who deserved our love. This sort of mind-set evolves from Christian love. We learn to love the unlovable. This is the motivation for congregations to feed the hungry, clothe the needy, reach out to society's unfortunate, and in so doing break down the false barriers of color, religion, and sex.
Forgivable Disobedience
Civil disobedience was the rage a few years ago. It taught that if a law was thought to be unjust, it was permissible for a person to disregard it. Right, or justice, was given priority over legislative bungling. Moral righteousness was placed ahead of flawed justice. In this miracle, the leper disobeyed the command to keep his distance from other people. He brushed aside this law and approached Christ reverently. Kneeling before the Lord, he pleaded for a cure. But in this instance, he was in contact with the Son of God, the ruler of the universe. The man-made command was disobeyed, but a higher authority brushed it aside, and a pitiful leper was healed.
Recounting God's Blessings
We take so much for granted. We accept so much kindness and consideration without a thought of expressing gratitude. Here the cured leper could not be silenced. He went about vigorously proclaiming Christ's goodness in healing him. As a result, throngs of people went in search of Christ. The hymn calls us to "Count your many blessings and it will surprise you what the Lord has done." Our undeserved blessings include sunrises and sunsets. Night skies are an inspiration when filled with stars or a full moon. There is our health, the food we eat each day, our nights of rest, our friends, such assets as clothing, shelter, a job, education, and a host of other things. How can senseless people think of these blessings unless we remind them? As recipients of all these good things, let them know about the Creator who provides them. Do we speak out? How much gratitude do we express?
Illustrations
Leprosy Of Another Kind
While we do not live in fear of leprosy today, leprosy of another kind is always waiting to infect us. There is a spiritual leprosy which eats away at the human soul, just as the leprosy of Christ's day ate away the human flesh of its victims.
Some years ago a book was written with the title The Hollow Man. How hollow, indeed, is that human body which has no inner soul to respond to God! Spirituality is a basic instinct of a human being, and without it we are not complete. We are like hollow men and women.
Love Can Heal
Researchers working with Alzheimer's disease have discovered something which pleases but perplexes them. Sometimes a patient suffering from this disease for which there is no known cure would experience a definite slowing of its progress. Looking more closely, they discovered that such patients were the recipients of much tender, loving care. Some member of the family or a good friend had kept them reassured that they were deeply loved. Love does wonders to the human persona and in some cases can be a powerful healing factor. This is especially true of those suffering from depression or sorrow or a keen disappointment.
Christians Can Be Healers
We marvel at the way Christ healed all manner of diseases. But doctors go about doing the same every day. An elderly doctor, nearing retirement, was standing outside a church one day when another man came along. They shook hands and then the newcomer, turning to another man nearby, declared, "This man saved my life. I would not be living today if it were not for him."
How good that doctor must have felt to hear such a testimony about his skills. He had saved a human life. But think for a moment. Christ said that we, his followers, would also do great things. Can not all of us practice the healing power of Christianity? If we make the most of our opportunities, we can all be one to whom others owe their very life, or least a tremendous improvement in it. Our powers of healing include the reconciliation of differences, bringing back together people whose friendships have been broken. We can heal the brokenhearted and the bereaved with our words of Christian comfort and words of hope. We can dispel loneliness by a cheerful visit. There are so many ways in which we, as followers of Christ, the great Healer, can use his teachings to heal people in our day.
We, Too, Need A Cure
There was once a university professor who startled his class by asserting, "I don't need Christ. I have never broken the Ten Commandments. I refuse to be classified as a sinner." Without knowing it he was echoing the sentiment of a rich young ruler whom Christ described. Not faced with leprosy, this miracle may seem unrelated to us. But a little thought makes it clear that we, too, must turn to Christ for a cure. If we are truthful, we will admit that in various ways we have sinned. In fact, we are born into sin. Like the man whom Christ healed of leprosy, we do not need money to be granted an effective cure of our sins. In fact, if we had all the money in the world, we could not buy forgiveness. It is the free gift of God through Christ, the Savior of the world. We must first come to Christ and ask for forgiveness, and he will give us his assurance that we are right with God. Then in gratitude for the forgiveness we have received, we must strive to live the life that is pleasing to God.
"Jesus Could No Longer Openly Enter Town"
Jesus could not enter the town because his presence drew massive crowds who formed to see the miracle worker. This was contrary to Christ's efforts to preach repentance and build a spiritual kingdom. Today there are other so-called reasons for keeping Christ "out of town." Perhaps the biggest opposition to Christ here in America comes from an organization which supposedly advances civil liberty. Instead, it tries to block many of the ways in which Christ's teachings are offered for the benefit of humankind. Prayer, they say, should not be offered at any public school functions such as commencement or in a classroom. A teacher of English must not have a Bible on her desk. The Ten Commandments are not to be displayed publicly, such as on the wall of a school hallway or courthouse. The Christmas creche must not be allowed on any public property. Wherever their efforts are successful, they thus manage to eliminate Christ with his teachings and influence. How much impairment of Christian character and morals results from this offensive, one can only guess. But serious crime has reportedly been rising among young people at an alarming rate. Where are today's youth going to have the distinction between right and wrong effectively emphasized? We dare not confuse the establishment of a religion, forbidden by the Constitution, with the teaching of morals to our youth.
Our Leprosy
Two characteristics of leprosy are the way it spreads over the body and also contaminates other people and, secondly, how it causes death. It is a deadly disease.
A young woman was talented and beautiful. Among other activities, she was a soloist in her church choir. But another member of the congregation became insanely jealous of her acclaim. So she began to invent stories about the soloist and spread unfounded charges of immorality. Other members of the congregation believed her lies. They joined in a spreading ostracism of the young lady, who could not understand the growing resentment against her. She started to feel cut off from others and a keen sense of loneliness engulfed her. When she learned of the false rumors, she did her best to refute them, but without success. The burden of animosity finally became so great that she committed suicide. At her funeral the pastor, who knew the true story, strongly rebuked his parishioners. In his funeral prayer he prayed: "Lord, you have sent me to minister to your sheep. But these are not sheep, Lord, they are ravenous wolves."
We must take care that we do not indulge in the leprosy of rumormongering. We can be either angels of mercy or angels of death. The many forms of leprosy of the soul must be resisted until we are healed by the grace of God.
Background Material
There is considerable variety to the miracles performed by Christ. One was performed in a synagogue (curing the demoniac), another in a home (healing Peter's mother-in-law), and this one he performed on a public thoroughfare. While Jesus and his disciples were walking, a man afflicted with the terrible disease of leprosy approached them. Fear of leprosy was so great that strict laws had been passed concerning the actions of one so afflicted. The law demanded that lepers should isolate themselves from society, and keep themselves some distance from other people lest they contaminate them. A leper was called upon to shout out "unclean" when approaching others, to warn them to keep their distance. A leper was to come no closer than six feet to anyone. But this man desperately sought a cure and had faith that Christ could bring this to pass. So he came up to Christ, humbly kneeling before the Lord as a gesture of great respect. His confidence, or faith, in Christ is evident when he says: "You can heal me if you choose." He had broken the rule about non-approach. Jesus, taking pity on the man and wishing to reward his faith, touched the man. This act of touching a leper meant breaking another man-made rule. And to the wonder of all those present, Christ's touch brought instant healing to the pitiful leper. It was an amazing miracle, revealing Christ's power as the Son of God. Christ is still the great healer to whom we may turn for cleansing from sin and evil.
Next Jesus issued a stern command to the healed man. He was to follow the prescribed method for being declared one who was healed. He was to go to the priest and fulfill the prescribed rites. Perhaps Jesus issued this order to make sure the man was accepted back into society.
Secondly, Jesus sternly commanded the man not to tell others about his healing. This seems strange, but Christ had a purpose in his directive. But the healed leper was so overcome with joy and relief that he could not contain himself. He went about everywhere, reporting to all who would listen that Christ had healed him of the dreaded disease. Jesus had given the command of silence because he wanted people to come to him for spiritual ministry, and not to witness a miracle worker. Performing magic was a far cry from Christ's call for repentance and his offer of God's grace. He was teaching about faith in God's plan of redemption through Christ's sacrifice on a cross.
Because of the man's persistent witnessing, large crowds formed to see the man who had cured an incurable disease. To avoid the large assembly of people, Christ went to the countryside, seeking privacy. But in huge numbers the crowds sought him out even there.
The validity of the report of this miracle taking place receives its credence from the fact that it was witnessed by a group of people, and by the resultant rush of people who wanted to see the miracle worker. They brought their own sick and lame to Christ to receive his healing powers.
By our own faithful witnessing for Christ we can help build the kingdom of God on earth. The challenge before every Christian congregation is for its members to tell the unchurched about the wondrous works of God. The result will be a rush of people who want to hear more.
The Disease Of Leprosy
Today, cancer seems to be one of the most feared of all ills that can be inflicted upon us. It is so silent that often the first one hears about it is when the awful words of possible doom are pronounced: "You have about six months to live."
In Christ's day the horror of horrors was leprosy. It continued to strike terror into human hearts across the centuries until fairly recent times. Finally a cure was discovered which is effective in most cases.
Because it was so terrible, leprosy totally isolated the one afflicted from all of society. The leper was to live apart and forego all human relationships. The disease was terribly mutilating. Fingers and toes could rot and drop off. The face could become grotesque with the loss of a nose. Its awful effects have been aptly described by William Barclay in his book, The Gospel of Mark:
It begins with pain in the joints. Then there opens on the body patches (discolorations). On them, little nodules form. The skin is thickened. The nodules gather especially in the folds of the cheek, the neck, the lips, and the forehead. The whole appearance of the face is changed till the man loses his human appearance. The nodules grow larger and larger. They ulcerate and from them comes ... a discharge. The eyebrows fall out, the eyes become staring, the voice becomes hoarse and the breath wheezes because of the alteration of the vocal cords. Slowly the sufferer becomes a mass of ulcerated growths. The average course of the disease is nine years and it ends in mental decay, coma, and ultimately death. The sufferer becomes utterly repugnant both to himself and to others.
There is no doubt that it is a living hell, and it had to be endured while separated from the support of family, friends, and society in general.
What Power Jesus Possessed To Overcome So Terrible A Tragedy
People avoided the leper, fearing for their very lives if it should contaminate them. But Jesus did not. He approached the man and did the unthinkable: he touched him. The man with the dreaded leprosy was healed because Christ shut the door to no one. It was he who said: "Come unto me, ALL ye ..." He also declared: "He who comes to me I will in no way turn out." Christ's welcome to the leper reminds us that we may all be welcomed by him. No sin is so great as to separate us from God's love. Jesus is the bridge to our Father's forgiveness. But we can block out Jesus from our lives, to our own severe loss. What unnecessary weight we carry when we do not turn to God in any time of trouble. After all, he is waiting with open arms to receive us, and to grant us help, and rest, and the wondrous provision of his grace.
What power Christ revealed in performing this miracle. What authority he demonstrated. We are reminded of the soldier at the foot of the cross who, having witnessed the death of Christ, declared, "Truly this was the Son of God."
Sermon Material
This Miracle Is Applicable To Everyone
This man had leprosy and we do not. So how does the miracle apply to us? In this instance leprosy can be understood to mean any form of disease; when properly understood, this places each of us in the shoes of the leper. Even though we do not have leprosy, the miracle is not irrelevant to us. Today we still have seemingly unconquerable health problems. Cancer can strike anyone; and only a percentage of cancer victims are able to achieve recovery. AIDS is another form of modern-day "leprosy." It is spreading fast and is a threat to everyone. In such instances we are dependent upon Christ to answer our pleas for help, and to receive his mercy. The answer is not always what we wish, but the opportunity to be in touch with Christ is available.
We need to remember Christ's power to heal. Even turning to him as a last resort can produce many benefits. There are faith healings today that baffle doctors and lay people. Without the desired cure, it is beneficial to have the blessings available through contact with Almighty God. And the age of miracles is not over, as many can attest.
"Tell No One"
As stated in the introduction to this book, Christ did not want his basic message to be diluted. He had come to call people to repentance and to live according to God's will. He realized that the widespread telling of his cures would bring multitudes to him who would come out of curiosity and without regard for his basic message of salvation from sin.
Christ Touched Him
The leper was supposed to stay at least six feet away from everyone, and to touch him was unthinkable. But Christ let him draw near and actually reached out his hand to touch him. And the touch of Christ healed.
There are many ways in which Christ can touch our lives, and always with positive results. We can make contact with him through prayer, by reading the Bible diligently, and in worship in his sanctuary or in private; and always the result is a genuine blessing.
Christ can touch our self-centeredness, leading us to think of others and even to associate with the unfortunate. Without Christ's influence, our first reaction to such people can well be to turn away, not even to see them sometimes, as though they did not exist, and quickly to reject their call for help. But when Christ touches us, we respond affirmatively to such needs.
That same touch or influence can strengthen our resolve to resist whatever temptations assail us to live for ourselves alone, strengthening our resolve to live instead as one of God's concerned people.
Christ's touch can change a personality. It can make us meet life bravely, freeing us from fear of unacceptance, anxiety about what tomorrow might bring, and even fear of death. Through him we can become fearless, happy individuals who meet life's challenges with courage and a smile.
The Need For Faith
Having heard about the miracles which Christ was performing, this leper knew that Christ could heal him. However, he was not certain that Christ would do so. After all, he had been cast out of society. When Jesus said to the leper, "I am willing," he spoke words of encouragement to us. We need to remember God's promise to us that he will never leave us nor forsake us. How reassuring are the words in Psalm 50:15 where God assures us: "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you."ÊFaith plays an important part in our relationship to God.
The Value Of Reverence
The leper fell on his face before Jesus. It was an extreme act of reverence. Reverence has its rewards. Unfortunately it has largely disappeared in today's society. God's name is often taken in vain. Those in authority are demeaned. It seems that only the Boy Scouts with their statement that "a Scout is reverent" are left to support this worthwhile attitude.
Christian Service
We are by nature selfish. "What's in it for me?" is an oft-repeated question. It is well said that self-preservation is the first law of life. One accomplishment of the Christian life is to draw people out of their natural self-centeredness and induce them to perform acts of mercy for others. In this, the model is Christ, who said that even he came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give himself as a ransom for many.
In the instance of this miracle, Christ went against the self-protective attitude of society in his day. Remember, a leper was considered to be beyond human sympathy. But Christ went against the grain, not hesitating to touch the leper, and so to heal him. Christ's pity was in stark contrast to the condemnation of society.
Should we not follow Christ's example today? There is a crying need for pity and understanding for those whom the world would reject. An advertisement once headlined the words: "There are no bad children." It aimed to turn criticism from the action which was unjustifiable, and replace it with consideration of the child who deserved our love. This sort of mind-set evolves from Christian love. We learn to love the unlovable. This is the motivation for congregations to feed the hungry, clothe the needy, reach out to society's unfortunate, and in so doing break down the false barriers of color, religion, and sex.
Forgivable Disobedience
Civil disobedience was the rage a few years ago. It taught that if a law was thought to be unjust, it was permissible for a person to disregard it. Right, or justice, was given priority over legislative bungling. Moral righteousness was placed ahead of flawed justice. In this miracle, the leper disobeyed the command to keep his distance from other people. He brushed aside this law and approached Christ reverently. Kneeling before the Lord, he pleaded for a cure. But in this instance, he was in contact with the Son of God, the ruler of the universe. The man-made command was disobeyed, but a higher authority brushed it aside, and a pitiful leper was healed.
Recounting God's Blessings
We take so much for granted. We accept so much kindness and consideration without a thought of expressing gratitude. Here the cured leper could not be silenced. He went about vigorously proclaiming Christ's goodness in healing him. As a result, throngs of people went in search of Christ. The hymn calls us to "Count your many blessings and it will surprise you what the Lord has done." Our undeserved blessings include sunrises and sunsets. Night skies are an inspiration when filled with stars or a full moon. There is our health, the food we eat each day, our nights of rest, our friends, such assets as clothing, shelter, a job, education, and a host of other things. How can senseless people think of these blessings unless we remind them? As recipients of all these good things, let them know about the Creator who provides them. Do we speak out? How much gratitude do we express?
Illustrations
Leprosy Of Another Kind
While we do not live in fear of leprosy today, leprosy of another kind is always waiting to infect us. There is a spiritual leprosy which eats away at the human soul, just as the leprosy of Christ's day ate away the human flesh of its victims.
Some years ago a book was written with the title The Hollow Man. How hollow, indeed, is that human body which has no inner soul to respond to God! Spirituality is a basic instinct of a human being, and without it we are not complete. We are like hollow men and women.
Love Can Heal
Researchers working with Alzheimer's disease have discovered something which pleases but perplexes them. Sometimes a patient suffering from this disease for which there is no known cure would experience a definite slowing of its progress. Looking more closely, they discovered that such patients were the recipients of much tender, loving care. Some member of the family or a good friend had kept them reassured that they were deeply loved. Love does wonders to the human persona and in some cases can be a powerful healing factor. This is especially true of those suffering from depression or sorrow or a keen disappointment.
Christians Can Be Healers
We marvel at the way Christ healed all manner of diseases. But doctors go about doing the same every day. An elderly doctor, nearing retirement, was standing outside a church one day when another man came along. They shook hands and then the newcomer, turning to another man nearby, declared, "This man saved my life. I would not be living today if it were not for him."
How good that doctor must have felt to hear such a testimony about his skills. He had saved a human life. But think for a moment. Christ said that we, his followers, would also do great things. Can not all of us practice the healing power of Christianity? If we make the most of our opportunities, we can all be one to whom others owe their very life, or least a tremendous improvement in it. Our powers of healing include the reconciliation of differences, bringing back together people whose friendships have been broken. We can heal the brokenhearted and the bereaved with our words of Christian comfort and words of hope. We can dispel loneliness by a cheerful visit. There are so many ways in which we, as followers of Christ, the great Healer, can use his teachings to heal people in our day.
We, Too, Need A Cure
There was once a university professor who startled his class by asserting, "I don't need Christ. I have never broken the Ten Commandments. I refuse to be classified as a sinner." Without knowing it he was echoing the sentiment of a rich young ruler whom Christ described. Not faced with leprosy, this miracle may seem unrelated to us. But a little thought makes it clear that we, too, must turn to Christ for a cure. If we are truthful, we will admit that in various ways we have sinned. In fact, we are born into sin. Like the man whom Christ healed of leprosy, we do not need money to be granted an effective cure of our sins. In fact, if we had all the money in the world, we could not buy forgiveness. It is the free gift of God through Christ, the Savior of the world. We must first come to Christ and ask for forgiveness, and he will give us his assurance that we are right with God. Then in gratitude for the forgiveness we have received, we must strive to live the life that is pleasing to God.
"Jesus Could No Longer Openly Enter Town"
Jesus could not enter the town because his presence drew massive crowds who formed to see the miracle worker. This was contrary to Christ's efforts to preach repentance and build a spiritual kingdom. Today there are other so-called reasons for keeping Christ "out of town." Perhaps the biggest opposition to Christ here in America comes from an organization which supposedly advances civil liberty. Instead, it tries to block many of the ways in which Christ's teachings are offered for the benefit of humankind. Prayer, they say, should not be offered at any public school functions such as commencement or in a classroom. A teacher of English must not have a Bible on her desk. The Ten Commandments are not to be displayed publicly, such as on the wall of a school hallway or courthouse. The Christmas creche must not be allowed on any public property. Wherever their efforts are successful, they thus manage to eliminate Christ with his teachings and influence. How much impairment of Christian character and morals results from this offensive, one can only guess. But serious crime has reportedly been rising among young people at an alarming rate. Where are today's youth going to have the distinction between right and wrong effectively emphasized? We dare not confuse the establishment of a religion, forbidden by the Constitution, with the teaching of morals to our youth.
Our Leprosy
Two characteristics of leprosy are the way it spreads over the body and also contaminates other people and, secondly, how it causes death. It is a deadly disease.
A young woman was talented and beautiful. Among other activities, she was a soloist in her church choir. But another member of the congregation became insanely jealous of her acclaim. So she began to invent stories about the soloist and spread unfounded charges of immorality. Other members of the congregation believed her lies. They joined in a spreading ostracism of the young lady, who could not understand the growing resentment against her. She started to feel cut off from others and a keen sense of loneliness engulfed her. When she learned of the false rumors, she did her best to refute them, but without success. The burden of animosity finally became so great that she committed suicide. At her funeral the pastor, who knew the true story, strongly rebuked his parishioners. In his funeral prayer he prayed: "Lord, you have sent me to minister to your sheep. But these are not sheep, Lord, they are ravenous wolves."
We must take care that we do not indulge in the leprosy of rumormongering. We can be either angels of mercy or angels of death. The many forms of leprosy of the soul must be resisted until we are healed by the grace of God.
