This Week's Story
click here to play audioThe leper found the one who cared for him, though the leper's culture rejected him.
This Week’s Story relives American history and the Bible through brief inspiring stories presented on mp3 audio recordings and text for reading.
If you are willing…. part two
Sick, healthy, and hopeful people came down the mountainside. Walking, skipping, stumbling. A great crowd! Some helped family members or friends who were crippled or blind. All were attempting to follow Jesus.
Earlier in the day he had spoken to many of them for a long time. His words and healing were magnetic to friend or foe, old or young.
One leper stubbornly refused to stop trying to get to Jesus. As he hobbled down the mountainside, he stayed behind the crowd. He mumbled, “I must see Him. I know He can make me well. Will He? Can I reach Him? Almighty God, may the people not stop me. May no rock be hurled at me and prevent me from getting to Jesus.”
People shouted, “Get away from us. We do not want your leprosy.”
“I do not want to give you leprosy. I want to be healed.”
“What is he saying?”
“I cannot understand him. His lips are rotten with leprosy. Stay away from him.”
“Maybe Jesus could heal him. Today He has spoken wonderful truth and healed many of our people.”
As the crowd neared the foot of the mountain, they spread out towards a nearby town. The leper hopped clumsily towards an opening to Jesus. He called, “Unclean! Unclean!” He did not dare go any closer.
He kneeled down and bowed his head to the ground. “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me well.”
Jesus did not step away. His eyes were alight with love. He was not afraid of the leper. Whether the leper’s disease was contagious or not, caused him no fear. Jesus stretched forward and tenderly touched the leper’s shoulder. He said, “I am willing. Be made well.”
People stared. What was happening? The leper’s sores were gone. How? The leper’s skin looked clean like something just sprung into life. Fresh! The leper looked healthy.
Jesus spoke, as the leper’s kind and wise teacher. “Do not tell anyone of your cure. Go to the priest and give the offering which Moses commanded that a leper give who no longer had leprosy.
In the years of Moses, leprosy could refer to a skin disease. Regardless the steps prescribed by God to Moses were detailed. Day one was a multi-step purification process. It also included specific offerings. On days one through seven, the recovered person was to shave off all hair, wash clothing, bathe thoroughly, and live outside his tent for seven days. On the seventh day, hair was shaven again, clothing washed, and the body bathed. On the eighth day offerings, which represented salvation were brought by the well person.
Today leprosy in contemporary medicine is called Hansen’s disease. It is treated with multiple antibiotics.
The leper’s healing by Jesus was instant! The leper went through the nearby town sharing the news: JESUS HEALED ME!!
The story of today’s leper can be found in the Bible in Matthew 8, Mark 1, and Luke 5.
Continue checking out stories from American history and the Bible at thisweeksstory.com.
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