The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-17
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE LESSON.
Nov. Is, 1900, Luke xvii, 11-f9-The
Ten Lepers CIeansed-

Nov. is, 1900; Luke xviii, 11-19-The
Ten Lepers CIeansed-
Jesus was starting on his last journey. lie In
tended TO cross the east bank of the Jordan
and join one Of the pilgrim caravans from Gal
lice on its way to the Passover feast at Jerusa-
lem What memories must have been stirred as
He said adieu to the scenes % His early minis
try He was going TO join festive company
but how could He be joyous. who was conscious
ly facing His cross? Only as He recognized II
to be part of that "wll' of Coo which He de-
lighted to do, The incident with which
the journey begins is striking and paraboltc
Deprecate as we may the disposition TO spiritual
ize the scenes in Jesus's life. here is circum-
stance which allegorizes itself in spite OF one
self. II is Jesus's life in miniature. The maady
He TO cure: the means by which cure
is effected; the ingrattude Of the Hebrew race
in particular and OF the human race in general;
finally the spirit and character OF true disciple
ship. In his rhetorical style Farrar saws
that ION the frontier of the two countries tSa-
maria and Galilee) had been gathered. like froth
on the margin of wave and sand. the misery OF
both''-'.a community OF deadly misery Eel
lowship of disease" The fame of Jesus had
reached them. They in waiting for Him.
They knew His title They believed in His
power. With their poor vocal organs quickly
affected and marred by their disease. they still.
while standing at the prescribed distance raised
the cry for mercy. He who knoweth the sus-
ceptbilty of the human frame TO suffering was
touched to pity at the sight and sound. 1t was
not question whether He would heai-only how
He would. The method is recognized at once as
unusual. He commands the sufferers TO present
themselves to the priests for the certificate that
would restore them TO their homes. their syna-
gogues. their various callings- We may specu-
late why this extraordinary way of healing was
,f,t.s
Kitto suggests that they not healed at
once because their faith was less evident. But.
az LANCE says ''the essence of faith manfests
itself in the ten lepers." The sequel IS
the most affecting part of this incident. Nine OF
the lepers were so bent upon the letter OF the
ceremonial law and getting a clean bill of health
from the priest that they forgot the Giver OF
their inestimable gift The letter killed the
spirit. We imagine the pathetic tone of
Jesus's voice as He cried: Where are the
nine?' Well says Farrar: THE heart of Jesus.
familiar as it was with all ingratitude. yet
moved by an instance Of 1t fragrant" And
Lange: 1T is as if all these benefits fall
ing into deep grave" Happily one, the mo-
ment he felt his leprosy gone. forgot all about
the technical phase of the case. whirled his
heel and few to the Masters presence TO offer
the incense OF gratitude. He turned back.
if by that act he postponed the full measure Of
structed of the company. He wanted the Giver
as well the gift. Healing for him the
way to the Healer. He would fain be his dis
cpie. Luke, who had already burst the bounds
OF a narrow sectariansm, notes the fact that
the grateful leper a Samaritan. LANCE
notes the fact that the love which Jesus
hihlts for Samaritans is a pedagogic lesson for
the apostles. go thy way" is Jesus's
command manumitting his new-found Samaritan
he ula nd NJ he
ceremonial law. AS whedon suggests. he had
shown himself to the Great High Priest That
THE STUDY LAMP.
Alas, the dead artificiaity of many associa-
tons The only bond that held these nine Jews
and Samaritan together was their common
malady. When that removed they fell
apart.
The Jews. in their servity to the letter and
their ingratitude were not worthy of their Sa-
maritan comrade in his independence and thank
funess.
Ingratitude, o the shame of it, Roundly does
Wordsworth condemn
Hearts unkind, kind deeds
With coldness still returning"
Jesus might see in this incident the proposition
OF those who would appreciate and be grateful
for His offices. 1t would not be more than one
in ten Is the proportion larger to-day?
We must discriminate between gladness and
gratitude. Gladness may be entirely selfish II
may be blind to its source. But gratitude is one
of the noblest traits Of which the human soul IS
capable. IL is unselfsh. In its Wilderness IL
sweeps to encrcle the gver of the good.
A Samarltan-an alien: Striking proof that
the power of faith and the mercy of God arc not
limited to the sons OF Abraham.
There's Wilderness i'm Gods mercy
Like the Wilderness of the sea-
The faith. In that word Jesus taught the Sa-
martan the procuring disease OF his cure: The
germ for the further development of his inner
life" tMeyer)
This incident discounts miracles They are Of
comparatively small spiritual worth. This mira
Gle returned ten men TO soundness of health, but
only made a believer out OF OF them.
superstition imagined leprosy to be tho scourge
of an offended Deity. Science recognizes IL as,
merely a skin disease, produced by a rainIess
and heated atmosphere by hard labor I'm DOW
derry substances innutritous food and uncIean-
illness in person, clothing and dwelling. IL Is
purely matter of sanitation. Alter the condi-
tions. and you are rid OF the scourge.
Ii is matter Of interest that the conditions of
the Israeiites in Egypt such as to SUPER
induce leprosy, and that they probably became