St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-11-28

J ! |. !
kJHk 4tDfZKI In syAoptic gospels. 1t
WI @hl1 MI reveals the depth
!!,s3 VI M OF human need and
n MIIIIk the fullness of the
I@WWx mercy and power of
iNEAil God to meet that
NyZlNyW need. 1t was dur
&W1NX ing Jesus first
G& Galilean minis
@S try, and when His
IA fame as a healer
nau spread even to the secluded retreats
where the lepers were forced to abide
in solitary misery, that one day while
Jesus was In certain city. behold. a
man full of leprosy' came and threw
himself at the feet Of Jesus and be-
sought Him for cleansing from his loath-
some disease. He was full OF leprosy"
and must have been fearful sight The
stringent Jewish law required that the
leper live outside the towns and villages
separated from his fellow-men, and that
he should cry: "Unclean, unclean." so
that the wayside traveller might be
warned and might keep at a safe dis
lance to prevent deflement and avoid
contagion. But this leper seeing Je-
sus" seemingly forgot the restrictions
which bound him as leper and, rush
ing past the disciples and those sur
rounding Jesus, threw himself at His
feet. Doubtless all but Jesus were dis
concerted and amazed. No doubt but
that the crowds and even the disciples
themselves hastily withdrew to 4 safe
distance and gave the leper the full COM
mand Of Jesus presence. As they watch
those two-the one bowed with his face
to the ground and pleading for help, the
other standing in calm confidence with
compassionate face beaming upon the
piteous object before Him (for Mark
tells US that Jesus was moved with COM
passion), they see something which
startles them even more than the COM
ing Of the leper had done. Jesus put
forth His hand and touched him" This
under the Jewish law meant defilement.
1t was abhorrent to the Jews, but their
establishment and even indignation are
forgotten In the transformation which
takes place before their eyes. The ghast-
" white blotches upon the leper's hands
and face take On the clean rosy hue Of
healthy flesh. The cavities in the face,
eaten out by the progress of the dis
ease, are filled out with new flesh and
bone. The fingers, which at the joints
were decayed and fallen away, were
made strong and complete under the
cleansing, Transforming power Of God.
And 90 the leper feels the transformation
which has been wrought in his body, he
raises his voice in Wild exultation Of
praise to God. But Whist . voice! The
sharp, thin, distressing tones Of the leper
have given place to the full, deep, strong
voice OF restored health and manhood.
What scene that was! How dramatic!
How glorious!
DUT the glory Of that scene is exceed
ID ed ~ the glory which is revealed
when the sinner is cleansed and saved.
Tor the leprosy Of sin is more terrible.
more deadly, and more universal. The
leprosy OF the body can work the de-
struction Of the physical man, but the
leprosy Of sin In the soul is able to COM
pass the ruin Of the soul and cast 1t into
hell. Physical leprosy is operative only
during time, but leprosy of the soul con-
tinues through eternity. The creative
mower Of God could root out the disease
81 leprosy and restore the body to It's
normal condition and functions. built
fook : Christ on the cross, 1t took His
precious blood shdd for the sins OF the
world. to cleanse from the leprosy OF
ain And this incident which occurred
nearly nineteen hundred years ago has
4. vital message for the world to-day.
II II suggestive Of the condition and
need of the people OF the world and 1t re-
ve.le Tesus' attitude towards the sinner,
His power to cleanse and save, ana Ills
tender. quick response to the appeal 1or
mercy and help. And first OF all let US
consider the leper and what his conol-
ton involved.
TIE vas .full Of leprosy," 80 says the
81 physician-eyangelfst Luke. Terri
HE. YOU NY, and so It was, but sin IS
more terrible in its effects and more
widespresd. This man was probably 10
the lat stages OF the disease. From his
h..d q his feet there were evidences OF
tha terrible ravages which leprosy mad
r,sde mon him. The description which
1sen Lew Wallace gives In Ben Hur
~ the lepers Of Jesus day gives some
IA. n the probable condition OF this
nm Who was full Of leprosy But
--h.r +ha disease started 1t was only
.n.ll hlotch upon his body. He could
cover ii up. He could hide It from .ne
eves 81 others. But notwithstanding
hnv small and insignificant the indica-
t,on. 81 the disease ct the start II naa
within IT the possibilities Of the conol-
+,on ,,hich We see realized IN the man
Who was full Of leprosy." i was only
. nuestion of time when the one Win
40 ,enrous spot would become the one
. a.s q leprosy," forced to hide ms
, .ll.. face behind the cloth mantle
:. a.. crv sunclean, unclean. And TINS
= the way it is with the ieprosy u SIN
4 e 20 little, 50 small. 80 innocen.
looking It the start. one Woulu s'ai.ey
. The connection between 1t ana
~ 800. nr,shed product Of sin. but It IS
49, .11 ~ the exceeding sinfulness OF
~. 80 ~hether It il the big sin or the little
Il. IN me sin clothed In the garments y
-, OF the sin which reeks
N..h ~ Yonlness Of lust and passionate
49,. =, ain Is sin in Gods sight. ana
. 1870 Il q finished. At bringetn lortn
p 81. tst,,. ares Of sin is death.