The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-10-31

NJ VA " Galilean N s.
try, and when His
fame as healer
had spread even to the secluded retreats
where the lepers were forced TO abide
in solitary misery. that one day whiie
Jesus was In certain city. behold d
man full of leprosy" came and threw
himself at the feet of Jesus and De-
sought Him for cleansing from his loatn-
some disease. He was full OF leprosy
aud 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 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
iug 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 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 I'm calm confidence with
compassionate face beaming upon the
piteous object before Him flor Mark
tells us that Jesus was moved with COM
passion). they see something which
startIes 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 deflement.
It 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
we're decayed and fallen away, were
made strong and complete under the
cleansing. Transforming power Of God.
And as the leper feels the transformation
which has been wrought In his body. he
raises his voice In wild exultation Of
praise TO God But what voice. The
sharp. thin. distressing tones Of the leper
have given place to the full. deep. strong
voice of restored health and manhood.
What a scene that was! How dramatic!
How glorious!
DUT the glory of that scene Is exceed
ID ed by the glory which is revealed
when the sinner is cleaIsed and saved,
for 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
ieprosy of sin Ia the soul Is able to COM
pass the ruin Of the soul and cast 1t into
he'll. Physical leprosy is operative only
during time. but leprosy Of the soul con-
tinues through eternity. The creative
power OF God could root out the disease
OF ieprosy and restore the body to Its
normal condition and functions. but Il
took a Christ on the cross. It took His
precious blood shed for the sins Of the
world. to cleanse from the leprosy of
sin. And this incident which occurred
nearly nineteen hundred years ago has
its vital message for the world to-day.
IL is suggestive OF the condition and
need of the people Of the world and II re-
yeais Jesus attitude towards the sinner.
His power to cleanse and save. and His
tender. quick response to the appeal for
mercy and help And first of all let us
consider the ieper and what his condI-
tion involved.
LIE was full OF ieprosy." so says the
III physician-evangelist Luke. Terri
BILE, you say. and SO II was, but sin Is
moro terrible In its effects and more
widespread. This man vas probably.In
the last stages OF the disease From his
head TO his feet there were evidences of
the terrible ravages which leprosy had
made upon him. The description which
ten. Lew Wallace gives In Ben Hur
OF the Iepers OF Jesus day gives some
idea of the probable condition OF this
man who was full of leprosy." But
when the disease started Il was only a
small blotch upon his body. He could
cover II UP. He could hide II from the
dyes OF others. But Notwithstanding
how small and Insignificant the indica-
lions OF the disease at the start Il hal
within IL the possibilities OF the condI-
ton which we see realized In the man
who was full Of leprosy." II was only
a question Of time when the one with
the leprous spot would become the one
full OF Ieprosy." forced to hide his
hideous face behind the icloth mantle.
and cry, 'unclean. unclear." And this
In the way II is with the leprosy Of sin.
II r. 80 little. 90 small. so innocent
looking at the start, one would scarcely
realize the connection between II and
the finished product OF sin. but It Is
there. On, the exceeding L;nfulness OF