The Brinkley argus., 1914-05-29

T = Jerusalem. yet he "set his lace the . fiint' and nothing could turn him :, am his purpose his crowning work. .;c,,us, however. was never too busy or
 too great haste to do desd of .. 1passionate mercy.
 the The Type of Sin.
 LA Great Need, w. 11-14.-We are familiar with the awfulness of leprosy and that it is type of sin. Like sin, leprosy begins within. is insidious Tn its progress; 1t defies, shuts men out of the society of the clean. It renders It's victims helpless and hopeless. has no remedy and receives no help from men; in consumes and finally kills. This was a terrible spectacle that greeted Jesus eyes as he entered the village, for these lepers were com pelled to live on the outside. Notice (v. 12) that they stood "afar on
 (Eph. 3:13), indeed. so far oil that they were compelled to lift their voices" in order to make known their request, although 1t may have been that the disease had reached their. vocal organs. The Mosaic law com pelled the leper thus to stand afar on. Lev. 13:45, 46. Their salutation was the cry of the needy made to one in authority. The word Master" here used Is not that which usually means teacher, but rather one that would be applied to one in authority, an ap- pointee or a commander. They must have either recognized his power or. having heard of his miracles they ap- pealed to him to exercise like power on their behalf. There was no other who could possibly give them relief, even so the sinners only hope Is to meet Jesus He, and he alone, can cleanse them from their uncieanness and wretchedness. Jesus never l passed that way again. this was their only opportunity. Their need drove them to him. Ofttimes our distress and need are blessings in disguise in that they drive us to Jesus. Though afar off. and though only one drew nigh (v. 16), yet 1t was the privilege of them all. as 1t is also our privilege to draw nigh" Eph. 2:13. Their cry did not fall upon deaf ears Qsa. 59:1), l It was brief, but to the point, peti- l ton. They knew what they needed and ] drove straight to the point. Their ap- peal to his mercy met with immediate response, SO also will the cry of the l needy sinner meet with like re sponse (Rom 10:13). The record does not tell us about the faith of these men and it is useless for us to spec ulate. The cry of faith will have it's answer, Matt 9:29. Their prayer was l brief. 1t must have been humble, be l lieving, earnest and specific, for when ~he saw them" (v. 14) he gave direc
 tons as to the manner whereby they l night be cleansed. He could have l spoken or have touched them. but l his way at that time was to utter
 command This resulted in (a) full 1 filling of the law, (b) test for their faith, (c) a testimony to the priests They showed their genuine earnest ness by immediate obedience, they
 took him at his word. The record is
 wonderfully suggestive. sas they went
 they were cleansed." Faith and works obedience and results. When we act upon his simple yet sublime word we
 too, will receive blessed answer to our every need As we look to him.
 our great high priest. as we take our I eyes on of self, we shall be cleansed
 John 14:21.23.
 Dove Witness Before Men.
 l u. X Grateful Heart, w. 15-1s.--The
 revelation of cleansing brought differ
 ent results to these lepers. One Oi
 them" came back at once to express
 his gratitude. Before he could scarce
 ly speak his petition, now he cries
 with a loud voice." This is g sugges
 ton as to the completeness of his
 cure. He at once uses his restored
 voice to -glorify God, and it looks as
 though he bore this witness before he
 testified to men; (a) being healed
 seems also to have opened his eyes
 as to the character of Jesus. He not
 only returned thanks, but "worshiped
 him." Nor does Jesus refuse to ac
 cept such worship-an evidence of hia
 deity. see Acts 15:25.26; John 6:2a
 and Heb. 1:6.
 The nine were too occupied in re
 joicing with their friends. too busy
 with fulfilling duties from which they
 had long been separated, to express
 their thanks It is significant that
 this one was Samaritan-'a stran'
 ger" This is the one whom less
 would be expected, yet Luke records
 other good things about the Samari
 tan. ch. 1O:33-35. (Luke. as the companion of Paul, shows us not only in his gospel. but in his life of Pau
 Christ's outreachings towards the Gen
 tiles) The Jews have no dealingi
 with the Samaritans (John 4:9). by
 ein makes strange companions.