T HE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
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Two words describe th e intensity of th e ir misery, “ separation” and “suffer ing” ,-—separation from home and loved ones, compelled to keep a t a distance of one hundred paces from every passer by and to lift th e ir hoarse voices in warning, “Unclean, unclean” ; suffering in m ind and h ea rt by reason of th is sep aration , enduring th e to rtu re of the ever increasing m alignity of th e dis- vease; Jews and S am aritans huddling to gether like swine! W hat a picture of misery! It is a picture of th e m isery which sin works, of th e moral uncleanness of sinners, of th e ir separation from God, sinking lower and lower in th e moral scale u n til they are finally submerged in th e dark w aters of eternal distress. The law of separation for the leper is God’s law and finds its endorsement in th e latest resu lts of medical research by which the victims of certain diseases are isolated under compulsion. Is not th is a seal to th a t higher moral law of God which m arks off the sinner for his own place unless he shall find healing th rough obedience to th e law of th e atonement, and cleansing through the blood of the Lamb? (Rom. 8:2-4)- « F o r th e la w o f th e S p irit o f life in C h rist J e s u s h a th m ad e m e fre e fro m th e la w o f sin a n d d e a th . F o r w h a t th e la w co n ld n o t do, in -th at i t w a s w e a k th r o u g h th e flesh, G od se n d in g h is o w n Son in th e lik e n e s s o f sin fu l flesh, a n d fo r sin , co n d em n ed s in in th e flesh ; T h a t th e rig h te o u s n e s s o f th e la w m ig h t be fu lfille d in u s, w h o w a lk n o t a f te r th e' flesh , b u t a f te r th e S p irit.” (2) THE CALL FOR HELP, v. 13. “ Jesus, Master, have mercy!” . It is an unusual cry, in fact, hereto fore, an unknown cry; bu t now th a t the words and work of the sympathizing, compassionate Nazarene have been made known to th e outcasts and fam iliar to th e humblest households, hope springs in many a b reast where despair had been enthroned; The cry is short, simple, direct. I t is not a cry for ju stice or for vindication,
but for mercy. Jesus had healed others. He had pu t His hand upon a leper and healed him ; why should He n et hear them? i t is mercy th a t the world needs. Thank God th a t Jesus passed th a t way th a t day! Thank God th a t He passed by way of th is earth when He left Heaven on His m issionary journey and th a t He proclaimed mercy to a sinful and suffer ing world. There is no need to cry for mercy now. No need to pray for mercy. (Ps. 100:5) « F o r th e L o rd is g o o d . H is m e rc y is e v e rla s tin g ; a n d b is t r u t h e n d u re th to a ll g e n e ra tio n s .” He offers- mercy. He holds th e cup and extends it to us—-drink and live! The vilest of leprous sinners are wel come. (T itus 3 :5 ) «N ot b y w o rk s o f rig h te o u s n e s s w h ich w e h a v e done, b u t a c c o rd in g to h is m e rc y h e sa v e d u s, b y th e w a s h in g o f r e g e n e r a tio n , a n d re n e w in g o f th e H o ly G h o st.” Whosoever will may come. (3) THE CHARGE OF JESUS, v. 14. “Go, show thyself to th e p riest.” Jesus saw them, heard them , respond ed to th eir cry. His eye is always open. His ear is always attentive. (Psa. 34:6) “T h is p o o r m a n c ried , a n d th e L o rd h e a rd h im , a n d sa v e d h im o u t o f a ll h is tro u b le s.” . The m isery of these poor lepers a t trac ted His attention. Their w retched ness won H is compassion. The outcasts th a t would n atu rally repel us will, by th e ir very need, a ttra c t us if we are followers of Christ.
Jesu s’ response is as simple as th eir cry, and as direct. It is equivalent to saying, “ You are healed. Go show yourself to th e p riests.” (Luke 5:14 ) «A nd h e c h a rg e d h im to te ll n o m a n ; b u t g o , a n d sh e w th y s e lf to th e p rie s t, a n d o ffer fo r th y c le a n s in g , a c c o rd in g a s H o ses com m an d ed , f o r a te s tim o n y u n to th em .” T h eir going would be a testim ony to th e ir faith, and the certificate of the priest would be a proof of th e ir cleans ing. The law required the priestly ex am ination before they could be pro nounced clean. AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A GILT-EDGED
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