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atoned for by the blood, and re-consecrated by the oil. Here in the leper may be seen
Israel's condition before God, "no soundness, but wounds, bruises and putrifying sores".
The leper's condition cut him off from worship and service, rendering him quite unfit for
any act of ministry in any shape or form; such was Israel--Israel that was destined to be a
kingdom of Priests, Israel of whom the Gentile will yet say, "They are the ministers unto
our God"; Israel - a leper.
The two questions that appear in this miracle are those concerning the Lord's power
and will. Of the Lord's power the leper had no doubt, "If thou wilt, thou canst". The
Lord alone could decide the question of willingness, and He did so, saying, "I will, be
thou clean". Think for a moment of a mere man, confronted by the awful plague of
leprosy (incurable still in this day of medical knowledge), daring to say, "I will". The
One before whose will leprosy flees away at a word, who can say, "Be thou clean", is the
same One who uttered the words recorded in Gen. 1:, "Let there be light, and there was
light". The miracle is full of prophetic hope for the uncleansed nation. He who was and
is their Messiah is both ABLE ("thou canst"), and WILLING ("I will"), and in God's
good time the leper will be cleansed and receive the anointing oil of re-consecration.
After Israel's cleansing will follow that of the Gentiles; this is the consistent theme of
prophecy, type and doctrine, e.g., Gal. 3: 12-14:--
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law. . . . that the blessing of
Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ."
Acts 3: 25, 26, `"Saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all kindreds of the earth
be blessed. Unto you first, God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you,
in turning away every one of you from his iniquities."
The cleansing of the leper by personal touch is followed by the healing of the
centurion's servant by a word spoken at a distance. The Lord is no sooner acquainted
with the servant's condition, than the gracious willingness is again made manifest.
Before the request is actually made the Lord said, "I will come and heal him"; then
follows an exhibition of faith so great that it is written of the Lord that He marveled. On
only one other occasion is it recorded that the Lord "marveled", but then it was at the
"unbelief" of those who were of His own country, and kin and house (Mark 6: 6).
The words of the centurion reveal how clearly he recognized the Lord as the SENT
ONE. All who see Him thus will be brought to the same estimate of themselves, "I am
not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof". Then come the words of faith that
cause the Lord to marvel, "but speak the words only, and my servant shall be healed".
What a contrast with another military Gentile--Naaman, who said, "behold, I thought he
will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and
move his hand up and down over the place".
Great faith can dispense with all means and accessories, and can rely on "the word
only". It was faith indeed on the leper's part to say to the Lord, "if thou wilt, thou canst",
but it was greater faith for the centurion to dare to decline the personal visit of the Lord
and rest confidently in His spoken word. We suggest that he recognized Christ as the
Sent One, because of his added explanation. He said more than the A.V. records; not
merely did he say, "for I am a man under authority", but he said, "for I ALSO am a man