The miracles of Jesus - Classical Christian Literature by Athleo.net

THE TEN LEPERS 269
said, " I must work the works of Him that sent Me
while it is day, for the night cometh, when no man
can work." And what were these works of God
The healing of the sick, the lifting of burdens, the comforting
of the sad, the strengthening of the meek, and
so the latter days of Jesus were full of gracious deeds
and words which shed light
around Him.
and gladness and health
2. There is something characteristic, too, in the sensitiveness
of our Lord to the varying response that was
made to His healing energies.
He asked for no return, but dispensed His favour
freely, " all of grace." Ten wretched men, suffering
from a loathesome disease, condemned to perpetual
isolation from their kind, and obliged to keep a
certain distance even from passing wayfarers, met
Him away on the hillside. Such a sight would always
draw the eyes of the Good Shepherd, and His heart
would yearn towards them. Just because they were
friendless, outcast, divorced for ever from wife and
children and home, miserable and ill—they were
His friends, and He was their friend. And while
He had no favours to bestow that kings would
value, He had a largesse of help to give to such as
these, and His ear was ever open to their cry.
But though He cared nothing for any return for
His kindness, so far as He Himself was concerned,
the story shows that He was deeply sensitive to the
way these men behaved after their cure. Their
attitude was correct enough beforehand — "Jesus,
Master, have mercy on us ! " Perhaps one of these
poor fellows had, earlier in our Lord's ministry, seen
Him perform a healing act on some other leper,