Jesus Cleanses a Leper

While Jesus is preaching in the synagogues of Galilee, a leper comes up to him. The man kneels and begs him, “If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus puts forth his hand, touches him, and says, “I will; be thou clean.” Immediately the leprosy leaves him, and the man is cleansed. Jesus sends him away at once with a stern warning: he must say nothing to anyone, but go and show himself to the priest and offer for his cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them. Yet the man goes out and begins to publish it freely and to spread the news. Jesus can no longer openly enter a city; he stays outside in desert places, and people come to him from every quarter.