Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy

After Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. In one of the cities, a man with leprosy came to Jesus. He knelt before him and begged for help. Luke says he fell on his face. The man said that if Jesus was willing, Jesus could make him clean.

Jesus was moved with compassion. He reached out his hand and touched the man. Then Jesus said that he was willing and told him to be made clean. At once the leprosy left. The man was made clean immediately.

Jesus gave the man a strong instruction. He was to tell no one. Instead, he was to go to the priest and bring the offering Moses had commanded for cleansing. This would be a testimony to them.

But the news did not stay quiet. In Mark's account, the man went out and spread the report widely. In Luke's account, the report about Jesus spread even more, and large crowds came to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities.

Mark says Jesus could no longer openly enter a city, but stayed outside in desert places, while people still came to him from everywhere. Luke adds that Jesus withdrew into the desert and prayed.