43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
Jesus’ strong and forceful Words to our healed leper in the verses for today emphasized the importance of the well man’s immediate obedience. His testimony to the priest and the religious leaders of the day would have been a powerful witness - the cleansing of a leper being an undeniable messianic sign. There is nothing more powerfully convincing than one’s own testimony – what has God done in and through the life that speaks it – who can refute it? Jesus desired prompt obedience in this matter. Our Lord, being aware of the muddled view of the messianic mission held by many in that day, wanted to avoid the misunderstandings and premature popular responses – it was and is not yet time for His physical earthly kingdom reign. His forceful words to the healed man were much akin to the stern Words He gave the healed invalid of thirty-eight years recorded in John:
14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. John 5:14-15 (NIV)
Obedience to the Master’s Word is the hallmark of our love and appreciation for what Christ has done for us. Jesus’ interest did not merely lie in compassionately healing a person’s physical condition rather His focus was primarily on their spiritual healing. The physical healings were performed to point people to their need for spiritual healing. Healing a soul from sin was paramount in His mission. Remember, Lazarus was raised from the dead only to die again yet his soul is home safe in heaven. Jesus sought out the ex-paralytic to warn him that his invalid condition of thirty-eight years would be no comparison to the doom of hell if he continued to wallow in the same ways.
"Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ." A.W. Tozer
“Love for God and obedience to God are so completely involved in each other that either one of them implies the other too.” F. F. Bruce
“Obedience to God is the most infallible evidence of sincere and supreme love for Him.” Nathanael Emmons
While it is not specifically stated in Scripture, I lean towards thinking our healed leper was on the way to offer his sacrifices for his cleansing yet in his zeal and excitement could not keep quiet. That is definitely not too hard for me to relate to! A miraculous healing such as his was certainly not a commonality - to say the least! With a heart that is overwhelmed and overflowing with joy and appreciation the mouth is usually not too far behind! Jesus tells us in Matthew:
“For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matt 12:34 (NIV)
Paul also tells us in Romans that we are never to be lacking in our zeal and fervor in our service to the Lord yet we are to be diligently enthusiastic:
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11 (NIV)
Unfortunately for our Lord sake, this man’s zeal caused Jesus to retreat to lonely places. He could no longer enter a town openly without encountering large crowds seeking special favors. This seemed to be a common occurrence for Jesus. We often find Him in Scripture in solitary places away from the clamor of the crowds and the glamour of the limelight. Luke tells us:
16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16 (NIV)