A leper came to him (and kneeling down) begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean." The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, "See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them." The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere. (Mk 1:40-45)
Jesus had compassion on the leper. It was not just an attitude of his rather he expressed this in action. Compassion was not just a mental or emotional expression but it was physical. Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. Jesus’ compassion was seen in action. It was a direct action and an immediate action. Compassion should compel one into direct and immediate action. The action also produced the desired action. (Leprosy left him immediately).
Jesus warned him sternly. He was warned not to say anything to anyone but rather show himself to the priest. The healed person was asked to go back to the society and also to the religion (he belonged to a religious community). His return to the community would surely make known the healing done to him. Jesus also was willing to reveal the healing done to him but he did not want the people to know that it was done through Jesus.
The more he wanted to be secret the greater he was known by people. People came to him in big number and they were willing to go to anyplace and walk any distance to meet Jesus because they wanted to be healed. Jesus was a healer.
