12
On another occasion, when He was in one of the towns, there was a man there covered with leprosy, who, seeing Jesus, threw himself at His feet and implored Him, saying, "Sir, if only you are willing, you are able to make me clean."
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Reaching out His hand and touching him, Jesus said, "I am willing; be cleansed!" And instantly the leprosy left him.
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He ordered him to tell no one. "But go," He said, "show yourself to the Priest, and make the offering for your purification which Moses appointed, as evidence for them."
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But all the more the report about Him spread abroad, and great multitudes crowded to hear Him and to be cured of their diseases;
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but Jesus Himself constantly withdrew into the Desert and there prayed.
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One day He was teaching, and there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law sitting there who had come from every village in Galilee and Judaea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present for Him to cure people.
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And a party of men came carrying a palsied man on a bed, and they endeavoured to bring him in and lay him before Jesus.
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But when they could find no way of doing so because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiling--bed and all--into the midst, in front of Jesus.
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He saw their faith and said to him, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
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Then the Scribes and Pharisees began to cavil, asking, "Who is this, uttering blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?"
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Well aware of their reasonings, Jesus answered their questions by asking in turn, "What is this that you are debating in your hearts?