But the publicity of this affair created so great a commotion that Jesus was obliged to retire beyond the city. “And they came to him from every quarter.” These miracles were not worked for display; the acts of Christ were in direct contrast to those of the Pharisees, whose greatest ambition was to secure the praise and honor of men. Jesus well knew that if the fact of his cleansing the leper was noised abroad, those in a similar condition would be urgent to obtain the same cure. This would raise the cry that the people would be contaminated by contact with the loathsome disease of leprosy. His enemies would seize such an opportunity to accuse and condemn him. {2SP 231.1}

Man da denne begivenhed blev offentlig bekendt, frembragte den så stor besværgelse, at Jesus blev tvunget til at drage bort fra staden. "Og dog, kom de til ham alle vegne fra." Disse mirakler blev ikke udførte for at få ære fra mennesker. Kristi værk var i fuldstændig modsætning til farisæernes, hvis største lyst var at vinde menneskers ros. Jesus vidste godt, at når det blev bekendt, at han havde renset den spedalske, så ville andre, som var i samme tilstand, trængte sig frem for at blive helbredte. Dette ville give anledning til at vække frygt blandt folket for at blive smittet ved at komme i berørelse med de spedalske, og hans modstandere ville gribe dette som en årsag til at anklage og fordømme ham.