Object: a baby's rattle

Good morning, boys and girls. This morning I want to tell you a story. Back in Jesus' day, there was a kind of nerve disease that was really awful. It was called leprosy. Leprosy was about the worst disease a person could have in Jesus' day. Everyone was afraid of lepers, and they hated them. No one wanted to get close to a leper. In fact, if you had leprosy, you had to go around shouting, "I am unclean! Unclean!" so people would know to stay away from you. Some people with leprosy had to carry rattles. They would shake the rattles and make a lo…