Mark 1_40_45 Exegesis and Outline

The class was told to paint a picture of cows grazing in a meadow. Soon, Little Johnny lifts a hand that he’s finished and shows the teacher a blank sheet of paper. “But Johnny, you didn’t paint anything on it?” says the teacher. “Well, the cows have eaten all the grass and since there was no grass left, they just went away.”

No one would want me to pant them a picture, perhaps that was Johnny’s issue, He couldn’t paint! But Mark pants a beautiful picture of the coming kingdom of God as He illustrates Jesus’ healing of disease and defilement in a single stroke. The day is coming when there will be no more disease and defilement on earth, However it is not yet here but we have hope and assurance of that day in Jesus’ action in Mark 1:40-45.

Mark 1:40-45 is a continuation from verses 29-39, they are attached by Jesus’ statement, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” He and the 4 disciples leave to do just that and somewhere along the way Jesus meets a man with Leprosy who implores Jesus to heal Him.

Jesus’ fame is growing strong yet people have a shallow understanding of Jesus’ Identity as well as His purpose. This is seen by the droves of people who come to Him for healing, not once have we seen a person come to Jesus and declare Him Christ asking Him to heal their spiritual sickness. His message was the Kingdom was at hand and the people wanted the benefits of the kingdom but did King of the kingdom.

This text is connected to the following scene 2:1-13, while Jesus is back in Capernaum more people come to Him for healing and three men bring their friend to Jesus but can’t get to Him. Determined the friends remove the roof and lowering him down to Jesus by which Jesus marvels at their faith and say’s to the paralyzed man, “your sin is forgiven you.” It these words and Jesus’ further statements reveal that He has the authority to forgive sin! Sin is the root problem of all sickness; if sin had never entered the world neither would have sickness.

We have seen Jesus’ authority over the last several verses in regards to temptation, men’s destiny, doctrine, disease, and demons, in Mark 1:40-45 we see a picture of Jesus’ authority to forgive sin reconciling man to God followed by a public announcement in 2:5,9 “your sins are forgiven you.”

Today I am convinced that Mark is writing about much of what his mentor Peter has told and taught him. As, Peter has looked in hindsight over his time with Jesus he is telling Mark, I lived with Him and yet I missed it, the eternal significance of the Kingdom and kingdom living that Jesus was displaying. Therefore Mark is trying to relay this message to his readers, “don’t miss the significance kingdom living.

The Desperate Man Vs.40

Mark 1:40 tells us that a man with Leprosy approached Jesus, beseeching Jesus to make him clean. Here we see a man desperate because of Leprosy. In Greek, lepros is the word translated leper; its literal meaning is a man who has leprosy. Leprosy in Biblical times was a term used to describe various infectious skin diseases. Many believe that this leprosy is Hansen’s disease but that can’t be confirmed. None the less, the man had an infectious skin disease and had been declared a leper by the priests.

In the book of Leviticus we have two chapter containing 116 verses dealing with Leprosy, Lev. 13 and 14, no other disease is treated as extensively in the Law. Leviticus 13 tells us of the diagnoses of Leprosy, if one suspected he had leprosy he went to the priest for an examination. A definition of Leprosy is given in Lev. 13:3, The priest shall look at the mark on the skin of the body, and if the hair in the infection has turned white and the infection appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is an infection of leprosy; when the priest has looked at him, he shall pronounce him unclean. There are at least two things to glean from this definition, 1) the infection is deeper than the skin of his body, 2) the person is declared unclean. This is important to help us better understand the way Leprosy was viewed in ancient Israel.

In Ancient Israel Leprosy is seen as a disease but also as defilement, it paints a clear picture of sin and is equal to sin in its consequences. We see the characteristics of sin in Leprosy.

It is deeper than the skin (v.3), Leprosy and sin both are not merely a surface problem but an inner problem. Leprosy can eat flesh away to the bone and we are sinful to the bone.

It spreads (v.7), leprosy has a way of spreading and defiling the whole body, likewise sin spreads, often beginning with a thought, followed by a desire, followed by an act, then terrible results.

It defiles (v. 44-46), the leper is pronounced unclean therefore he is ceremonially defiled and cut off from religious services. They were required to ear torn clothes cover themselves completely except for their eyes and cry “Unclean! Unclean!” so people could avoid them lest they become defiled. This is the tragedy of sin; it defiles the mind, the heart, the body, and all it touches.

It isolates (v.46), He shall dwell alone! What sad words, “outside the camp” the place of rejection was the only place for a leper. Sin always isolates people, taking them away from family, friends, and ultimately God. This is the words of Jesus on the cross as He became sin, “My Father My Father why have thou forsaken me.”

It destines things for the fire (v. 52), any garment that was found with leprosy was burned. There is only one place for sin, and that is the fires of judgment.

*Note that the leper does not ask Jesus to heal him but to make him clean, he is diseased and defiled and asks not merely to be healed but to be purified.

Mark tells us that the desperate man came beseeching Jesus, this is the Greek verb parakalĕō which means to implore or to beg. Begging is a sure sign of how desperate this man was, Luke tells us this man was full of leprosy giving the idea of being in the final stages of leprosy and his desperateness is further shown by him falling on knees. The man’s request is extraordinary, he knew Jesus was able to heal him though no one in recorded Hebrew history had been healed of Leprosy except Miriam and Nahamm, but wasn’t sure if Jesus was willing to heal him. I assume the man had leprosy for so long and had been void of human contact and relationships that he was in a hopeless state. Lost sinners today have the same unnecessary concern, for God has made it abundantly clear that He is not willing that sinners perish (2 Peter 3:9) and that He is willing that all men be saved (1 Tim. 2:4).

The Compassionate Man

In English the word compassion means to be sympathetic and concerned for the suffering or misfortunes of others. But the Greek word Mark uses is ŏrgizō which means to provoke or enrage, to be angry. A close look at the context reveals us to us that that Jesus was seemingly upset, the crowds always wanted Him to heal them, throughout the Gospels we see that Jesus has long suffering for people in fact there were instances that Jesus tells His disciples “you unbelieving generation, how long must I put up with you.(Mark 9:19)” This is what is happening here, Jesus is put out with the unbelief of the generation of man. It is important to note that the leper believed Jesus could cleanse him but didn’t believe Jesus was willing to cleanse him. But Jesus had come to do just that, cleanse people of their sin!

We see that this pericope is connected with the next scene where Jesus publicly announces forgiveness of sin. As mentioned above Leprosy was associated with sin and we see a parable lived out meant to show people including the priest that Jesus came to forgive sin thus He must be the Messiah. All though Jesus was provoked by the question of His willingness it did not keep Him from displaying His loving nature. HE TOUCHED THE LEPER! We understand that this touch was not necessary for healing to take place because there are scenes in the Gospel where Jesus heals from afar but this touch is a touch of love much needed by this lowly and desperate man.

We do not know how long the man has had leprosy but Luke tells us he was “full” of leprosy meaning the final stages, so it had been quite some time. This is the first human contact the man has had seen the priest pronounced him unclean, Jesus is exceedingly willing to meet the needs of the whole person, He did not merely cleanse his body but gave him affection in the process, we can say that this is the loving touch of God.

The touch is important but the main verb is found in Jesus’ words, I am willing be cleansed. Be cleansed is the Greek verb katharizō which means to be made pure. At once this man who was desperate, hopeless, lonely and on the verge of death is immediately cleansed!

It must not be forgotten that this miracle is a picture of Jesus’ purpose and authority to forgive sin and must be associated with His heavenly identity.

The Disobedient Man

Once the leper was cleansed Jesus gave him an important command, go show yourself to the priest and offer up what the Law requires as a testimony for them. In Leviticus 14 we find the Law of cleansing a Leper. It was a long drawn out process requiring sacrifices so that the person could be announce cleansed and reenter into society and religious fellowship.

First there was a sacrifice to be made by the priest, he took two birds killed one and then cover the other in the blood and set it free. Secondly, the Leper was to wash himself. Thirdly, he waited eight days to offer sacrifices of his own; a trespass offering, a sin offering, and a burnt offering. Finally the priest applies blood and oil to the person’s right ear, right thumb, and right big toe.

Mark records many miracles in His gospel but this one is extremely important. You can search the entire Bible over and look through History and you will find two people healed of leprosy; the first was Miriam Moses’ sister which took place before the Law was given (Num. 12:13-15) and second was Naaman the Syrian (2 Kings 5:1,24) who was not under the Law. Each of these healings were from God Himself and neither were subject to the Law therefore this ceremony had never taken place in Israel. What a testimony it would have been to the priest.

Remember, the priest had to pronounce the man unclean thus there would be a record in the temple and the preist had to declare the person clean and this would have spoken clearly that Messiah had come and sin is being forgiven, but instead the man chose to go tell everyone else.

Isn’t it funny, that Jesus tells us to go tell everyone about Him and we tell few to none but He told this man to tell no one but the priest and he tells everyone except the priest?

Just has leprosy is a picture of sin the Law of cleansing a leper is a picture of the atonement of sin. The blood was applied, the sinner was purified and reunited with God the father and His children.

Application: What we see in this text is a picture beautifully painted by Mark of Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth, heal mankind from sin. This can be viewed as a living parable meant to teach a great truth by Jesus’ deed. He shows His authority over sin but He gives us a glance at what the Kingdom of God looks like, a place free of sickness and sin, free of disease and defilement. This is the kingdom we long for and should view as the kingdom we belong to here and now.

This picture shows Jesus’ message in action, the time has been fulfilled the kingdom of God is at hand and lead people to repentance and faith. Perhaps if the man had obeyed the leaders of Israel they would have opened an investigation and found that Jesus was indeed the Messiah and have received Him.

The Desperate Man (40)

The Desperate Man’s Condition (desperation)

The diagnosis of Leprosy

The definition of Leprosy (Lev. 13:3)

The hopelessness of Leprosy (No Cure)

The loneliness of Leprosy

The picture of Leprosy(Disease and defilement)

It is deeper than the skin Lev. 13:3

It spreads Lev. 13:7

It defiles Lev. 13:44-46

It isolates Lev. 13:46 (place of rejection)

It destines things for the fire Lev. 13:52

The result of Leprosy

(Luke “Full of Leprosy” … Final stages death)

The Desperate Man’s Posture

The Desperate Man’s Request

The Compassionate Man (41-42)

The compassion of the Savior (provoked to anger)

The loving touch of the Savior

The cleansing words of the Savior

The Disobedient Man (43-45)

The command of the Savior

The offering of purification

Priest’s offering

Leper’s washing

Leper’s offering

Trespass offering

Sin offering

Burnt offering

The history of purification

Miram the sister of Moses (Numbers 12:13-15)

Naaman the Syrian (2 Kings 5:1,14)

The testimony to the priest

Application : What we see in this text is a picture beautifully painted by Mark of Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth, heal mankind from sin. This can be viewed as a living parable meant to teach a great truth by Jesus’ deed. He shows His authority over sin but He gives us a glance at what the Kingdom of God looks like, a place free of sickness and sin, free of disease and defilement. This is the kingdom we long for and should view as the kingdom we belong to here and now.

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