The Gospel of Mark - Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Mark Chapter One:
I. Forerunner
II. Fisherman
III. Freedom
I. Forerunner
I. Forerunner
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.” 3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ”
I. Forerunner
A. John’s Appearance
John’s appearance was foretold in the prophets:
1 “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts.
This is a Messianic passage.
Notice that there are TWO messengers - One messenger that is sent to prepare the way for the Messenger of the covenant, or the Messiah.
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.
Verses 2 and 3 of this chapter of Mark combine these two prophesies together.
Mark is saying right from the beginning - Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah! (and he spends the rest of his gospel demonstrating it)
John himself was also a prophet.
He was titled such by Jesus Himself:
9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
John was also identified with Elijah in appearance and in ministry:
Appearance: 2 Kings 1:8
8 So they answered him, “A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”
6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
Ministry: 1 Kings 18:37
37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
John’s location at the Jordan River after coming out of the wilderness is symbolic of the nation of Israel coming out of the wilderness to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land.
But Jesus is greater than the PL! - He is the Promised One!
I. Forerunner
A. John’s Appearance
B. John’s Baptism of the Jews
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
This was a baptism of repentance, a call to turn to God, specifically to return to pure Judaism.
The Jews of this day had been steeped in the traditions of the elders. (cf. Mark 7:2-4 - the washing of cups, etc.)
Pure Judaism…pure Torah was summed up by Jesus when He answered the question about the greatest commandment (cf. Mark 12:30)…as well as the second greatest commandment (Mark 12:31)
This is what John is calling the nation of Israel back to. (cf. Luke 3:10-14 ) -
10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” 11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” 12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” 14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
All of these instructions from JtB were in accord with the second commandment - to love your neighbor as yourself.
This second commandment is how God expects us to carry out obedience to the first commandment. (cf. Gal. 5:14
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Remember, John’s mission was to make the paths straight, to level the ground, to prepare the hearts of the Jews to recognize their Messiah.
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
So John was really calling the Jews to return to the Written Word of God, so that they could recognize the Incarnate Word of God.
The Jews as a nation were looking for a conquering king, not a suffering Servant.
But had they studied the Scriptures carefully, they would have read passages like Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 and they would have seen that while Messiah would indeed one day reign as King of the World, He would first suffer as the Servant-Savior of the world.
Some Jews did understand this:
34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Simeon understood the Suffering Servant motif in Scripture - He knew that sorrow must precede victory, and by the power of the Spirit, he prophesied of this to Mary.
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
Let’s look at John’s baptism:
Baptism did not begin with John. This was a well-known, practiced custom among the people of the day.
Both Jews and the Essenes (a religious sect living at Qumran) would self-baptize as a sign of piety, cleansing, and religious devotion.
So for John to baptize them seems to be a new rite of passage.
NOTE: John’s baptism is NOT the same as the Believer’s Baptism that we practice today:
3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
That question, “Into what then were you baptized” seems to indicate that people were getting baptized into many different systems of belief or commitment.
John’s baptism looked forward to the Messiah, while believer’s baptism looks back at what Jesus has done. We are now in the Church Age, but John’s baptism was not.
The general symbolism is the same - going down under the water (baptizo) symbolizes death and burial, and coming up out of the water symbolizes a new life going forward.
And John was doing this so that the Jews would be ready to recognize and receive their Messiah.
Did John’s baptism matter?…Did he truly prepare the hearts of the people for Jesus’ ministry?
29 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.
John’s baptism left a legacy of belief for Jesus to come along and engage with.
I. Forerunner
A. John’s Appearance
B. John’s Baptism of the Jews
C. John’s Description of Jesus
7 And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
This phrase “One mightier than I” is a key to understanding the scope of John’s ministry.
John had a very specific calling - to prepare the way for the Messiah.
He didn’t come to save anyone or to start the church or to give his life for others - those things were all included in the mission of Jesus.
John knew his mission and stayed on it.
John was immensely popular...the crowds he drew reached the thousands in number.
What a test of humility! He could have turned away from God’s calling and made a name for himself, but in a gesture of true humility and honor, John pointed everyone to Jesus - what an example for us to follow!
Only Mark’s account uses the phrase, “ to stoop down”, a symbol of servitude and submission.
And in verse 8, we see John’s prophetic giftedness.
This baptism of the Holy Spirit would not occur until over three years later at Pentecost: (see Acts 2:1-4 for the account)
This is the fulfillment of John’s prophesy!
I. Forerunner
A. John’s Appearance
B. John’s Baptism of the Jews
C. John’s Description of Jesus
D. John’s Baptism of Jesus
9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
So if John’s baptism was for repentance for sin, why did Jesus have to be baptized? Had Jesus committed sins that He needed to repent of?…NO!
Jesus was baptized by John to identify with the people and to identify with us.
Also, Jesus was being baptized in obedience to the Father.
29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
The Father had commanded the Son to be baptized by John, so He did so.
10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
So we have a beautiful portrait of the Triune God - Father is speaking to the Son in the presence of the Spirit.
There is no indication that anyone saw the Spirit’s dove-like form, or that they heard the Father’s voice. This might have been for Jesus’ benefit only.
This verse and the actions it describes are echoes of two OT verses:
7 “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
Ps. 2 is a “royal psalm”, which is speaking of a king in the Davidic line being anointed.
1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
This verse foreshadows the coming Messiah, of which Mark is communicating to his readers.
Also - the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus is so important! It was the Spirit that empowered Jesus! (yes, he was still God and had His own power) - but the Godhead had determined that the Son and the Spirit would operate together in His ministry.
11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
The Father’s affirmation is important for us to see.
In his book, “Jesus Driven Ministry”, author Ajith Fernando wrote the following about this affirmation statement by the Father to the Son:
If such a message were accepted, it would satisfy three of the most basic human needs. First, by calling Jesus his beloved Son, God satisfied the human need for identity. Second, by saying that he is pleased with Jesus, God satisfied the need for security. If God is pleased with us, there is nothing to fear. Paul said, if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). Third, by affirming that Jesus is the Messiah, God satisfied the human need for significance. Jesus had an important work to do.
But since Jesus was God, did he really need such affirmation from the Father? - He is truly God, but He is also truly human, and had the same human needs that we do, so yes, the Father’s affirmation was indeed an important event for the Son.
12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.
Mark’s treatment of Jesus’ wilderness temptation is very brief - two short verses worth, we will also be brief here.
(see Matt. 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13 for more information)
The symbolism should not be missed, however.
Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan, and never once gave in to the temptations.
In contrast, the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and constantly gave in to the temptation to sin against their God.
Jesus had victory where Israel had failure.
Also, Mark states that it was the Spirit who “drove Him”. This word, “drove” means to “expel, to force to go away, to eject by force”.
This does not mean that Jesus didn’t want to go so the Spirit had to make Him go…this is an indication of the power that the Spirit gave to Jesus to go and withstand the intense temptation of Satan.
Jesus went into the desert as a force to be reckoned with. The Son and the Spirit moving out and accomplishing the plans of the Father - an unstoppable force - a true Man of power and action!
And Jesus met every temptation with perfect, Scripture-based truth.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
II. Follow Me
II. Follow Me
II. Follow Me
A. Jesus’ Preaching
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
John’s ministry is brought to a close and Jesus comes on the scene with full power and authority.
Verse 15 is the thesis statement of Jesus’ entire preaching ministry.
“The time is fulfilled” was a term of a season or a favorable period of time, and not necessarily a chronological time frame. (there were other Greek words to better indicate chronology)
John the Baptizer was the last of the OT prophets, the time of preparations was complete, and the kingdom was “at hand” or near.
This is a statement of sovereignty, kingship, and royal rule.
The kingdom was at hand because the King of the kingdom was standing right in front of them!
Jesus will have a literal, earthly, 1,000 year Kingdom in the future, but this was call to recognize that God was doing Kingdom work in and through Jesus of Nazareth RIGHT NOW!
Like John, Jesus was calling the nation of Israel back to pure Judaism (pure Scripture), so that they could understand what was happening before their eyes.
Jesus was not ready to begin His earthly kingdom yet:
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Jesus’ preaching of the good news (the gospel) of the kingdom of God was that God’s next part of the plan was unfolding right before their eyes.
In other words, Jesus was saying, “the Kingdom is within reach - Jesus was present - God is doing something new - pay attention and understand the kingdom from Scripture!”
John called the people to repent and be baptized.
Notice that Jesus is not calling for baptism, but instead repentance and belief.
The word “gospel” literally means “good news” - While Jesus had not died and rose again yet, the Scriptures foretold of that very event - the appearance of the Suffering Servant!
The word “gospel” is not inherently a Christian word - The Romans used this word to mean “joyful tidings” and it was associated with the emperor cult and worship.
“Among the Romans it meant ‘joyful tidings’ and was associated with the cult of the emperor, whose birthday, attainment to majority and accession to power were celebrated as festival occasions for the whole world. The reports of such festivals were called ‘evangels’ in the inscriptions and papyri of the Imperial Age. A calendar inscription from about 9 B.C., found in Priene in Asia Minor, says of the emperor Octavian (Augustus): ‘the birthday of the god was for the world the beginning of joyful tidings which have been proclaimed on this account.’ This inscription is remarkably similar to Mark’s initial line and it clarifies the essential content of an evangel in the ancient world: an historical event which introduces a new situation for the world.” - Lane
‘the birthday of the god was for the world the beginning of joyful tidings which have been proclaimed on this account.’
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Notice the similarities between the announcement of Augustus’ birthday celebration and Mark’s announcement of the coming of Jesus!
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
The heart of the gospel has always been the same: by grace, through faith.
The Heart of Gospel: The good news of God’s grace, accessed by faith.
The Heart of Gospel: The good news of God’s grace, accessed by faith.
This has been true from Adam to us, everyone is justified by God’s grace accessed by our faith.
But it is fleshed out differently for the Jews in the OT economy (which was the theological economy of the gospels) vs. the Church Age (our theological economy)
For us today, the gospel (the good news of God’s grace accessed by faith) is fleshed out on the cross and the resurrection. (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
But for the Jews of Jesus’ day, living in the OT theological economy), the gospel (the good news of God’s grace accessed by faith) was fleshed out by the appearance of the Messiah and the Kingdom. Jesus was calling them to believe in Him (access by faith) as Messiah (the embodiment of God’s grace to the Jews).
We must be careful not to read Paul back into Mark - the church age began in Acts 2, after Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
As we study Mark together, we must keep in mind that Jesus (even though He is setting the stage for the transition to the Church Age) is operating within the OT theological economy - that is the lens we must read the four gospels through.
The Church is NOT spoken of in the OT - it is the MYSTERY that Paul would later write about.
Jesus, like John before Him, was calling the Jews back to pure Judaism, to look closely at the Scriptures and see for themselves that the Conquering King would indeed come, but first salvation had to come through the Suffering Servant.
Jesus was, in a sense, saying “Follow me” to the nation of Israel as a whole.
As a nation, Israel officially rejected this call.
But there were some who did so on an individual basis when Jesus called them to follow Him as His students:
II. Follow Me
A. Jesus’ Preaching
B. Jesus’ Calling
16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.
Notice that Jesus does not say to them, “Believe in Me” or “Believe the gospel”…He says, “Follow Me”.
I believe that this was because these fisherman had already believed in Jesus’ message - they had heeded his call to go back to the pure, untainted truth found in the Scriptures - they had “ears to hear”, so they were ready to learn.
This call to “Follow Me” is the call of a rabbi to a student.
It was a call to follow as a disciple of Jesus:
To walk with Him
To live with Him
To learn from His teaching
To apply it and to live it out
To fully obey and imitate Him
Normally in this culture, it was the student who would seek out the rabbi, and had to perform certain tests for the rabbi to see if he was a worthy student, but not so with Jesus - He required nothing but faith they already had in Him to forsake all and to follow Him. So first faith, then following…first Relationship then Fellowship.
Jesus is calling us to do the same thing!
Salvation/Eternal Life is a free gift…BUT -
Sanctification/Discipleship is costly.
III. Freedom
III. Freedom
III. Freedom
A. Freedom of Truth
Mark 1:21–22 (NKJV)
21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Notice the immediacy that Jesus moves with as He assumes His role as the supreme Teacher.
He knew His mission and He wasted no time to act upon it.
Don’t forget to see the Father, invisible to the eye, but it was He who told Jesus to go and teach…and don’t forget to see the Spirit, giving Jesus the power to teach with such authority.
This theme of authority is repeated over and over again as Mark presents the God-Man of action in action!
Here, Jesus taught from His own position of authority, not needing to quote other rabbinical teachers or texts…He simply taught the truth with an expectation that those listening would believe Him.
No human-only teacher can teach like this…we all must appeal to a higher authority, but Jesus could appeal to no authority higher than Himself - His teaching was a subtle message to the hearers that He was unlike any other teacher…He brought His own authority and taught them out of it.
This pure, untainted truth brought freedom!
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
III. Freedom
A. Freedom of the Truth
B. Freedom of a Clean Life
23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
This man had been there, listening to the authoritative manner in which Jesus was teaching and the demon inside him knew exactly who Jesus was.
The phrase “What have we to do with You..” is a translation of a Hebrew idiom (saying) that basically expressed the incompatibility of two opposing forces…in other words, the demon understood the absolute antithesis between Jesus and the demonic world.
The demon also understood that Jesus had the authority and the deific power to destroy all of the demonic world - “us?”.
The demon then attempts to stir up a controversy among those at the synagogue who were so impressed by Jesus’ teaching - if the demon could get the worshippers arguing over some theological beliefs, he figured that he could disrupt Jesus’ ministry.
But Jesus would not allow it and used His awesome authority once again:
25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.
And now this tormented man could enjoy the freedom of a clean life - one without a demon’s constant oppression.
27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.
Once again, Mark is highlighting the authority of Jesus - both in His teaching and in His commanding demons.
Also - notice that Jesus’ popularity is growing exponentially. He is becoming a famous person - overshadowing even the notoriety of JtB. John is decreasing, while Jesus is increasing.
III. Freedom
A. Freedom of the Truth
B. Freedom of a Clean Life
C. Freedom From Sickness - Part 1
29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.
Notice that the disciples are already beginning to learn just who this Jesus of Nazareth is - they waste no time in bringing the matter of this woman’s fever to Jesus attention.
They knew He could handle it because they had seen what He had already done with the demoniac.
Notice the instantaneous nature of this event: they tell Jesus “at once”, His touch makes the fever leave “immediately” and she begins to serve them some food.
III. Freedom
A. Freedom of the Truth
B. Freedom of a Clean Life
C. Freedom From Sickness - Part 1
D. Freedom From Sickness - Part 2
32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
We’ve seen Jesus’ authority over demons and over disease…and now we see it again and multiple times over!
Here is the Servant of the Lord - taking His entire evening to heal and redeem a host of people - what compassion!
It is often hard for us to slow down enough…to take the time it takes to minister to people’s needs.
Think of how exhausted He must have been - preaching all morning at the synagogue, looking forward to a nice evening of rest at Peter’s home, eating some great food after healing Peter’s MIL - and then, “knock, knock” on the door, and the whole town has shown up with all their problems! …and they expect you to fix them!
But that is why Jesus came:
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Jesus didn’t come so Peter’s family could serve Him a nice Shabbat meal - He came so that He could serve everyone that needed Him.
III. Freedom
A. Freedom of the Truth
B. Freedom of a Clean Life
C. Freedom From Sickness - Part 1
D. Freedom From Sickness - Part 2
E. Freedom To Obey
35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 37 When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38 But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” 39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.
Because of His complete obedience to the Father and His empowering from the Holy Spirit, Jesus was free to move about as He was being told.
He didn’t have to weigh His ministry strategies and His time management decisions based on what others thought - He was not bound to popular opinion...He was free to leave because He was walking with the Father!
Notice Jesus’ priority of prayer - He was awake and up and out before the sun in order to have the needed time in prayer with His Father.
Jesus ministry would not have been the same without regular, intimate fellowship with God the Father.
III. Freedom
A. Freedom of the Truth
B. Freedom of a Clean Life
C. Freedom From Sickness - Part 1
D. Freedom From Sickness - Part 2
E. Freedom To Obey
F. Freedom From Sickness - Part 3
Mark 1:40–42 (NKJV)
40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.
Leprosy was a horrible fate in the first century.
A better translation might be “skin disease”, since the leprosy that we know of today (Hansens’s disease) is likely a different disease than that spoken of in Scripture.
Leprosy begins with small, red spots on the skin which get bigger, turn white, shiny or scaly in appearance. Spots spread over body, hair falls out, along with finger and toe nails. Teeth are lost, and the leprosy continues to eat away at the face until the nose, palate and even eyes are wasted away. Eventually the person’s body is consumed with the rotting waste and life ends in a brutal, horrible way.
The Mosaic law describes how the Israelites were to deal with leprosy. The priest played a significant role in both declaring the leper unclean or clean if the disease was healed.
Of course, the if the person was declared unclean, they had to leave the camp (or the dwelling) and be isolated for life if the disease did not stop. No one could touch them!
Jesus, the ultimate High Priest, both made and declared this man cleansed!
Notice how Jesus chooses to heal this leper: He TOUCHED him! But instead of Jesus being made unclean, the leper is made clean!
43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.
Jesus wanted to follow the Law of Moses - remember He was in complete obedience to the Father, which means that He obeyed the Law PERFECTLY, and would have wanted others to do so as well.
<READ Lev. 14:1-32 for more information!>
The healed leper does not obey Jesus’ command, which is not a right response to the one who has just healed him.
Jesus was not surprised by this, nor was the Father or the Spirit, but it is not what Jesus wanted him to do.
45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.
The word for proclaim here is a word for spreading good news.
This did inconvenience Jesus - this is an important detail:
Are you ever inconvenienced?
Do those inconveniences cause your plans to change?
Notice that Jesus was inconvenienced - so He knows what that feels like…He can identify with us when we are inconvenienced.
But He also shows us that an inconvenience does not mean a defeat!
Look at that last phrase: “[He] was out in desert places; and they came to Him from every direction.”
The ministry was not stopped - it was rerouted! Remember that your plans might face a rerouting this week…you might be inconvenienced..don’t let that stop you from doing the things that your heavenly Father has called you to do!