The Purifying Power of Jesus
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· 16 viewsJesus' shows his true idenity and compassion in healing a leper.
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Introduction:
Please open your Bibles to . A former member of our church went on short term missions to India. She worked in an orphanage where many children had disabilities or were abandoned by their parents. Some of these children were found in trash cans.
What is a zombie?
You see, many of these children were abandoned and left in orphanages because no one wanted them because they were considered cursed. Culturally speaking, the caste system is still embedded in Indian culture.
And the caste system is divided into four main groups: those at the top: Brahmins are the philosophers and intellectuals. The next group are the warriors and rulers. Below that group are merchants and traders. And at the bottom are the service workers.
Outside the caste system are what the Indians call the Untouchables or Dalits. Untouchables are literally the outcasts. They are outside the caste system.
An untouchable did not even belong to the caste system. Because of this hierarchy, untouchables live in isolated villages. They have the worst jobs like burning the dead, or working in the sewers, or cleaning the trash, or working with dead animals.
It is an infected individual who is living but actually dead. They are ugly looking things. They are infected with some type of virus. And people try to avoid all contact with them because they don’t want to get infected. They are living, but dead to others and dead to society.
They are not allowed to interact with the higher castes or marry up. They are to remain essentially at the very bottom of the ladder because they must have done something real bad in their previous life because Hindus believe in Karma and reincarnation.
Although reforms have been made in India over the years, the caste system still exists. And untouchables are considered social outcasts, defiled, unwanted and the abandoned of society.
Well, in the first century, there was something even worse than an untouchable. The first century untouchable was the first century leper.
Josephus, the Jewish historian, said that a leper was no better than a corpse. He was living, but dead to others and dead to society because of the stigma associated with leprosy.
Background
And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Jesus is doing ministry throughout all of Galilee. Jesus’ fame is spreading because everyone has heard that this man can cast out demons and heal the sick. And as he continues to go throughout Galilee, he encounters another man who has heard of his fame and reputation.
This man believes that Jesus can heal him. Jesus can change him. And Jesus can give him a new life.
Int this portion of Scripture, we see how Jesus validates not only his authority and power in healing a leper, but also how Jesus is a compassionate Savior.
And we will see how leprosy is parable of our spiritual condition and how only Jesus can liberate us from death and give us new life. I have three headings for the portion of Scripture we will be looking at this morning:
1. The Leper’s Request (vv. 40)
2. The Lord’s Response (vv. 41-42)
3. The Lord’s Instruction (vv. 43-45)
Let us read this story beginning in verse forty of Mark chapter one.
Scripture Reading:
And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
I. The Leper’s Request (v. 40)
I. The Leper’s Request (v. 40)
And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”
What is a leper?
Just like an untouchable, a leper in the first century was a social outcast. Although he was living, he was socially dead to others, to society, and to the religious establishment. Commentators tell us
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Mark Leprosy: The Law of Uncleanness (1:40–45)
It is generally agreed that λέπρα in the Bible is used for a wider range of diseases than ‘true leprosy’ (Hansen’s disease), though including it; this man will have been suffering from a disfiguring skin complaint which was thought to be contagious.
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Mark Leprosy: The Law of Uncleanness (1:40–45)
Leprosy was one of the most dreaded diseases, and regarded as practically incurable (hence the prominence of the supernatural element in OT stories about its imposition and cure: Ex. 4:6–8; Nu. 12:9–15; 2 Ki. 5:1–27; 2 Ch. 26:16–21; to cure it is on a par with raising the dead, 2 Ki. 5:7; b. Sanh. 47a).
In the ancient world, there were seventy-two distinct diseases of the skin under the broad heading of leprosy.
Sproul. Mark (Saint Andrew's Expositional Commentary) (p. 33). Reformation Trust Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Leprosy made a man ceremonial unclean, physically defiled, and socially ostracized. Leprosy could include
Various types of skin diseases. Hansen’s disease which is a devastating bacterial infection that disfigured a person’s appearance and debilitated his nervous system, leading to death. Macarthur
Leprosy made a man ceremonial unclean, physically defiled, and socially ostracized. Leprosy would take a person’s health away.
Physically Cut Off
People avoided lepers because some forms could be spread through the air and could be transmitted by physical touch. Therefore, a leper would live in an isolated colony of other lepers.
Some forms of leprosy made the victim immune to pain. For example, in third world countries an insect or some type of animal could be eating the flesh of the individual as he was sleeping and they would not feel anything until the next morning. The Leprosy would cause their bodies and faces to be disfigured because they could not feel anything.
Socially Cut Off
They were also socially cut off from family and friends and work. They lived alone with other lepers.
Religiously Cut Off
More than that, lepers were considered ceremonially unclean. They were cut off from the temple. They were cut off from Jerusalem or any walled city. They wore torn clothes and their hair was not kept.
Then the priest shall examine him, and if the diseased swelling is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprous disease in the skin of the body, he is a leprous man, he is unclean. The priest must pronounce him unclean; his disease is on his head.
“The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.
he is a leprous man, he is unclean. The priest must pronounce him unclean; his disease is on his head.
“The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’
They were cut off from the temple. They were cut off from Jerusalem or any walled city.
Imagine that anxiety upon someone who would be pronounced unclean in ancient Israel. It was a death sentence. It would be like hearing the news you have terminal cancer. The would be cast out outside of the camp. They would need a priest to examine them to see whether or not they could be included back in the covenant community.
Rabbi’s avoided contact with lepers because they would be defiled themselves. And Rabbi’s would also say that to heal a leper would be likened to raising the dead.
Spiritually Cut Off
And the common belief at the time that a person who experienced leprosy must have been a great sinner. They must have been cursed by God.
Miriam, for example, experienced leprosy when she spoke against Moses.
When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. And Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned. Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother’s womb.”
Naaman, the Syrian General, had leprosy and the Prophet told him to dip in the Jordan to be cleansed.
“Leprosy had a religious significance as a type of sin, the outward and visible sign of inward spiritual corruption” Hiebert 58
“Leprosy had a religious significance as a type of sin, the outward and visible sign of inward spiritual corruption” Hiebert 58
Leper’s were literally a “living hell.” Their health was taken from them. They had no friends because people avoided all contact with them. They come not approach God because they were defiled and people thought they were cursed by God.
If you hear about someone who is casting out demons and healing the sick. There is some hope that arises within your heart that maybe this person can fix me. And this leper came to Jesus.
Notice three things about the Leper.
A. He was bold
The Leper came to him. Lepers were to stand several feet away from people and cry out “unclean! uncealn!” Yet, he came close to Jesus. He had an aggressive faith. He was willing to do whatever it takes to get to Jesus.
The Leper was desperate: make me clean!
B. He had faith
He was desperate as he was crying out and imploring Jesus to do something.
C. He was humble
Kneeling. He falls on his knees knowing that Jesus is someone who can do something about his leprosy. “If you will, you can make me clean”. He is not questioning of whether Jesus is able to cleanse him, but if Jesus is willing to cleanse him. Jesus already demonstrated his power in casting the demon out of the synagogue, and healing various people throughout his Galilean ministry.
That’s really sad for that man, but what does this have to do with me?
Well, leprosy is a living parable of what sin does. Sin is defiling. Sin is isolating. Sin harms one physically. Sin cuts you off from others. Sin cuts you off from God. Sin makes you unclean before God. And sin brings about the judgment of God.
And in one sense, we are all spiritual lepers. Because of our sin, we have been alienated from ourselves, from one another, and from God. The Bible uses the same language of being cut off from God and without hope in the world.
remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
But I’m a good person. I don’t kill or commit adultery or do anything that sinners do? My health is fine and I have committed no major crime.
We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
For the Lord has called you
like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,
like a wife of youth when she is cast off,
says your God.
The Bible tells us that we are alienated from God, which means we are cut off from God because of our sin. In fact, the Bible tells us we are dead in our sins and we need new life and cleansing if we want to be brought before God. We are unclean before God. And like the Leper, we must have faith in Jesus.
And if we want to be cleansed, we need to humble ourselves and come to Jesus and cry out to him to make us clean and give us new lives as the Leper did.
Transition: This leper was asking for physical healing, but also spiritual healing. He was asking Jesus to give him a new life again and free him from his physical, mental, and social anguish. And notice next the Lord’s response...
II. The Lord’s Response (vv. 41-42)
II. The Lord’s Response (vv. 41-42)
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”
Mark 1:41-
Moved with pity. NASB, CSB, and KJV all say “moved with compassion”. Other manuscripts say Jesus was indignant and angry. Jesus was not indignant or angry with the man, but Jesus was angry at the effects and ravages of sin in the world. The same word is used when Jesus goes to Lazarus’ tomb.
What is compassion?
Webster “sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it”
Identification with the person’s suffering and moved to do something about it.
Jesus could have just spoken to the Leper and he would have been cleansed. But Jesus does the unthinkable which Rabbi’s would never do. His compassion moved him to touch the man.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark Jesus Trades Places with a Leper (1:40–45)
Unlike an ordinary rabbi, Jesus is not polluted by the leper’s disease; rather, the leper is cleansed and healed by Jesus’ contagious holiness.
And he stretches out his hand and touches the leper. All the people must have been shocked to see what Jesus was doing. He was going to be defiled by touching a defiled man.
“I will.” Or “I am willing”. I am willing to make you clean. And I understand your pain. I understand your heart. I understand you have been cut off. And I’m going to do something about it because I am willing to identify myself with you.
Jesus Understands Your Pain. This is the significance of the incarnation. We don’t have a Deist God who is removed from our pain. But we have a God who enters into our suffering and is willing to alleviate our eternal suffering by suffering for us.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
He stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”
“Be clean” is a command. This is an authoritative command. Just like God, when Jesus speaks, things happen. And as he touches him and speaks, the leprosy immediately leaves the man. It leaves him instantaneously. Imagine the joy that the men felt. He got his life back again.
“Divine holiness is not defiled by touching human uncleanness but rather imparts cleansing” pg. 59 Hiebert
And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
Right there and then the man was cleansed by Jesus’ healing touch and powerful word. He felt like a new man. He was changed. He was transformed. And he was healed of his curse. He was a new man.
Because of Jesus’ power and compassion, the man was made new. Jesus was powerful because he spoke and the leprosy immediately left him. But he was also compassionate as a man who identifies with this man’s suffering by touching him.
Recognize Jesus
Jesus is not only man because He identifies with our pain and suffering, but he is God because he is able to do something our suffering.
This does not mean that God will alleviate suffering necessarily in this life, but He will one day put all suffering to an end when Christ returns.
Non-Christian
You may have felt isolated. You may feel like no one understands you. You may feel that you have been cut off from your family and friends. You may feel that you are not worthy to come before God. You may feel dirty because of your past.
But let me tell you Jesus is compassionate. He is willing. He understands your pain. He understands your suffering. And he is willing to make you clean and be a friend to you if you come to him in humble faith. If you repent of your sins and believe in him if can make you clean.
Christian
If Jesus showed compassion towards others, so should we. Our church covenant says we will “weep with those who weep”. When our brothers and sisters go through suffering, do we feel their pain and do we seek to alleviate their pain? Whether that is praying for them, holding their hand in a hospital bed, being there when they are at their lowest?
And if Jesus was willing to identify with outcasts, are we willing to identify with those who have been cut off from their families? Those who have been isolated because of their sickness? Those who are lonely and need a friend? Who are those in our lives that no one is willing to go to? Those people who no one is willing to reach out and be a friend? Sometimes those people can be in the church and we just ignore them.
Matthew 25:31-
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Church
When a church shows compassion to the outcasts, and welcomes the stranger, it becomes an apologetic for the Christian faith. They will know we are his disciples by our love and compassion to the least of these. Historians tell us
When a devastating plague swept across the ancient world in the third century, Christians were the only ones who cared for the sick, which they did at the risk of contracting the plague themselves. Meanwhile, pagans were throwing infected members of their own families into the streets even before they died, in order to protect themselves from the disease.
We value human life. We value all of life. And if we are truly pro-life, we will not only care for the unborn, we will care for the disabled, the outcast, the one who society has excluded.
School
That may be someone at school. That might be the person everyone makes fun of. That might be the person no one sits with at lunch. But if you are compassionate, do you know that isolated person can be the next follower of Jesus?
Transition: And after the man is healed, notice the instructions that Jesus gives to the healed leper.
III. The Lord’s Instruction (vv. 43-45)
III. The Lord’s Instruction (vv. 43-45)
And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”
And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once. The language here is authoritative and forceful. Essentially, what Jesus is saying if I could put it colloquially:
A. Keep your mouth shut
“See that you say nothing to anyone”
Why did Jesus want the man to remain silent? Again, Jesus knew what he came to do: he came to preach the gospel the Kingdom, not be a miracle worker. Just like how Jesus told the demon to remain silent, he tells this man to remain silent because he does not want people to misunderstand his mission.
His miracles were to confirm his identity as the Messiah. Preaching was primary and miracles were secondary to confirm his message and his identity.
“The priority in his ministry was not performing miracles but preaching the gospel. He came to call sinners to repentance and saving faith.” macarthur 84
Jesus wasn’t concerned about gaining a crowd or getting a huge following. He wanted true faith, not fickle faith.
The Message of Mark c. The ‘Results’ Syndrome
Jesus’ reticence about having followers on any grounds other than personal faith provides a stern test of our evangelism and witness. Our concern to impress or get results too often takes priority over a determination to help people to true faith in God through Jesus which will stand the test of daily life. The ‘numbers game’ is a distinct snare for the Christian church leader.
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
Lesson: Jesus wants followers not fans. Jesus wants to be Lord, not a genie.
Are you a fan of Jesus, but not a follower? Do you want Jesus just because you because you want to avoid hell? Just because you think Jesus will promise you better health? wealth? prosperity? Do you want Jesus just because you think he will do something for you?
Or do you want Jesus because you see Him as infinitely valuable? In other words, do you want Jesus for Jesus’ sake?
Too often, people fall away because they have misunderstanding of what Jesus came to do. He did not come to be your Genie, but to be your Savior. People fall away because Jesus didn’t give them their true god. I followed you Jesus, but why haven’t you given me a spouse yet? I followed you Jesus, but why haven’t you taken away this sickness yet? I have followed you Jesus, but why do I still have problems in life? Why hasn’t my financial problems went away? People can come to Jesus for the wrong reasons.
Are you fan of Jesus? Or you a follower?
If you are a fan of Jesus, you will likely fall away when Jesus doesn’t give you want you want. But if your a true follower, you will follow him whatever the cost.
Mattew
As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
So, Jesus tells the man to not keep his mouth shut, but to go to the priest.
B. Go to the Priest
“But go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them”
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “This shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest, and the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall look. Then, if the case of leprous disease is healed in the leprous person, the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two live clean birds and cedarwood and scarlet yarn and hyssop. And the priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthenware vessel over fresh water.
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “This shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest, and the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall look. Then, if the case of leprous disease is healed in the leprous person,
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “This shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest,
Two Reasons why Jesus needed to go to the priest
To be restored to society
The priest needed to pronounced the man clean so that he could be restored to society.
Mark: An Introduction and Commentary vii. The Cleansing of the Leper (1:40–45)
It was a proof that he had been healed. It was also a proof to the priest of the healing power of Jesus (1:44): but no danger of wide publication was involved here.
Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.
The Message of Mark c. The ‘Results’ Syndrome
Jesus’ reticence about having followers on any grounds other than personal faith provides a stern test of our evangelism and witness. Our concern to impress or get results too often takes priority over a determination to help people to true faith in God through Jesus which will stand the test of daily life. The ‘numbers game’ is a distinct snare for the Christian church leader.
2. To give evidence to the priest that Jesus was the healer
As the priests were questioning what type of authority Jesus was doing these things and who he was, this would be evidence and judgement against them for not believing that he was truly the Messiah of God.
They were ceromionally unclean until Priest could verify it. If he was clean, then this proved that Jesus was no mere Rabbi.
But the Leper did not do what Jesus asked. In his excitement for Jesus, he disobeyed his command.
The Leper’s Excitement
But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
He disobeyed Jesus. He was so excited about his healing, he forgot what Jesus had said. He began speaking freely about what Jesus did for him and now people heard what was going on, and following Jesus from all over the place.
Free Yogurtland. There are long lines. Or PI day where Pizza is given 3.14. There was a time where they were giving free build a bears for a dollar. And no one buys a build a bear because they cost an arm and a leg.
But on this day, build a bear was pay your age. And it was a massive failure because all the crowds started showing up.
Jesus didn’t want followers just because he was trending. He wanted true disciples.
You see, people wanted to get a deal of of Jesus, but they didn’t really want Jesus. They wanted him to do something for them, not submit to him as Lord. They leave him as soon as they don’t get what they want.
Jesus had to be in the desolate places. Jesus went back to His Father. He was probably in prayer.
But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.
And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’ ”
He didn’t let the success get to His head. He withdrew to commune and be dependent upon his father.
Lesson: Excitement vs. Obedience
Lesson: Excitement vs. Obedience
When we first become Christians, we can be so excited and zealous about the Lord that we forget His word. Jesus wants simple obedience.
Desire without knowledge is not good,
and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.
Lesson: We are commanded to speak
The irony of this passage is that the Leper was commanded not to speak, but he couldn’t help but speaking. But now on this side of the cross, Jesus commands us to make disciples and commands us to speak about the good news, but we can’t help but stay silent because of fear and apathy.
The command to stay silent no longer applies. But we are commanded to speak the gospel. We are to tell others about this. This is the mission of the church: to preach good news, make disciples, and gather them into churches and be built up by the word of God.
Summary:
The Leper’s Request. This man who was living, but dead was seeking Jesus who could give him new life.
The Lord’s Response. Jesus, the compassionate and powerful Savior, touched him and made him new by speaking new life into him.
The Lord’s Instruction. Jesus wanted simple obedience from the man and his healing was to confirm the identity of the Messiah.
The story of the Leper does not only give us a parable of our sin, but also a picture of substitution. The reason why Jesus can touch a leper without being defiled is not only because he is holy and powerful, but because it would be the primary reason why Jesus came to earth.
The story of the Leper does not only give us a parable of our sin, but also a picture of substitution. The reason why Jesus can touch a leper without being defiled is not only because he is holy and powerful, but because it would be the primary reason why Jesus came to earth.
Jesus would take the defilement upon himself at the cross. And on the cross, Jesus would be treated like a leper, cast out from the presence of God, isolated, mocked, and judged by God because Jesus would be our substitute for sinners and spiritual lepers like you and me.
The outsider becomes an insider with Jesus because Jesus would eventually be treated as an outsider so that he could make sinners insiders with God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We are all spiritual lepers. Jesus was treated as an outcast so that we wouldn’t.
Ironically, Jesus and the leper have traded places. The leper is now on the inside with family and friends. Jesus is on the outside in a lonely and desolate place. This picture of substitution is the heart of the gospel. It is why Jesus came. He will take on Himself our sin, our sorrow, and our shame. In return He gives us His forgiveness, His holiness, and His righteousness— praise the Lord!
Akin, Daniel L.. Exalting Jesus in Mark (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p. 37). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Akin, Daniel L.. Exalting Jesus in Mark (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p. 37). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
Sproul. Mark (Saint Andrew's Expositional Commentary) (p. 33). Reformation Trust Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Sproul. Mark (Saint Andrew's Expositional Commentary) (p. 33). Reformation Trust Publishing. Kindle Edition.
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Mark Leprosy: The Law of Uncleanness (1:40–45)
It is generally agreed that λέπρα in the Bible is used for a wider range of diseases than ‘true leprosy’ (Hansen’s disease), though including it; this man will have been suffering from a disfiguring skin complaint which was thought to be contagious.
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Mark Leprosy: The Law of Uncleanness (1:40–45)
Leprosy was one of the most dreaded diseases, and regarded as practically incurable (hence the prominence of the supernatural element in OT stories about its imposition and cure: Ex. 4:6–8; Nu. 12:9–15; 2 Ki. 5:1–27; 2 Ch. 26:16–21; to cure it is on a par with raising the dead, 2 Ki. 5:7; b. Sanh. 47a).
In the ancient world, there were seventy-two distinct diseases of the skin under the broad heading of leprosy.
Sproul. Mark (Saint Andrew's Expositional Commentary) (p. 33). Reformation Trust Publishing. Kindle Edition.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark Jesus Trades Places with a Leper (1:40–45)
Unlike an ordinary rabbi, Jesus is not polluted by the leper’s disease; rather, the leper is cleansed and healed by Jesus’ contagious holiness.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark Jesus Trades Places with a Leper (1:40–45)
Mark began this story with Jesus on the inside and the leper on the outside. At the end of the story, Jesus is “outside in lonely places.” Jesus and the leper have traded places. Early in his ministry Jesus is already an outsider in human society. Mark casts him in the role of the Servant of the Lord who bears the iniquities of others (Isa 53:11) and whose bearing of them causes him to be “numbered with the transgressors” (Isa 53:12).
Mark: An Introduction and Commentary vii. The Cleansing of the Leper (1:40–45)
It was a proof that he had been healed. It was also a proof to the priest of the healing power of Jesus (1:44): but no danger of wide publication was involved here.
The Message of Mark c. The ‘Results’ Syndrome
Jesus’ reticence about having followers on any grounds other than personal faith provides a stern test of our evangelism and witness. Our concern to impress or get results too often takes priority over a determination to help people to true faith in God through Jesus which will stand the test of daily life. The ‘numbers game’ is a distinct snare for the Christian church leader.
Jesus can make you an insider with God because he has traded places with you at the cross. He can cleanse you and make you whole like the Leper if you come to him in simple faith and repentance.
Isaiah
The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth;
for the Lord has spoken:
“Children have I reared and brought up,
but they have rebelled against me.
The ox knows its owner,
and the donkey its master’s crib,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand.”
Ah, sinful nation,
a people laden with iniquity,
offspring of evildoers,
children who deal corruptly!
They have forsaken the Lord,
they have despised the Holy One of Israel,
they are utterly estranged.
Why will you still be struck down?
Why will you continue to rebel?
The whole head is sick,
and the whole heart faint.
From the sole of the foot even to the head,
there is no soundness in it,
but bruises and sores
and raw wounds;
they are not pressed out or bound up
or softened with oil.
Your country lies desolate;
your cities are burned with fire;
in your very presence
foreigners devour your land;
it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.
And the daughter of Zion is left
like a booth in a vineyard,
like a lodge in a cucumber field,
like a besieged city.
If the Lord of hosts
had not left us a few survivors,
we should have been like Sodom,
and become like Gomorrah.
Hear the word of the Lord,
you rulers of Sodom!
Give ear to the teaching of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!
“What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of well-fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
or of lambs, or of goats.
“When you come to appear before me,
who has required of you
this trampling of my courts?
Bring no more vain offerings;
incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—
I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
Your new moons and your appointed feasts
my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
When you spread out your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow’s cause.
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
If you are willing and obedient,
you shall eat the good of the land;
but if you refuse and rebel,
you shall be eaten by the sword;
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
How the faithful city
has become a whore,
she who was full of justice!
Righteousness lodged in her,
but now murderers.
Your silver has become dross,
your best wine mixed with water.
Your princes are rebels
and companions of thieves.
Everyone loves a bribe
and runs after gifts.
They do not bring justice to the fatherless,
and the widow’s cause does not come to them.
Therefore the Lord declares,
the Lord of hosts,
the Mighty One of Israel:
“Ah, I will get relief from my enemies
and avenge myself on my foes.
I will turn my hand against you
and will smelt away your dross as with lye
and remove all your alloy.
And I will restore your judges as at the first,
and your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness,
the faithful city.”
Zion shall be redeemed by justice,
and those in her who repent, by righteousness.
But rebels and sinners shall be broken together,
and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.
For they shall be ashamed of the oaks
that you desired;
and you shall blush for the gardens
that you have chosen.
For you shall be like an oak
whose leaf withers,
and like a garden without water.
And the strong shall become tinder,
and his work a spark,
and both of them shall burn together,
with none to quench them.
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
If you are willing and obedient,
you shall eat the good of the land;
but if you refuse and rebel,
you shall be eaten by the sword;
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”