Preaching, Teachi

The Leper

Mark 1:40 “And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, If Thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”

The fact that Jesus healed many, was well known. He had been preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God. (Mark 1:15). Wherever He went, He healed the sick, and crippled, as well.

As He went, a leper came asking for cleansing. “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean”.

Jesus was moved with compassion. Leprosy is a terrible disease. How far along in the disease he was, is not said here….but in:

Luke 5:8. “And it came to pass, when He was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy; who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought Him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.”

This man was “full of leprosy”. In other words, this man’s case was hopeless. Leprosy starts as a “rising,(swelling), a scab, or bright spot” and continues till “raw flesh” appears. (Leviticus 13:2, 14)

It destroys and eats away the flesh, until fingers fall off, etc.

Leprosy is like sin. It begins small–a “swelling”. Wherever it breaks out, it puffs up the flesh.

But it is small–something you could ignore, if you chose to. Till it needs a scab.

That means there has been a open sore. It still could be small…but open, open to the contaminants of the world…..and growing.

And so it goes on, eating up our souls, destroying us; unless it is cleansed.

1 John 1:9 ” If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Yet, this man cried for mercy from the Lord Jesus;…..and received it.

Not only the Word of Healing;…….but Jesus “put forth his hand, and touched him”.

Mark 1:41-42 “And Jesus moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.”

Isaiah 59:1 “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it can not save; neither His ear heavy, that it can not hear:”

This was compassion only the Son of Man/the Son of God, could do:

Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Jesus touched the leper, and gave His Word, “I will”. That cleansed him.

Jesus heart reached out and touched him,…..a leper, who should never be touched. (Most would not even let them come near them.)

Jesus willed, and spoke the word,…..and he was cleansed.

I am emphasizing this, because we feel that God’s Will, and His Word have different power…..no. What God wills, His power is already sent forth to do….in us, and by us.

What God’s Word says, is certain.

He did not need to speak….but stressed His compassion, by word.

He did not need to touch….but stressed His love, by His hand.

But now the Lord wanted him to do what God required for the cleansing, for a testimony of God’s goodness:

Mark 1:43-44 “And He straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;

And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: Go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.”

We can not save ourselves from our sin. We must come to Christ for that.

But we can be obedient to what He requires us, afterward, as a testimony to His Love and Word.

The leper was cleansed:

He came to the right person, and in the right way; seeking mercy.

And he was cleansed.

Then he went and did as Jesus required, as a testimony to Jesus as Lord and Savior,….and as the One who healed him.

We, too, are in need of cleansing: from small sins or large sins. We need forgiveness and cleansing.

But we can come to Jesus for His mercy……bowing down to Him, we can be cleansed of all our iniquities….receiving His grace (the unmerited favor of power).

The Leper was no longer a leper…..that is what he sought from Jesus….and what he got, by Jesus will, word, and touch.

Christ Jesus has the same, for all who will come to Him.

John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”