Mark 1:40-45
Verse 41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”
Yesterday we had Jesus asking a man if he wanted to be well and today we have a man asking if Jesus is willing to heal him. This leper knew that people were not to be around him and so he wasn’t even sure that Jesus would want to be around him but he thought the least he could do was ask.
Lepers knew loneliness like no one else. Unless they could find themselves a colony of fellow lepers, they had to live out their lives looking in at other people’s lives. They couldn’t be in on the social graces of life, missing out on all the birthdays, weddings and funeral of loved ones. They couldn’t be touched or touch others and so they missed out on the physical affection of mother, father, spouse, children and even friends. This loneliness was painful beyond the physical pain they already lived with.
Then this man hears of a man that has been healing other people of their afflictions. But the Man was touching people and he knew that no one could touch him without them becoming unclean too. Maybe it was hopeless but he knew he had nothing to lose if he asked. So, hearing that Jesus was in his area, he sought out Jesus. He didn’t wait for Him to come past, he needed to know if there was hope and he couldn’t take the chance that Jesus wouldn’t come his direction.
Coming to Jesus wasn’t enough, he fell at the feet of Christ and worded his request more like a declaration of faith than an inquiry of healing, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus hears all that the man is saying and all that he isn’t. Jesus hears the fear that is clinging to the boldness of faith. He also hears the voice of one of His Jewish brothers reaching beyond the limited view of God and His powers and asks this stranger to use God’s power to heal him. All of this touches Jesus’ heart.
Knowing that this man needs more than healing of his skin Jesus reaches out and touches him. That touch did more than heal the skin, it brought life back to the soul. This man was not just given a clean bill of health, he was given back the life and love he had been missing. And because we see this man’s faith we may guess that this man had been devote, so when he was told to go show himself to the priests to be declared clean, he was given back his public faith which was something that would have been precious to him as he had likely been missing being in the Temple.
Making It Personal
How has Jesus touched your life? Has His work in your life change all parts of your life? Who will you tell of His works in your life?
Making It Personal Kids
Has Jesus touched your life? How has Jesus changed your life? Who can you tell today about Jesus and His works?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for reaching into our lives and touching us. Give us wisdom to see the things that You are doing in our lives so that we can share You and the truth of Your power with others in our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.