JULY 5, 2023 – CLEANSING

READ: Mark 1:40-45: Now a leper came to Him … saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion … said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed … offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded. …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 listeners in Capernaum are impressed with His words, but do not believe in Jesus as the Christ. The same happens with His miracles. People flock to Him in great numbers to be healed of their ailments, but these miracles cannot be separated from the Gospel of Jesus, which can truly heal. He wants to give them eternal life. Thus, Jesus leaves Capernaum to preach elsewhere (1:38). Yet, He continues to heal people, as long as they understand the connection with His glorious Gospel.

Then a leper comes to Him, something that is not allowed. But Jesus does not reject him. Instead, He shows him compassion and even touches him. Leprosy was a terrible skin disease, a sign of punishment for sin. The leper looks repulsive and must live in isolation due to contagion. If someone is healed from it, this must be confirmed by the priest and a purification offering must be made to him. Jesus points this out to the man. This way, he can be sure that Jesus has truly healed him. 

But there is a condition to the healing: he must not tell anyone under any circumstances. That would make Jesus’ work much more difficult. People would see him more as a miracle worker rather than seeing Him as their Savior and believing in Him. But the man cannot control himself. Therefore, Jesus can no longer come into the city but instead seeks lonely places to better let the Gospel shine.

How does Jesus show us His inner compassion?

Singing: Ps. 38:10