This morning we continue our series, “The Miracles of Jesus,” by looking at a situation in Mark 1, where a leper came to Jesus looking to be healed.
Before we get into the miracle, let’s look at the foundational scripture I will share be sharing with you all year.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us. I pray you get refreshed and restored as we study each miracle.
(Mark 1:39-45 NIV)
39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
41 Jesus was moved with compassion. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”
42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:
44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things:
1. Setting the stage for the miracle.
Jesus was traveling from town to town, healing people, casting out demons, and transforming lives. As Jesus entered this particular area, a man with leprosy came to Jesus, fell down, and begged Jesus to heal him. He was desperate for a breakthrough, and I am sure we all know what it is like to be desperate for a touch from God.
Let me help you understand how devastating leprosy was:
— Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that affects the skin, nerves, and mucous membranes. It is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae and is primarily transmitted through close contact with respiratory droplets.
One of the most common symptoms of leprosy is the development of skin lesions, which may appear as bumps, nodules, or patches of discolored skin. These lesions may be painless at first, but as the disease progresses, they can become tender and painful. In severe cases, the skin lesions may develop into ulcers or abscesses that are prone to infection.
Leprosy can also cause numbness or loss of sensation in the affected areas, as the bacteria damages the nerves. This can lead to the development of open wounds or injuries that go unnoticed and untreated, as the person is unable to feel pain.
In addition to skin lesions and nerve damage, leprosy can also cause other symptoms such as fever, muscle weakness, and fatigue.
— People with leprosy often do not have the sensation of pain to identify cuts and bruises. Hence they frequently injure themselves without knowing. Leprosy also causes multiple lesions on the skin that cause a terrible smell. Lepers, for obvious reasons, were social outcasts. They were considered unclean, and since there was no cure, they were condemned to live the rest of their lives in leper colonies. Beyond the obvious physical damage, the treatment of lepers could easily cause psychological harm. They died a slow physical and mental death. It is easy to understand then why a man with leprosy came and bowed down to Jesus, his only glimmer of hope.
2. We serve a God who has compassion – the text says that Jesus was moved with compassion for the leper.
Empathy is when someone is able to feel what we feel. But compassion takes empathy and crosses it over into action. Jesus had compassion for this man. He was covered with boils, in physical pain, a social outcast, and under Jewish Law, ceremonially unclean. He needed a breakthrough. He heard about a miracle worker named Jesus. He came, fell at Jesus’ feet, and begged Jesus to heal him. He said, “Sir, I know you have the power to heal. I heard about your power, which is why I am here. I believe you can heal me. But I am not sure if you will. If you can find it in your heart to heal me, Sir; if you are willing, you can make me clean.” (Rick Pina Version).
— His statement connotes that he had already resolved within his heart that Jesus was bigger than his problem. He did not ask Jesus if He could, but his inferiority complex wondered if he would. This is how it is with many people today. They say they believe God can do anything. They are just not sure if God will do it FOR THEM! It’s like they come to God with an inferiority complex. They know God has power, but they are not sure if He will do it FOR THEM!
— I want you to know that we serve a God who CAN and who WILL! He loves you, and He wants to bless you!
— The text says Jesus was filled with compassion. I believe Jesus looked passed the outward appearance of the man and saw someone hurting more on the inside than on the outside. This is why Jesus did something the man was not expecting. Jesus reached out His hand and touched him before He healed him.
— He did what no other human had done since this disease had befallen him. He did what the man so eagerly longed for. Jesus gave him a human touch.
— Jesus did the unthinkable and touched the untouchable.
— Jesus loved him enough to meet him where He was, but He loved him too much to leave him there. Jesus said, “I am willing, Be clean!” This statement contains both His character and His power. His compassion drove Him towards willingness, and His nature unleashed His authority over physical disease. This is the kind of God we serve!
3. God loves you so much!
— I love the fact that Jesus touched the leper.
— No one had touched him since he became a leper.
— Jesus could have simply spoken the helping.
— The touch was not required to cast out leprosy, but the touch was required to heal his heart.
— Jesus was saying, “Hey Son, I see you, I love you, and I am willing to reach out a touch you.”
— This is how God deals with us.
— He does not just give us what we ask for. He gives us what we truly need!
4. A few things you can glean from the healing of the leper:
— You are never out of God’s reach.
— There is nothing too hard for God.
— Once touch from God can change your life forever.
— Bow before God this morning and make your request known to Him.
— God will meet you where you are, but He won’t leave you there.
— Our God is moved by compassion.
— God’s authority and power teach us that He CAN. God’s love and grace teach us that He WILL!
5. God wants us to enjoy total life prosperity:
Jesus did not just heal the leper, but He wanted the man to get fully integrated back into society.
So, in verse 42, after healing him, Jesus told the man to go and show himself to the priests, as was required by the Law. The man already had physical healing (he had new skin), but once a priest verified that he was clean, he could go back and be around his family and friends. I need to point out that this is important to Jesus. Jesus was not just concerned with his skin. Jesus was concerned with his heart. Jesus had already provided physical health. But Jesus was concerned about his mental health as well. This is the kind of God we serve!
6. God wants us to reach the people the world has discarded, which will often require us to overcome fear.
From an evangelism perspective, this shows that we, as believers, should not be afraid of reaching people the world has cast away.
— You should never be afraid that was is on them will get on you.
— You should have faith that is what is on you will get on them!
— I have been in many hospital rooms and on the Missions fields when God led me to physically touch someone, to pray for them, without any fear of getting contaminated myself.
— If the Holy Spirit leads you, there will be times when God will lead you to do things in faith, and you must do so, without a doubt, without any fear, believing that nothing will harm you.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for Your love and grace!
I believe this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me!
As I study the miracles of Jesus, my faith is reignited!
I come to You, like the leper did, asking for You to touch me in ways I need to be touched. In Your presence and with Your touch, I receive physical and mental healing. I am healed on the inside and on the outside.
Thank You, Father, for always looking beyond my initial request and also looking beyond my outward appearance, so You can see my every true need. You love me enough to minister to me in ways I need, even when I don’t verbalize them the way I should.
You reach out to me this morning, Father, even while I am in front of this screen, and You touch me. You cleanse me. You refresh me. You renew me. You revive. me. You make me whole! And as You do, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
