April 30, 2010
The Touch of JESUS makes us whole!
Mark 1:29-45
John Cimmerman
Central Truth
Leprosy is a type of skin disease, spreading and incurable, gradually rotting away the flesh, deadening the nerve endings as it spreads, eventually leading to death. Sin has the same effects: spreading, deadening my love for God, and producing spiritual death, unless I seek God’s salvation by trust in Jesus.
Key Verse | Mark 1:40–42
And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. (Mark 1:40-42)(emphasis added)
Mark 1:29-45
Jesus Heals Many
29 And immediately he 1 1:29 Some manuscripts they left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Jesus Preaches in Galilee
35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
40 And a leper 2 1:40 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And Jesus 3 1:43 Greek he; also verse 45 sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 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.” 45 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.
Dive Deeper | Mark 1:29-45
Walk with me and meet a man whose life was changed by a loving touch and five simple words. Imagine him writing this.
Rotting flesh. Oozing lesions all over my body. This is the life I lived for years as a leper. Isolated from physically healthy people. Yet, the social and religious isolation were worse. I had been quarantined from family, friends, community, and the temple. They said I was contagious and unclean. I was restricted from all towns and villages. If someone approached me, I had to call out, “Unclean, unclean.” I felt worthless and abandoned by God and man. I had not felt the touch of anyone in years. All my days were spent in self-pity and hopelessness. I hadn't asked God, “Why me?” for many years because He hadn't answered my questions.
Even among our leper colony, we heard about happenings in villages around us. One day, I was told that Jesus was in town healing people. Hope, born of desperation, coursed through me. Could He heal me? Would He be willing to heal me? How could I get to Him?
I had to go to Him even if it was against the law. Fortunately, I knew a back way into town. When I arrived, I saw a large crowd. People stared at me in horror and quickly backed away. But when I saw the Messiah so near, I fell to my knees. I could not find my voice. Finally, I stuttered, “If you are willing, you can make me clean?”
Then, He compassionately touched me! All my pain and sorrow vanished. Jesus looked straight into my eyes as He said, “I am willing. Be cleansed.” Instantly my leprosy disappeared! Through tears of joy I proclaimed, “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord.” (Psalms 40:3)
Has He touched your life? Ask Him today to touch your sin-sick heart and cleanse it. It will be a day you will never forget!
Discussion Questions
1. Read Matthew 9:28-30, 20:33-34; Mark 7:33, 8:22-23; and Luke 7:13-15, 22:50-52. What do these passages have to do with today's reading? Be specific.
2. Has Jesus touched your life? If so, how has His touch changed you? (Share your answer with five people today).
3. Read Matthew 9:19-21, 14:35-36; Mark 5:25-28, 6:55-56. These passages share some things in common. What are they? Are you daily driven to reach out to Jesus for forgiveness and cleansing?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What was Jesus doing in verses 32-34?
2. Jesus was healing people late at night. What does verse 35 say he did the next morning?
3. Jesus’ example shows us that time with God is a priority. Try waking up early tomorrow morning and spending time with God!