CLEAN – podcast 12A (The Leper of Mark 1)

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Introduction

• Our text is Mark 1:40-45.
• A different version of the story has come down to us in Matt 8:1-4.
• This man will be the first leper healed in the NT.

Scriptural study: Mark 1:40-45

• Unsure whether Jesus is willing? Kneeling, imploring...
• The Lord is willing!
  • Believe that when we pray.
  • Believe it when we ask him to remove our sin, or to go with us as we share his word.
• Immediate cleansing.
  • Note that rather than Jesus becoming unclean -- contracting leprosy by touching this man -- it flows the other way.
  • Cleanness flows from Jesus to the leper!
• Jesus requests silence / discretion.
  • The publicity causes trouble for Jesus (not all publicity is good).
  • This is early in Jesus' ministry -- unlike the situation in Luke 17, when Jesus was going to die in a few days or weeks anyway.
  • Yet, even though the throngs force Jesus outside the inhabited areas, his mission continues unabated.
• Evidence was to be presented to the priest.
  • Had this ever happened before? Maybe once or twice in the OT, if the people were obeying Leviticus.
  • The priest would then follow the procedure of Lev 14.
  • Imagine the impact on the priest!
• The man can't help spreading the news. What news?
  • News of his healing?
  • News about the Messiah?
  • Both?

Conclusion

• Like the lepers of both testaments we are in an unpleasant condition. But since our condition is moral—spiritual—and not just physical, our predicament is dire.
• Think about the leprosy of sin. We are all "lepers."
• The Lord is willing. Don’t doubt it!
• You can be clean!