Week 2 – Day 8
Reading for Week 2 – Gospel of Mark Chapters 1-7
For the next 7 days we are going to be looking at parables. This method of study is called “Picture it.” The goal here is to put yourself into the story. How would you feel if this was you involved in this situation? What would you do? Who do you most identify with in this parable? How does this apply to your life right now? As you go through the story, put yourself into each character and ask these questions. We want to personalize what we are reading to be a part of our lives and not just a story we are reading to get through a certain book of the Bible. Let’s do this thoughtfully, prayerfully, and slowly so that we can hear God speak to us through the pages of Scripture. This requires getting real and being willing to be real with each other. As we go through these parables let’s also look for ways to apply what God is showing us to our lives. We want to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Let’s do this!!!
Today’s Reading – Mark 1:40-45
Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.
I have always looked at leprosy as a type of sin, but have never put myself into the place of trying to be the person with leprosy. It is a very challenging thought. A person with leprosy would be desperate for healing. They would have a sense of hopelessness and isolation. There would be a longing in their hearts to be connected to community. As I put myself in the place of this leper, I began to see how separated that could make one feel. I realized as a leper I would not have friends to sit down and eat with, I would not be able to go to the market place and shop at leisure. In essence, my freedom would be stripped from me and I would be living a life in isolation. I would feel hopeless and have no sense of future or purpose.
Jesus stepping into that situation changes everything. All of a sudden a new life. All because one man is willing to touch the untouchable. This convicts me. How many people in isolation, and hopelessness have I passed by because society calls them less than others? I realized I very likely would not respond like Jesus did because I would have some excuse for staying away from the leper, after all I would not want to catch what he has, would I? How many missed opportunities are in my life because I am caution led instead of spirit led?
I think God is wanting me to see that there are those in my life who are seeking community. For whatever reason, they have been cut off, but I am called to walk with him and seek them out.
One choice in the right direction can change another person’s life.
Looking forward to hearing what you got from this and what you can do to apply it.
Comments(4)
Pat McRae says:
January 12, 2014 at 11:23 pmI will start with I most identify with the leper. I may not have physical leprosy but I have areas of need and areas in my life I wish were cleaner that I want Jesus to touch and make right. For the most part I would do as the leper did, I come to Jesus and ask. But I am not sure of the answer. Just the way the leper asked makes me think he was not sure Jesus would be willing. I don’t handle rejection well, it is a huge button in my life, so I know I would be afraid, timid, I am almost sure I would not be bold or confident. And I know I would of done the same thing the leper did I would yell from the highest place “look what the Lord has done! He healed my body and set me free”.WOW! I can yell this as that is what He has done for me in the last 3 years!! I really can’t imagine anyone could keep that news to themselves. Would I ask “YES” but I don’t think it would be with boldness and confidence, likely there would be a measure of doubt and a lack of faith. I think the preceding verses would give us the boldness to ask because we know He has ben healing all who come to Him. I have the boldness today to ask because Jesus’ track record with me has been YES and AMEN! But I still find a morsel of doubt creeping in at times as I wait for His hand to reach out and touch the need. Jesus had His reasons for asking the leper to be quiet but today I believe He wants us to spread the good news that God is good and His desire is to reach out and touch us with His love, light and liberty.
Sue says:
January 13, 2014 at 1:09 amWow, I thought putting myself in the Leper’s sandals would be easier for me than it is.
I see 2 things in the Leper’s approach. First, he came to Jesus. Lepers were considered unclean and were expected to live in isolation. He faced scorn & rejection by even daring to step away from the other lepers and approach Jesus. This speaks to me of his desperation. But this leper also knew what it was to be humble. He came to Jesus “begging on his knees”. He didn’t even ask for his healing. He stated the one fact about Jesus that he knew, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”. This leper knew his need and knew the ability and heart of the Healer.
Although my condition doesn’t carry the immediate stigma that characterized leprosy in Jesus’ time, I have tasted isolation and desperation. I know the loss of freedom as I come to a place of not being able to get beyond my front door without help. I know the isolation that comes with disease. Although for differing reasons, I know how it feels to have long time friends wander off in other directions, chasing other pursuits Although, I am desperate for healing myself, I realize that I have yet to display the same level of humility. All too often I have caught myself acting as if my precious, almighty Father were my personal servant. Have I truly recognized my desperation?
I realize that I also have a long way to grow before I can slip into Jesus’s sandals. Am I willing to touch the ‘untouchables? My heart says ‘yes’ but my flesh brings up all the arguments against it. In reaching out and touching the leper, Jesus was placing Himself in danger of becoming as rejected as the leper himself. I would hope that I am willing to identify with the ‘untouchables’ in my life. I would hope that I would emphasize with them and offer them hope where there is none.
Jesus, make me more like you. Make me one who is willing to extend mercy before expecting to receive it. Grant me a heart that is humble. My prayer is that my heart knowledge of you far exceeds expectations. I pray that I would be willing to risk all to know you completely. Upon honestly examining this scripture I realize my need for more of Christ … more of His presence, more of His grace & mercy.
Jim Holmes says:
January 13, 2014 at 1:28 amJesus had been preaching in towns and synagogues throughout all Galilee prior to meeting the leper. Let’s take a look at Jesus. First remember that He is a man just as we are. One thought is that All of this travel must have left Him somewhat exhausted as indicated by telling the leper after his healing , not to tell anyone. Secondly, having the Father’s heart, Jesus saw individuals in crowds. Large crowds can be really difficult to control. He was moved with His Father’s compassion. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Jesus would be drawn to faith. Remember, he did not much work in his home town due to lack of faith. Here was a leper before Him full of faith. This pleases His Father. He and His Father are One. If you saw Jesus, you saw the Father. Jesus depended on the Holy Spirit and is a picture of how we too can be like Jesus and walk with the Wonderful Person of Holy Spirit (that is…with us and walking in us). Because Jesus lived by faith, and as man, was tempted in every way as we are, I do not think He knew that this leper was going to disobey Him. That the Father hid this from Jesus. Remember His is both man and God, but He came and choose to humble Himself as a man, the 2nd Adam, tempted in all manner as we are, and yet did not sin. When the leper disobeyed Jesus, he most likely disobeyed Jesus on both accounts….not showing himself to the priest, and telling everyone about his healing. Jesus was probably very hurt when the man didn’t do what His Father was asking the leper to do. Jesus said in the scriptures that He did and said what He saw His Father doing. So the Father probably did not get the glory of the man’s testimony before the priest and Jesus had to leave the city because of the crowds which limited His work there. Moreover Jesus obeyed and kept the “spirit” of the law. So He would suffer sorrow and disappointment if the leper had not gone to the priest. Again, as a man, Jesus went to desert places which indicate He needed to talk alone with His Father in prayer and to rest. Finally, you might note that what follows this story are stories showing up with the scribes and Pharisees ready to accuse Him and watching Jesus like a hawk to discredit Him. The gospel says that Jesus came full of grace and truth…that He was merciful…that He bore all our sicknesses and disease… Jesus trusted His Father and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Jesus remained faithful to His calling. Jesus loves you and I. Follow Him! Jesus is our example as to how to live the Christian Life….He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Living the Christian life….things do not always go as one might think and we can be frustrations and disappointments.. When we do, it is time to look up….to the author and finisher of our faith….Jesus. So go to a desert place and get alone with our Father.
Susan Craig says:
January 13, 2014 at 5:51 am“If you are willing,you can make me clean!” That statement carries my thoughts forward from yesterday when I mentioned the step of faith we need to take to move from the ‘I can ‘ to the ‘ I will ‘ . The story of the leper identifies both of these positions. The leper knew that Jesus could heal him(Jesus has the ability to heal). Jesus had been going about healing people and the word somehow reached the outskirts of town where this leper would have been. Lepers were not in the mainstream-the only people who associated with them were other lepers who were already infected and banished as well. They were outcasts,feared,unclean and rejected. What he did not know for sure when he called out to Jesus, was if Jesus WOULD do what he COULD do? We come to Him broken and dirty from sin and we dare to ask Him if He will make us clean knowing that He can but often unsure if He will. Am I worth healing? Am I worth cleaning? Dare I hope that He will heal me? After years of misery and isolation ,years of calling out-“unclean,unclean” -so that people would stay away, this leper laid it all on the table with his one question that has elements of both faith and fear in it. Faith that Jesus can heal but fear that he won’t. But he had nothing to lose and plenty to gain. He needed to speak out with whatever courage he could muster and dare to hope that the outcome would be favorable. He felt the fear but stepped out in faith to ask for the deepest desire of his heart. Imagine the joy he must have felt when his request was granted!!! No wonder he went about telling everyone about how Jesus had healed him.I think it is interesting that because of this act of healing, Jesus ended up exchanging his freedom to heal and teach inside the city for the outskirts and wilderness. This also made me think of another exchange Jesus would do when He went to the cross and took on Himself the punishment for our sins-He was the only one who could do that for us and He went willingly!!
What I also learned from this is that too many times’ we have not because we ask not’ . Jesus is ready,willing and able to provide healing,cleansing etc for us. Do not let fear hold you back from asking. Be bold and speak up!!