Douglas Jacoby Podcast

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

Episode Summary

Douglas continues his series called CLEAN, today looking at The Leper of Mark 1.

Episode Notes

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!