Mark 1: 40-45 (ESV)
Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy
40 And a leper 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 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.
All through the Old Testament are warnings not to touch anything unclean. Doing so would make the “toucher” unclean also. In fact, lepers were to stay outside the towns, and wherever they went, they were to cry out “Unclean! Unclean!” to warn people they were near. This leper comes to Jesus. He had probably cried out the required “Unclean” first, but he had knelt down, asking for more. “Jesus, if You want to, You can make me clean. No more leprosy. I can go home to my family.”
Jesus didn’t just speak healing to him, although He could have. But Jesus touched him! The perfectly clean touching the “unclean.” And you know what? Jesus didn’t become unclean. The unclean became clean! And not only was the leprosy gone, but he was whole again. The Passion Translation (TPT) of verse 42 reads, “Instantly his leprous sores completely disappeared and his skin became smooth!”
We have spiritual leprosy. Not only have we sinned, but most people have been hurt and traumatized. The result in disfigurement. Just like the leprosy disfigured its victims, sin, hurts, trauma disfigure our emotions, our thoughts, our spirits, even our wills. Jesus wants to touch us and heal us – completely. He’s done this for me, and He wants to do it for your too.
PS – He’s not done yet, but I am amazed when I look back at how Faithful He’s been to heal and restore me. BTW – I have not been able to “tell no one” either!
Psalm 36
1 An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin. 3 The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good.4 Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong.
How would you define wicked? Someone who kills or cheats or hurts people? In this Psalm wickedness is defined as not fearing / revering God, thinking we are sinless or not hating sin. I suppose that would go with the attitude “well everyone does it; no one is perfect.” That is true, but that is no excuse. We must still acknowledge the sins as wrong, and repent – turn around. We don’t have to stay sinful. Jesus came to save us and cleanse us.
5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast. 7 How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. 10 Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.
I think there is a word missing here…“But”. David describes the wicked, and then compares them to the LORD. The LORD never ceases to do good. His love never fails. His light helps us to see and to walk in the light. Both high and low find refuge in the Lord. His love is available for everyone. I like the line “you give them drink from your river of delights.”
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. 12 See how the evildoers lie fallen– thrown down, not able to rise!