“Moved with pity, he (Jesus) stretched out his hand and touched him (the leper) and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.”
Mark 1:41-42
This week’s encouragement is going to be short and sweet. These two verses should really be read in context with the entire passage, Mark 1:40-45, in which Jesus heals a leper who begs to be made clean. Leprosy came in a variety of ways infecting the skin. An individual suffering from leprosy would be deemed “unclean” and society would refrain from any interaction with those infected. It was an entirely different life once you were diagnosed. This first chapter in the gospel of Mark moves fast. We see John the Baptist’s ministry, Jesus’ Baptism and Temptation, Jesus beginning his ministry and calling his disciples, as well as healing and preaching, all in 45 verses! (I would urge you to read this entire chapter.)What stuck out and really encouraged me is this interaction Jesus had with the leper. This was an individual nobody would touch, but Jesus looked right at him, touched him, and immediately he was made clean. With a single touch, Jesus changed this man’s life forever. So much so, all this former leper could talk about was how Jesus changed him. Isn’t it funny how many individuals in the gospels Jesus heals who are basically told to say nothing? But every one of them is so radically changed their mouths cannot cease to share about his work, thus increasing Jesus’ popularity. Remember, our work earns us no higher standing because Christ has already done the work for us!
Two things to reflect on:
1. Has Jesus touched your life in a life changing way? Have you allowed him to re-new you?
2. When is the last time you “touched” somebody with the life changing gospel of Christ, increasing His popularity?
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