And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 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." 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.
(Mark 1:40-45 ESV)

What Jesus does in this paragraph of Scripture is startling to the people watching, but Jesus was not focused on the watching people.  He was not interested in attracting crowds and that was not why He did the miracles that He did.  He was focused on an individual who had lost his health, his dignity, his ability to earn income, his social status, his family and his friends.  Jesus responded with a touch and the words “I will; be clean”.  The crowds gasped when Jesus touched the leper, but the leper was filled with healing warmth that flooded His being as he was healed of leprosy and was made clean.  It was love that moved Jesus to act to make this man’s life better.  Jesus did not just feel sorry for him.  Jesus helped him.  Jesus responded with compassion – a love that compels one to act.

The first touch this man felt for probably many years was the touch of Jesus.  He would never be the same.  Why did Jesus touch him?  He did not have to do so.  In all of the recorded exorcisms, Jesus spoke a word and freed the individuals.  He never once laid a hand on a demoniac.  He would speak a word and the winds and waves would obey Him, so why did He touch this leper?  Maybe, he touched the leper to be our example; a pattern for us to follow.

Who are the social outcasts of our day?  Is it the diseased?  Is it those living in poverty?  Is it the homeless?  Is it the incarcerated?  Is it the shut-in?  Is it those living alternate lifestyles?  Is it those of a different race?  Is it those of a different faith?

Who are the social outcasts in your city?  Who in your city is financially and socially isolated?  Who is shut-in?  What would happen in your city if each person makes it a point every day to do an act of compassion, reaching out to touch one that is in need?  I believe more people would realize the Kingdom of God and want to be a part of it.

Beloved, we live in a day where there is an overabundance of armchair theologians and armchair politicians.  We don’t need any more of those.  What we need in our day are people who will follow Jesus and get their hands dirty in point of need ministry revealing that in the Kingdom that Jesus is ruling over there is love, grace, peace and freedom with race, gender, health and economic equality for all. 

Touch people beloved.  Touch people.  Be Jesus’ hand extended.   

Know that you are loved,
gaj

The first chapter of the Gospel of Mark closes with a startling paragraph of Scripture that displays both human despair and the love of God.  Jesus comes into our world proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God that is established in Him.  He victoriously combated evil and it’s captivity of people.  Along the way, He left His followers a wonderful pattern; an example to follow.  Let’s look at the last paragraph of Scripture in Mark chapter one.  

And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 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." 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.
(Mark 1:40-45 ESV)

Take a look at the one in need in this paragraph of Scripture.  His name and past is not given, but his present situation is and it is not pleasant.  This man has leprosy, an incurable disease.  Leprosy is described in Leviticus chapter 13 of God’s Word.  To have leprosy in the days of Jesus meant that you were separated from your friends and family.  No longer could you be touched as your would be considered “unclean” under the Mosaic Law.  You would be separated from family and friends being forced to live on the outskirts of the city with other lepers.  When you walked through the city, you were to keep your upper lip covered and have to declare yourself unclean as you walked shouting “leper, leper, unclean.”  You watched the crowds divide and stay far from you as you walk through.  Being shunned by all, you were financially and socially isolated, unable to work and dependent on charity.  That was the life of this leper. 

I wonder what life was like for this man prior to being declared “unclean” with leprosy.  Did he have a wife?  If so, how long had it been since he felt her loving touch?  How long had it been since her lips touched his? 

Did He have children?  How long had it been since he felt the loving embrace of his child’s arms around his neck?  How long since he had held his children in his lap.

I’m sure that he longed once again to just be touched and to touch his family and his friends.  He could no longer associate with them.  Their touches were now just a part of his memory and he stayed secluded for their well being.  He would never want any of them to go through what he was experiencing.  He loved them too much.

Then one day, he heard about Jesus being in His city.  He had heard of the exorcisms and miracles that were happening, but would Jesus be willing to associate with a social outcast who was “unclean” and incurable?  In his total desperation, he goes to Jesus and says “if you will, you can make me clean.”  This leper did not doubt Jesus’ ability to heal him.  He doubted Jesus’ willingness to heal him.

Beloved, we know that Jesus can help us, but do we sometimes doubt His willingness?  May we always remember that Jesus is not only able, but He is willing to help.  His help may come when we least expect it and in ways that we never imagined, but He will help us.  He will help us from earth to glory as we follow Him.  It will be a wonderful and victorious journey.

Know that you are loved,
gaj

That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
(Mark 1:32-34 ESV)

Notice in this paragraph of Scripture the advancement of the Kingdom being established through Jesus.  The Kingdom is always advanced through point of need ministry and we will see that throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry as we study the Gospels.  It started that Sabbath day in the synagogue with the deliverance of the man possessed by a demon (Mark 1:26) and spread to inside a house with the healing of a woman (Mark 1:31) and now Jesus takes it to the streets of the city of Capernaum as people are brought to Him there.

Know that you are loved,
gaj

In the first chapter of Mark the Kingdom of God was manifested in the deliverance of a man (Mark 1:26) and the healing of a woman (Mark 1:31).  Jesus not only talked about the Kingdom that was being established in Him, but he also demonstrated this Kingdom through His actions.  It was not Jesus’ intention to prove He was the divine Son and the Bearer of the Holy Spirit by His acts of authority and power.  He cast out demons because they had no right to be in any part of human life which they sought to destroy.  He brought healing out of love for the sufferer.  When Jesus saw people suffering, He moved with compassion - a love that compels one to act to relieve the suffering.

Know that you are loved,
gaj

Beloved, Jesus’ kingdom is more powerful than sickness and disease.  He still works immediate miracles and He also has provided us with processes of healing provided through medical science, medicine and medical professionals. 

Let’s never put Jesus in a box and pray expecting Him to bring healing a certain way.  Instead, let’s exercise our faith by taking advantage of all healing processes that He makes available to us.  Let’s also make available His healing to ALL people revealing to them, His kingdom in action.  Let’s help others as He has helped us.  In Jesus’ kingdom, there is health equality for all!

Know that you are loved,
gaj

And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
(Mark 1:29-31 ESV)

At first glance of this passage of Scripture it would be easy to minimize this miracle by saying “it was only a fever.”  But, with closer inspection and with our own personal experiences, we know that something wrong in the body causes the fever.  A fever makes a person feel bad enough and keeps one in bed, but more importantly there is something going on in the body that is causing the fever.  In Jesus’ day, with limited medical knowledge, they treated a fever as a disease in itself and treated the fever instead of the cause.  Many would die as a result.

We are so blessed in our day.  Now we have medical science and medicine which are instruments of healing in our day, but the source of healing is always God.  Whether healing comes from an instant miracle or through a process aided by medical procedures and medicine, it is God that brings the healing.

Know that you are loved,
gaj