Eld Chew Chong Kiat

Mark 1:40-45 (c.f. Matthew 8:1-4; Luke 5:12-14) 

Introduction

After delivering the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus descended, and a large crowd followed Him. Upon entering a city, a leprous man approached Him, kneeling and worshiping, and begged to be healed of his leprosy, saying, “If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” (Mark 1:40) Jesus did a most compassionate act of healing this leper – He touched him.

The Dreadful Plague of Leprosy

Leprosy, a disease prevalent in biblical times, was incurable. It damaged the skin, flesh, bones, nerves and vocal cords, and some lost their fingers, toes, nose, mouth and teeth; many also smelled of rotting flesh.  

Those afflicted with leprosy were considered unclean and were cut off from their family, congregation of Israel and ordinances that supported their spiritual health; they often dwelt solitarily or with other lepers. Whoever touched them were deemed unclean. This social and spiritual isolation, coupled with their physical and emotional suffering, made their state most miserable. Recall how Aaron interceded for Miriam in Numbers 12:12, "Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.” (emphasis added) They were, literally, the living dead.

The Plague of Sin

While leprosy was a terrible affliction, it pales in comparison to the plague of sin that affects all humanity. Sin infects every part of us, and "we are all as an unclean thing" (Isaiah 64:6) before God, from the day we are conceived in our mother’s womb. Sin makes us unfit for heaven. It destroys homes and every relationship, and breaks covenants. It is incurable by any earthly physician or religious person, and will slowly but surely drag us down to the second death. How much more miserable is the plague of sin!

Do we acknowledge these and recognize how miserable and helpless we are? Sadly, many do not take this first step and see no need for a cure. Some took the first step but turned aside to vain aid; some tried to save themselves; some took their own lives in hopelessness.  After taking the first step, we must take the second step like this miserable leper who recognised his misery and hopelessness and came to Jesus to beg for mercy and cleansing.

The Power and Compassion of Jesus

This poor man was rewarded. "Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand and touched him, and said to him, I will; be thou clean." (Mark 1:41)

How amazing is this touch! This miserable man had not a touch since the day he was declared unclean, for anyone who touched him would become unclean. There are only two recorded instances of Jesus healing people with leprosy. The other is the account of the healing of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19. All ten were totally cleansed as they went to see the priest. In this account, the Lord stretched forth His hands to touch the leper. The touch did not make Jesus unclean. Instead, it cleansed the leper instantly! The living dead became like a man risen from the dead, from depths of misery and despondency to raptures of joy and hope; from isolation to fellowship with the saints and God!

Is anything too hard for God?

The great plague of leprosy that was incurable in those days was healed in a command. More significantly, no sinner is too sinful to be saved by the Great Physician - Christ Jesus. Jesus saves from sin, and uncountable numbers through the ages have been cured of the plague of sin.

Let us never give up on anyone so long as they are still alive. We read of King Manasseh, Saul and the thief on the cross, all hardened sinners, yet they were cured. Jesus Christ made them whole.

Are there any issues in your life today that stick like a plague? Come to Jesus now. He can cure the greater plague of sin and leprosy; the lesser plague of your problems is effortless to Him.

Zeal not According to Knowledge

Our Lord strictly charged this man to tell no one of his cure. There was a reason for it. However, in his zeal he “went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter”. Consequently, "Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places." (v45)

God is wise in all His injunctions, even if it does not make sense to us. Why should we be silent when God has done great things for us?  Surely, we should publish it all abroad? The incarnate Lord chose not to attract public attention to signs and wonders. Jesus’ healing was wonderful and miracles spectacular and they drew crowds to Him, but Jesus knew that many sought Him for the wrong reasons. Miracles authenticated His messages and Him as the Messiah, but many who saw those miracles and followed Him eventually rejected Him.

“Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast [day], many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all [men], And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.” (John 2:23-25)

This is a zeal which is "not according to knowledge" (Rom 10:2). It did more harm than good. But I also fear that we do not have zeal that is according to knowledge. O that we will have the zeal to publish the good news today of how God has cured us of the greater plague of sins! We are now “to publish it much and to blaze abroad the matter”. This is not the time to hold back. Our Master bids us now go and tell!  O that we have such zeal today and that we will not be silent!

Everything is beautiful in its time. We are warned not to "give that which is holy to dogs" or "cast pearls before swine". (Matthew 7:6) If people are not willing to hear, we need not force.  Whosoever will hear let him hear. We do not “force [the gospel] down the throat”. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation.

Sadly, many Christians are far more inclined to be silent when they should not remain silent. Let us all pray for the Spirit of wisdom and sound mind, and a heart of zeal for God. Amen.