Jesus Cleansed a Leper
Pray
Begin with prayer, opening your heart to God’s Word and Spirit.
Read Mark 1:40-45
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
Reflect
When Jesus saw the man with leprosy, he was filled with compassion. No one else would dare to be near him, but Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and made him clean. Healed, the man was now free to live in community, and despite Jesus’ warning to tell no one, he told everyone. So Jesus could no longer enter a town openly, and stayed “outside in desolate places.
Closing prayer
Jesus, thank you for your sacrificial love and compassion that reaches beyond any kind of barrier. Help us to care about those in need like you did, especially those who are excluded by others. Amen.