Jesus’ Life-Changing Touch

Jesus’ Life-Changing Touch
Following the Servant
Mark 1:40-45

Mark 1:38

To “repent and believe” offers people permanent freedom from .

The word leprosy was used in biblical times to describe a variety of skin diseases. Leviticus 13 details seven forms.  According to the ceremonial law, a person with leprosy was to wear distinct clothing to signify they had the disease as well as shouting “unclean” as they approached others.  They were not allowed to touch others.  The leper, full of faith, takes the risk of going right up to Jesus and cries out for Jesus to make him clean.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

All of Jesus’ miracles are also parables of what God is doing among us.

Leprosy is symbolic of sin and the healing of it is a parable of from sin.

“When you read the ‘tests’ for leprosy in Leviticus 13, you can see how the disease is a picture of sin. Like sin, leprosy is deeper than the skin (v. 3); it spreads (vv. 5-8); it defiles and isolates (vv. 44-46); and it renders things fit only for the fire (vv. 47-59). Anyone who has never trusted the Savior is spiritually in worse shape than this man was physically.” -Warren Wiersbe

1.   We are all (v. 40)

Luke 5:12

“Unless you have known of your own sinfulness, you are not a Christian and you do not believe in Christ as your Savior. Christ cannot help or advise or comfort you until He has first of all saved you.  Unless you have known that, in the words of the Apostle Paul, that you are ‘dead in sin’ then you have never known Jesus Christ as a Savior, and if you do not know Him as a Savior you do not know Him at all.” -Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones

Where the leper had hesitation, we have .

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”    1 Timothy 2:3, 4

2.   is more impactful than our theology (v. 41)

Jesus delighted in needy people.

Mark 1:31
Mark 5:41
Mark 7:33
Mark 8:23
Mark 9:27
Mark 10:16

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”  2 Corinthians 5:21

We’re called to care for practical needs whenever we see them and the most caring thing we can do is to with someone.

3.   The leper’s cure (vv. 42-45)

1 John 1:7

Deuteronomy 24:8

John 8:34

Nothing is beyond the scope of Jesus’ .

Daily Meditations
 
Memory verse: “A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’”                                                                      Mark 1:40
 
Monday
Read Mark 1.  Do you think people still come to church wanting blessings without repentance? 
 
 
 
What blessings are they hoping to receive?
 
 
 
Tuesday
Read Mark 1:40-45. What kinds of people are shunned today in a way that approaches how lepers were avoided in Jesus’ day? Name as many groups as you can.  
 
 
 
How might we reach out and touch such people?
 
 
 
Wednesday
Read Mark 1:40-45.  How is asking Jesus, “If You are willing . . .” (1:40) different from asking Him, “If You can do anything . . .” (9:22)?
      
 
 
Why was it surprising to you that Jesus touched the leper? 
 
 
 
Why was it theologically significant?
 
 
 
Thursday
Read Mark 1:40-45. The leper’s publicity of his healing changed what the people expected from Jesus’ ministry. What should we publicize about what goes on in our churches in order to give people a true picture of what they should expect?
 
 
 
Friday
Read Mark 1:40-45. Besides physical health, what did the leper gain from his encounter with Jesus? 
 
 
 
How does that compare with what we gain?
 
 
 
Saturday

Read Mark 1:40-45.  Take the time to go back over any question you didn’t answer, think about it some more, and write down your answers.  Is there someone you could reach out to this week, care for, and invite to church?  Is there someone you haven’t seen for a while you could call up and pray with?