Mark 1:40-45

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

Why did the leper say, "You can make me clean," instead of "You can make me whole?"
What does the parallel account in Luke 5:12 tell us about this leper?
What did the leper say to Jesus? What does this say about the leper?
How did Jesus respond?
Why did Jesus tell the man not to tell others? Did the healed leper obey this command?
Discuss the parallels between the stages of leprosy and the stages of sin.
Was the healing of the leper partial or complete? Immediate or delayed? What does this tell us about the touch of the Lord today?

Under Jewish law, if you had leprosy, you were considered not just diseased, but unclean. Lepers had to be isolated from other people, even crying a warning for them to stay away. They cried, "Unclean! Unclean!" (Leviticus 13:44-46).
That he was full of leprosy.
"If You are willing, You can make me clean." He had faith, believing that Jesus could heal him.
He reached out and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."
Because He didn't want people coming to Him for His miracles, but because of faith in Him, the Messiah. No, the leper did not obey. His disobedience hindered the work of the Lord, for Jesus could no longer openly enter into the city.
In the early stages, both can be covered up and masked. Also, in the early stages, the pain can be felt, but as the disease progresses, the body becomes desensitized. Both continue to eat away at the person. The leprosy eats away, disfiguring the body; the sin eats away, hurting the body, soul and spirit. With leprosy, there was no cure, and it leads to death. Sin, too, leads to death.
See Mark 1:41-42 and Psalm 103:12. For us today? Salvation is immediate and complete.

Consider the leper who hindered the Lord's ministry because of his disobedience. Are you obeying all that the Lord tells you to do?
Are there areas of legalism in your life that rob you of the joy of freedom in Christ? If so, do something about them.

Reach out and touch someone who is not in the mainstream of society. It's possible that there is someone like that even in your church. "A leper came to Jesus, imploring Him, saying, 'If you are willing, You can make me clean.' Then Jesus, moved with compassion...touched him, and said, 'I am willing; be cleansed." (Mark 1:40-41)

"A leper came to Jesus, imploring Him, saying, 'If you are willing, You can make me clean.' Then Jesus, moved with compassion...touched him, and said, 'I am willing; be cleansed." (Mark 1:40-41)