Mark 1:40-45
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” – Mark 1:41
When we compare Leviticus 12–15 with the Gospel accounts in Mark 1:40–45, we see how Jesus dealt with the Old Testament laws regarding those deemed “unclean.”
According to Leviticus 13–14, those with skin diseases such as leprosy were to be inspected by the priest and kept apart from the community. But when Jesus began His public ministry, He didn’t treat lepers with fear or distance. In fact, Mark 1:41 tells us that when a man with leprosy approached Jesus for healing, Jesus broke cultural and ritual taboos. He reached out His hand and touched him, saying, “Be clean!” Immediately, the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed (Mark 1:42).
According to the law, the leper would have made others “unclean” by contact. But in this encounter, it is Jesus’ holiness that overwhelms the impurity, not the other way around.
By cleansing those who had been excluded from the covenant community because of physical impurity, Jesus revealed the true purpose of His incarnation. His purpose is not only to give individuals new life, but to renew and restore people as a whole.
The physical afflictions and social shame carried by the lepers caused them deep inner pain. They longed not just for healing, but for wholeness and acceptance. Jesus, however, knew their need more deeply than they did. He saw that their healing had to be more than physical. It had to be spiritual and emotional, restoring their dignity and peace. Jesus crossed the boundaries of “clean” and “unclean” to welcome them, heal them, and restore their humanity. These encounters show us that our compassionate Lord takes delight in restoring and alleviating the inner suffering of those who are cast aside.
Where in your life do you feel unaccepted or in need of God’s merciful touch? And how might you, and the church, become the hands of Christ, extending His healing touch to those bound by shame, guilt, or isolation?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Thank You for reaching out to the unclean and restoring the rejected. You are full of compassion and mercy. Today, I bring You the parts of my life that feel unworthy or broken. Please touch me and make me whole. Help me also to extend Your love to others, to draw near to those who are hurting, and reflect Your healing grace. Make me an instrument of Your mercy. In Your name I pray, Amen.
When we compare Leviticus 12–15 with the Gospel accounts in Mark 1:40–45, we see how Jesus dealt with the Old Testament laws regarding those deemed “unclean.”
According to Leviticus 13–14, those with skin diseases such as leprosy were to be inspected by the priest and kept apart from the community. But when Jesus began His public ministry, He didn’t treat lepers with fear or distance. In fact, Mark 1:41 tells us that when a man with leprosy approached Jesus for healing, Jesus broke cultural and ritual taboos. He reached out His hand and touched him, saying, “Be clean!” Immediately, the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed (Mark 1:42).
According to the law, the leper would have made others “unclean” by contact. But in this encounter, it is Jesus’ holiness that overwhelms the impurity, not the other way around.
By cleansing those who had been excluded from the covenant community because of physical impurity, Jesus revealed the true purpose of His incarnation. His purpose is not only to give individuals new life, but to renew and restore people as a whole.
The physical afflictions and social shame carried by the lepers caused them deep inner pain. They longed not just for healing, but for wholeness and acceptance. Jesus, however, knew their need more deeply than they did. He saw that their healing had to be more than physical. It had to be spiritual and emotional, restoring their dignity and peace. Jesus crossed the boundaries of “clean” and “unclean” to welcome them, heal them, and restore their humanity. These encounters show us that our compassionate Lord takes delight in restoring and alleviating the inner suffering of those who are cast aside.
Where in your life do you feel unaccepted or in need of God’s merciful touch? And how might you, and the church, become the hands of Christ, extending His healing touch to those bound by shame, guilt, or isolation?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Thank You for reaching out to the unclean and restoring the rejected. You are full of compassion and mercy. Today, I bring You the parts of my life that feel unworthy or broken. Please touch me and make me whole. Help me also to extend Your love to others, to draw near to those who are hurting, and reflect Your healing grace. Make me an instrument of Your mercy. In Your name I pray, Amen.