Secluded Places

Mark 1:40-45

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. 

Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy.This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.” But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.

Small changes in translation and gospel remind us how tender the scene is... The leper kneels in front of Jesus--bible scholars note that he prays to him. Do you see the leper's faith rise ever-so quickly and fall off his tongue with humble assurance? "If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean. And oooohhhh, look at Jesus' beautiful response, "Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him." Isn't that soooo like our Jesus?  Oh how he loves us!

But there's more to the story, isn't there?  And I wonder if we can see ourselves in the second half as easily as we did in the first?

Jesus warns the leper not to tell anyone--but to worship with his offering, which would testify to God's miraculous work in his life. Excitedly, however, the leper skips  off and tells everyone anyway. 

{Sighhhh}

I can hardly blame the leper.  He was out of his ever-loving mind!  Everything about him is whole and perfect.  He can touch people!  He can walk and breathe.  His flesh is smooth. He can see and smell and run and leap and shout and not be shunned.  What Jesus has done is wonderful!  He will never be the same.  And so, he runs off to make Jesus famous! 

How often I run right out of God's will with the best of intentions--failing to see that His ways are higher than mine.  Um, because, of that whole He is sovereign and rules the universe truth. What he tells me to do matters. Obedience matters to the Lord.

So the leper runs off to make Jesus famous, and what's the result? See that last part of our passage? "As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn't publicly enter a town anywhere.  He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him." 

Look at the outcome, where once the leper lived in seclusion, now our Savior does. {Wow!} His ministry flourishes none-the-less; because, let's face it, Jesus doesn't actually need us to make him famous. As we wrap up our quiet time this morning, let's be still for a moment. Here, we can stay and obey. We don't want to run ahead of him and run right out of His best plan. 

Jesus, speak to me, and help me hear you so I can obey you. What do you have for me today? Please fill and equip me, widen the path beneath me so my ankles won't turn!  Help me stay in your presence and obey your will. I love you. Amen.