Mark 1: 35-45 (NIV)
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
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.
Last time we met, Jesus was speaking in the synagogue and then cast an unclean spirit out of a man in the crowd. In the following verses, Jesus’ fame continues to grow as he heals Simon’s mother of a fever and as others brought their sick loved ones to Jesus for healing. We read today that Jesus went away from the village to be alone; to pray in solitude. Even there, he found only a short break as Simon and the others went out and found him, interrupted him to tell him that “everyone is looking for you”. And then Jesus replied “Let’s go somewhere else”.
Not TO the ones looking for him, but to go somewhere else. Make a note there… we’ll come back.
They left the area and went to other areas of Galilee. Preaching – in the synagogues – casting out demons – but notice… no mention of healing.
And then, while in Galilee, a man with leprosy falls on his knees before Jesus and says:
“If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
And Jesus was “indignant”. Indignant?
It is interesting that the NIV uses this word. Most other translations say something much softer; “filled with compassion” or “deeply moved”. But the NIV says “indignant”
So far in our story, Jesus has called his disciples and begun to teach in the synagogues (no mountaintops or wilderness sermons… yet.) Jesus was walking the path of a Rabbi; a teacher. And yet his teaching, his rabbinic ministry, is constantly interrupted by the sick or the possessed or the needy. Even in moments of needed solitude, in private moments with the Father, the press of need would not leave him alone. Look again at verse 38.
“Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”Is it possible that Jesus’ understanding of his call was being challenged? Is it possible that this is why he was frustrated… indignant… because his plan was being interrupted… by his Father’s plan? With those questions in mind, read the rest of the story:
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”My oldest daughter just turned 22. That is a long time to be a parent. In those 22 years (and 3 additional children) I cannot tell you how many times I have been engrossed in some task I deemed important; reading a book, watching a movie, writing a sermon… only to have a child enter the room and say “hey Dad!?” or, maybe from another room, “daaaaaaaaa-dy…”
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.
I, of course, always put my work aside and look approvingly into my son or daughters’ eyes and say something awesome like, “yeah, honey. whatcha need?”
Right… always… that’s what I do… except when I don’t.
I am a bit ashamed to say that my response is, too often, to forcefully set my work aside, peer over my glasses, sigh, and say… “WHAT…?”
Maybe not exactly indignant, but you get the idea
Jesus had a plan. He had some revelation of his mission but maybe he had not yet seen the whole thing… did not yet know all that he was called to do or be. Maybe he did not see himself as a healer or a miracle worker. And yet what he saw, even if limited, could not limit who he was. And who was he? I don’t necessarily mean his power or his ability to heal. I mean who he really was, as a human. Compassionate, loving, merciful, empathetic.
The world is filled with powerful people; people with the power to make a difference, to change the circumstances of those around them. Power to end hunger or sickness. Power to be a friend to the lonely. Power to see and acknowledge those others do not see. Humanity has power. All the power we need. In fact, Jesus said that our power would allow us to do more and greater things than even he had done. But our power is not who we are. Our power does not define us. Who we are is what is inside. Our acceptance or our intolerance; our mercy or our judgement; our kindness or our cruelty. Power is a tool but the end of power depends on who we are and how we chose to use our power. Are we heroes or villains?
Perhaps Jesus was frustrated; perhaps even angry. But… we was also a man of deep compassion; compassion that would not allow him to turn away anyone in need, no matter how much they might interrupt his plans. The man asked Jesus “if you are willing?” and Jesus replied, “I am”
And Jesus touched this man, a man that was actually illegal to touch, and the man was healed, made clean. A man who had spent maybe years with little or no human contact. A man who had been forced to draw away from society, away from the villages and away from community. Jesus touched him, healed him, and made him clean. Jesus restored this man to the community and gave him back his connection to the human race. And then Jesus makes an odd request.
“Don’t tell anyone.” Why?
Now… remember verse 38?
“Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”Maybe this is a clue?
See, the story ends with the man telling EVERYONE and Jesus’ desire to move through the villages, to preach and walk among the people… that wish is off the table. In the end we are told that:
“Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.”
Jesus healed this man and then… they traded places. The man was restored to his community and Jesus was forced to “stay outside in lonely places.” Jesus moved from one vision of his calling to a larger vision based not on his great power but on his great love for his people… a love that would ultimately drive him further from his people and a love that would ultimately drive them to crucify him. They would crucify him because they too had a vision of his ministry that was interrupted and frustrated. They too became indignant at this man whose heart led him to use his power in ways that would continually frustrate their expectations.
May we be open to the power he has given us and may we find the mercy and love and compassion to use those powers to see his kingdom come.
