Mark 1:35-45

Mark 1:35-45

A careful reading of Mark begins to reveal two characteristics that ought to be in the life of every disciple, but are sadly often absent.  Those two characteristics are passion and compassion.  What keeps you up at night?  Apparently, for Jesus it was His mission.  Sometime between 3 am and 6 am Jesus is motivated to get up and go pray.  What was that prayer about?  Mark indicates that it was His up and coming preaching tour.  “Been praying now I am going preaching” seems to have been His attitude.  The events of Capernaum had been dramatic.  The people came for healing.  Jesus came for preaching.  Had Jesus stayed there He could no doubt spend every day healing people by the 100’s.  But it would have gotten in the way of His purpose- preaching.  The good would have prevented the best.  So passionate is Jesus that once found (the verb for hunted v. 36 is very intense) He would not be distracted from His preaching tour.

On this tour Mark presents a pretty limited ministry.  Jesus is focusing on 2 things: proclaiming and casting out demons.  He is focusing on the good news and destroying the stronghold of the enemy.   What a far cry from many churches and Christians today.  A leper comes to Jesus for healing.  His faith is strong because we have no record of any prior healing of a leper.  The question is will this driven preacher take time to heal one pathetic, sick person.  Jesus is “moved with compassion”.   The Greek language is more explicit than English.  The word means that Jesus had stomach tightening, gut-level butterflies in the core of his belly so strong was his emotional reaction.  Jesus touched the man.  As a leper the man was untouchable and it may have been years since this man had experienced the compassionate touch of another person.  Jesus could have healed him at a distance, but love compels close contact. 

Jesus commands him to go and fulfill the ritual of cleanings.  The man cannot be fully reintegrated into society until this is done.  Also, if he does this it will prevent a popularity circus which would prevent Jesus’ synagogue speaking.  The leper is unable to keep such good news to himself.  Word spreads and Jesus has to retreat to unpopulated places.  Are we passionate like Jesus?  Are we compassionate like Jesus?  Are we telling the world about our healing for Jesus?