Mark 1:40-42 "And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean."
Jesus has been preaching, teaching, and healing throughout the land He is in and here He is approached by a leper. Leprosy was a term used to cover a multitude of diseases, primarily those that affected the skin. To be labeled a leper in the community was devastating. You had to wear certain clothing, could not be within a certain distance of people, and had to yell out what you were. Imagine living that life. You are deemed untouchable. Not only do you lose interaction with people, but you lose even the slightest human touch. You are worthless, despicable, a nobody.
Many walk through life this very way. They may not have a disease that makes them untouchable, but they have had life situations, sin, or people's perceptions placed upon them to make them "untouchable". So, imagine the boldness it took, the courage, the faith, the humility to come to Jesus and make this request to be healed. Jesus could have had this man killed for approaching Him unclean. Instead, Jesus is moved by compassion or pity and He touches the man. Immediately the curse has left him!
In my quiet time I found myself asking, "What do I consider in my life untouchable?" You see, we have sin, hurts, pains, thoughts, life situations that all seem untouchable. No one can know about it, no one can should see it, no one would even come close to helping even if they did see it. The beauty of this historical account with the Savior is that Jesus is willing and able to touch the untouchable. Much of our "untouchable" issues are the deepest, hardest, worst issues we have and with pride we cover them up even to God the Savior. Yet this man, with humility, courage, and faith stepped forward to Christ and asked for healing. His statement of "If you will..." is not about whether Jesus was capable. It was whether Jesus even wanted to. Compassionately, He steps forward and touches the man! The touch of the Savior spoke more to this man than even Jesus' words. Why? Because there is power in His touch. Daniel Akin states, "As the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53:4, He takes on Himself the infirmities of this man, cleanses him, and make him whole!" (Christ Centered Exposition Commentary: Mark, 37)
The gospel was never made clearer to me in this encounter before this morning. We all have a leprosy of the heart: sin. It permeates our very being, our existence. And for many, sin is deemed too much for God. It is untouchable to be taken away. Yet, Jesus shows that is the very reason He has come. To take away the sin of the world and man by His saving grace. We only have to trust in who He is, what He has done and can do, and allow Him to heal us by His saving grace. Like this man, some will be immediate healing and some will take time. But, are you willing to give your "untouchables" to Him?
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