Bible Question:
How about doing a little Bible Study on the StudyBibleForum? I would like to discuss the passaage in Mark 1:40-45, when Jesus cleanses the leper. "And a leper *came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and *said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, and He *said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere." What do we see in this passage? Emmaus |
Bible Answer: This is where Jesus met a grown man's need for a meaningful touch, a man who was barred by law from ever touching anyone again... To touch a leper was unthinkable. Banishing lepers from society, people would not get within a stone's throw of them. (In fact, they would through stones at them if they did come close!) ... With their open sores and dirt bandages, lepers were the last persons anyone would want to touch. Yet the first thing Christ did for this man was touch him. Even before Jesus spoke to him, He reached out His hand and touched him. Can you imagine what that scene must have looked like? Think how this man must have longed for someone to touch him, not throw stones at him to drive him away. Jesus could have healed him first and then touched him. But recognizing his deepest need, Jesus stretched out His hand even before He spoke words of physical and spiritual healing. Jesus came to be active and compassionate to the people around Him. He exemplified tenderness when He healed the leper by touching Him. In Christ, SRP |