Mark 1:40-45; Sixth Sunday after The Epiphany; February 15, 2009;
The Text:
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. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and 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, for a proof to them.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter. (Mark 1:40-45, ESV)
From the Sermon:
Yeah, we know the leper’s point of view, because we’ve lived it. And it’s not just a pov we know because we’ve been sick. Oh, we suffer enough because of sickness, but there are other things that we want Jesus to take care of too. We live every day with problems, and troubles, and pain. Not the kind you can take penicillin for either. It’s the world we live in…
Maybe you’re pushing your way through the crowed to see if Jesus will heal your marriage. Why is it that what started out with such joy and promise causes so much pain? Why can’t you talk about it to the person you love more than anyone? It’s shameful what you say to each other. You try to hide it, but you’re sure people are watching you. On your way to Jesus you just want the pain to stop. Jesus I know you can do something, but will you?
