Mark 1:40-42

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.

Mark 1:40-42

            As we read the account of the leper in the first chapter of Mark, there are a couple things we can learn from it.

            The first thing we see is a man coming humbly to Jesus. This leprous man came to Jesus with the words, “if you will,” not demanding but, in humbleness, asking to be made clean. Humbleness acknowledges our belief that it is best for us to let God decide what we need.

            Secondly, we see the compassion of Jesus. Jesus could have easily just said the words “be clean.” Instead he reaches out his hand and touches the leper who, in Luke’s gospel, is described as being “full of leprosy.” Yet Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man with compassion. What a beautiful sight this would have been to see!

            Humbly seek the Lord for His best for your life today, knowing that He will respond with His compassionate touch.

            Pastor Doug Hardin