Day 4: Jesus shows His power to make clean
In March 2021, our family had to quarantine. Two of us had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, so we had to keep away from school and work and all our friends until we were considered no longer infectious. In Jesus’ day, there was a skin disease called leprosy. It was a terrible disease, and people believed that if you touched someone with leprosy, you’d very likely get it too. So, lepers had to live away from everybody else. But in today’s passage, we see Jesus has no problem touching lepers.
In verse 35, Jesus goes to a solitary place, which means a place where He could be alone. What did Jesus do there?
People had just been flocking to Jesus for healing. What do you think we can learn from Jesus’ choice to leave the crowd the next morning to pray?
What do Simon Peter and the other disciples do (v. 36)?
What did they tell Jesus when they found Him (v. 37)?
Why do you think everyone was looking for Jesus?
What did Jesus say they should do and why (v. 38)?
What two things did Jesus do as they traveled throughout Galilee (v. 39)?
In Jewish law, there were lots of things that could make you “unclean” and unable, for example, to participate in worship in the temple in Jerusalem. Having a skin disease like leprosy was one of the things that made you unclean in this way.
Who came to Jesus in verse 40?
What did this man with leprosy do and what did he say (v. 40)?
How did Jesus feel (v. 41)?
There are a few places in the Gospels where we are not completely sure what the original text said. Your Bible might say that Jesus was indignant or that he was “filled with compassion,” because some early copies of Mark’s gospel say one and others say the other. This is one of a few places where experts aren’t sure which is right. But if the original does say that Jesus was indignant (i.e., angry), He’s clearly not angry with the man!
What amazing thing does Jesus do in verse 41?
What happened to the man when Jesus touched him and said, “Be clean”?
What did Jesus tell the man to do and not to do (v. 44)?
In Mark’s gospel, Jesus often tells people He has healed to keep it quiet, just like He told the demon in verse 25 to be quiet.
In verse 44, instead of keeping quiet, the man went around telling everyone about Jesus. Why do you think he did this?
What was the result of the man telling everyone in (v. 45)?
Thank Jesus for being so loving and for touching this sick man. Ask Him to help you see how loving He is and to bring all your problems to Him.