Slices
Prepare
What big thing would you like God to do? Have you asked him about it? How has he responded?
Bible passage
Jesus heals a man with leprosy
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’
41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 ‘See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.’ 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
Explore
On Saturday we saw Jesus’ determination to preach to whole villages. Mark staples this incident of one-on-one healing as the very next episode. No accident!
This man does not approach Jesus with a question, but a statement. He is quite sure that Jesus can heal him. The issue is not about power or capability. It is all about engagement. He is exploring a relationship through the portal of a health challenge. Jesus both speaks to this man and touches him in order to bring healing. It is probable that no one had touched him for years. His whole life is changed in an instant.
Jesus and his disciples now have a problem of crowd control! This man’s exuberant disobedience (v 45) is the catalyst to draw many people to him. Can you imagine the energy that must have taken? He was so keen to tell everyone how Jesus had changed his life that he started an avalanche of interest in what Jesus had to say. Jesus’ mission is not derailed. It is amplified.
Respond
Who knows about how Jesus has changed your life? Who would benefit from knowing? In the end, that good news is not really about you, but about him. Apparently mustard seeds can grow into very large trees. Don’t be deceived by the size of the seed!
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Genesis 12,13; Matthew 5
Pray for Scripture Union
Jim Winning leads the Supporter Care team as they seek to serve all of Scripture Union’s supporters. Pray for Jim and the team as they learn new processes and adapt to changes following the appointment of new distributors for our printed resources.
