Published 4/5/19
Read Mark 1:40-42
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.
Reflect
· Whenever you've given in to temptation and sin, have you taken action and repented? (Please explain your answer.)
· Are you humble enough to recognize the depth of your sin?
· Are you ready to accept the complete forgiveness God offers? Share what you need Jesus to cleanse from your life.
The leper wasn't just some no-name person who got a second chance at life. This guy is just like you and me. He had a repulsive, deadly disease--just like the sin that plagues us all. Oh, sure, we may not have festering sores on the outside, but inside, we all have them. Each of us has a condition that's every bit as bad, if not worse, than leprosy. It's deadly, and it kills both body and soul. When the Great Physician reached out His hand and said, "I am willing," He was also talking to you and me.
When that pitiful, struggling, dying man made his way to see the Holy One, and said, "You can make me clean," how did Jesus respond? Was He grossed out? Did He spit on the man and order him to get lost? Did He turn away and gag? Jesus did what only a Savior would do. He stretched out His hand and healed. He also stretches out His hand to you and me today. He loves us in spite of our sin. He wants to forgive us and cure us of our deadly disease--the disease of sin. "I am willing," He says. "Are you?"
Pray
Lord, Jesus, "I am willing" to be healed--and I'm reaching out to You right now. Amen. Ask Jesus to take your hand and to cleanse you.