Mark 1:40-45
A Man With Leprosy
40A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."
41Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
43Jesus 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." 45Instead 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.
A leper came to Jesus...The leper begged Him on his knees...The leper ask Jesus, "if You are willing, You can make me clean"...The leper ask Jesus for His will...LORD, if thou will, was asked...There is no doubt, when the true faith of the leper appeared before Jesus., he could be healed...There was, of course no doubt, in Jesus mind the leper could be healed...You can make me clean, the leper ask...Jesus and the leper knew He could heal (the leper)...
Jesus had compassion for the leper...Jesus says "he is willing" and "be clean" (to the leper)...Immediately the leprosy left the leper and he was healed...St. Mark emphasizes that the leper was healed immediately...The leper had faith, humility, and no doubt...He also had Jesus...This combination healed him...
We are told that Jesus had compassion for the leper...He gave the leper a strong warning, telling him not to tell anyone about the healing...He tells the leper to go to the priest and give the proper sacrifice, according to Mosaic Law...Jesus deeply cares about people...He did not want His teachings to be only about miracles and healings...He wants us to have a close relationship with God the Father, and He the Son...
The leper goes out (instead) and talks freely about his healing by Jesus...The leper spread the news of his healing...Jesus becomes more popular and can no longer enter towns without a crowd and fanfare...The excitement over miracles, could disrupt His teachings...Jesus did not purposely seek to be popular...He just became popular...He did not want to be known for miracles and healings...He wants to be known for more...He wants us to repent and know that God is the Father, our Creator...
Sometimes we pray for miracles, healings, and sometimes we pray for signs from God...Jesus came and lived on earth...It is documented He performed many miracles and healings...Jesus is the sign from God...