Mark 1:40 – 45 (NASB)

40 And a leper came* to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said* to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

43And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away,

44and He said* to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

45But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.

• The root word behind lepros (leper) means “scaly,” which describes one of the earliest and most obvious characteristics of leprosy. Why would Jesus meet and touch a leper is amazing.
• Lepers were supposed to keep their distance and warn everyone that they were coming, lest others would be defiled (Lev. 13:45-46). This man knew that Jesus was able to heal him, but he was not sure the Jesus was willing to heal him. Willing and able are two different things!
• God has made it abundantly clear that He is not willing that sinners perish (2 Peter 3:9) and that He is willing that all men be saved (1 Tim. 2:4).
• Leprosy as described in Leviticus 13 is a picture of sin. Like sin, leprosy is deeper than the skin (Lev. 13:3); it spreads (Lev. 13:5-8); it defiles and isolates (Lev. 13:44-46); and it renders things fit only for the fire (Lev. 13:47-59).

Jesus had compassion on the man (note Mark 6:34; 8:2; 9:22) and healed him. He did it with His touch and with His Word. No doubt this was the first loving touch this leper had felt in a long time. As with the fever, so with the leprosy: it was gone instantly!

Monday Morning Moment: “God is able to do all things…. but fail!”

Psalms 107:20 (KJV) 20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.