Mark 1:40-45 (NLT)
40 A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” 42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. 43 Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: 44 “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.” 45 But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to Him.
A man with a desire to be healed was "begging" Jesus, because he knew that Jesus had the power and authority to provide the healing he was desperately seeking. After petitioning Jesus for healing, Jesus compassionately agreed and with just two words, "be healed", the leprosy "instantly" left him. Up until recently, I sort of drew an imaginary line after this verse marking the end of the story. I always saw the healing, but never focused on the second half of this story. Jesus spoke two words to provide healing, yet He took the time to speak several sentences to give this man clear directions. Several thoughts came to mind as I read this. One of the thoughts was that out of everything He created, man is the least obedient. Diseases surrender their entire existence with just two of His words, yet we have trouble surrendering our desires even after He gave us His life.
I then began to imagine this man being so excited that he ran through the streets, shouting and telling others of the healing that Jesus provided. In the past, I often wondered why Jesus sometimes asked people not to say anything after He healed them. But as I read the story this time, I began to see it from a different perspective. The man shouted about the "healing" instead of listening to and obeying the "healer". Hebrews 7:7 came to mind as I read this.
Hebrews 7:7 (NLT)
And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.
Jesus gave the man clear direction on what to do; He even told him that in doing so, it would be a "public testimony." The man's intentions were likely good, but they went against the clear direction of Jesus. As I continued to think about everything that was happening in this story, I began to wonder if the man thought he was doing something great for the kingdom by telling others. Did he forget what Jesus said, or did he get so caught up in his blessing that he forgot the One who provided it? I began to ask myself, “If it were me, would I have the restraint to keep from shouting from the rooftops when I was clearly told not to?”
Why would someone not tell others about a miracle? Well, that is exactly what Jesus instructed this man to do. He told him, "Don't tell anyone about this." I began to realize that even in blessings, if my desire to tell others of the blessing is greater than my desire to obey the One who provided it, I have made it about me rather than about His will. Some might say that I am making more of it than it is, and perhaps they are right. But what is certain is that this man’s disobedience led to large crowds gathering everywhere. Jesus "...couldn't publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places”. How many others would have been healed if the man simply did as instructed? How many additional lives would have been reached if Jesus could have easily walked into the cities and reached the masses? Jesus didn't ask him to hide the miracle, He instructed the man to let others SEE the miracle. Perhaps Jesus didn't want him to talk about it because He wanted others to see it! Jesus instructed this man to “Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you."
I believe it was not as much about talking less, as it was about walking more. Verse 45 says “He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to Him.” Perhaps Jesus instructed this one man to walk into the town so thousands of others didn't have to walk out of town.
Father,
Thank You for Your unfailing love. Thank You for Your perfect ways! Thank You for Your healing power, and Your willingness and desire to use it in our lives and in the lives of others. Help us to be obedient to You in all things! Help us to surrender to Your will! Help us to never get so caught up in our blessings that we overlook You, the One who provides them all! We love You, honor You, and praise Your holy name! Amen.
40 A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” 42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. 43 Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: 44 “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.” 45 But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to Him.
A man with a desire to be healed was "begging" Jesus, because he knew that Jesus had the power and authority to provide the healing he was desperately seeking. After petitioning Jesus for healing, Jesus compassionately agreed and with just two words, "be healed", the leprosy "instantly" left him. Up until recently, I sort of drew an imaginary line after this verse marking the end of the story. I always saw the healing, but never focused on the second half of this story. Jesus spoke two words to provide healing, yet He took the time to speak several sentences to give this man clear directions. Several thoughts came to mind as I read this. One of the thoughts was that out of everything He created, man is the least obedient. Diseases surrender their entire existence with just two of His words, yet we have trouble surrendering our desires even after He gave us His life.
I then began to imagine this man being so excited that he ran through the streets, shouting and telling others of the healing that Jesus provided. In the past, I often wondered why Jesus sometimes asked people not to say anything after He healed them. But as I read the story this time, I began to see it from a different perspective. The man shouted about the "healing" instead of listening to and obeying the "healer". Hebrews 7:7 came to mind as I read this.
Hebrews 7:7 (NLT)
And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.
Jesus gave the man clear direction on what to do; He even told him that in doing so, it would be a "public testimony." The man's intentions were likely good, but they went against the clear direction of Jesus. As I continued to think about everything that was happening in this story, I began to wonder if the man thought he was doing something great for the kingdom by telling others. Did he forget what Jesus said, or did he get so caught up in his blessing that he forgot the One who provided it? I began to ask myself, “If it were me, would I have the restraint to keep from shouting from the rooftops when I was clearly told not to?”
Why would someone not tell others about a miracle? Well, that is exactly what Jesus instructed this man to do. He told him, "Don't tell anyone about this." I began to realize that even in blessings, if my desire to tell others of the blessing is greater than my desire to obey the One who provided it, I have made it about me rather than about His will. Some might say that I am making more of it than it is, and perhaps they are right. But what is certain is that this man’s disobedience led to large crowds gathering everywhere. Jesus "...couldn't publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places”. How many others would have been healed if the man simply did as instructed? How many additional lives would have been reached if Jesus could have easily walked into the cities and reached the masses? Jesus didn't ask him to hide the miracle, He instructed the man to let others SEE the miracle. Perhaps Jesus didn't want him to talk about it because He wanted others to see it! Jesus instructed this man to “Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you."
I believe it was not as much about talking less, as it was about walking more. Verse 45 says “He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to Him.” Perhaps Jesus instructed this one man to walk into the town so thousands of others didn't have to walk out of town.
Father,
Thank You for Your unfailing love. Thank You for Your perfect ways! Thank You for Your healing power, and Your willingness and desire to use it in our lives and in the lives of others. Help us to be obedient to You in all things! Help us to surrender to Your will! Help us to never get so caught up in our blessings that we overlook You, the One who provides them all! We love You, honor You, and praise Your holy name! Amen.