"i Am Willing. Be Clean!"

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

"i Am Willing. Be Clean!"

Date: Jan. 21, 2016

Passage

Mark 1:40-45 (ESV)

40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and 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, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 1:41

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”

First, Jesus healed a leper (40-42). Jesus was traveling around to villages in Galilee. In one town, a leper came to Jesus, fell on his knees, and begged Jesus to heal him, saying, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus was filled with compassion for the leper (or indignant that he would feel the need to ask the question according to the new NIV). Jesus said, "I am willing. Be clean!" He showed his willingness by doing something no one had done to the man since he got sick. He touched him. Jesus' touch brought immediate healing from his leprosy.

Second, "Go, show yourself to the priest" (43-45). As soon as he was healed, Jesus sent him on his way with a warning not to tell anyone about what had happened. Instead he was to go to the priest and offer the required sacrifices for his cleansing. Jesus didn't just heal the man physically. He made him clean. He made him a new creation; not just healed of his leprosy, but able to stand before God. However, the man did not obey Jesus. He spread the news all over about what Jesus did. From then on, Jesus stayed outside the villages in lonely places. Jesus suffered from his compassion on this leper.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that Jesus is willing to heal all our infirmities. Lord Jesus, heal me.

One Word: "I am willing. Be clean!"

The Songs of Moses and of the Lamb

Revelation 15:1-8

Key Verse: 15:4

  Who will not fear, O Lord,
    and glorify your name?
  For you alone are holy.
    All nations will come
    and worship you,
  for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Today's Question

What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?

See answer and references