Mark 1:40-41
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Today’s Bible verse is
Mark 1:40-41 (NIV)
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”
Let’s read the verse in context:
Mark 1:29-45 (NIV)
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. 32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else–to the nearby villages–so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. 40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. 43 Jesus 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.” 45 Instead 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.
Today’s Quiet Time with God
Today’s verse is a great example of how much Jesus care about us. The back story in the verse is important. Leprosy (the word leprosy in the Bible is used to cover all type of skin diseases) was particularly distressing to Jews because it made them ceremonially unclean and they became isolated and cut off from their community. When the leper comes to Jesus and asks “if you are willing” it is not a question about Jesus power, but His willingness to touch the life of an “outcast”. Jesus compassionate response was not only to heal but to “touch” this man who probable hadn’t know the touch of another person for a long time. All of us are “ceremonially unclean” because of our sin, and yet Jesus has compassion for us, clearly demonstrated at the cross. No one has loved us like Jesus loves us! Be blessed.
In case you missed it last week, I have an idea that I want to run by all of you who are so faithful in reading God’s Daytimer. I am planning on starting a “Church Online“. This church online will not simply be an extension of the church I currently Pastor, it will be a “new thing”. I envision it as more than just a place to come and watch or listen to sermons and Bible studies. I see it as people from all over the world connecting to encourage and pray for each other, as well as a vehicle for providing all types of ministry opportunities for everyone involved, in order to reach out to people every where with the Good News. I hope over time to have thousands of believers and non-believers from all over the world coming to see what is happening at the Church Online.
Before I jump headlong into the the project, I am asking for 100 people that will join up to pray for and be a part of the initial core group of believers what will serve as the foundation for the Church Online. I am hoping that many of you will be a part of this initial group. If this is something that you can do, just go to the new Church Online website. It is still very plain and simple with no bells and whistles. I don’t want to add all that stuff until we have the first 100 people involved. Once you are at the new site, you will see a place to “join” by subscribing to the free RSS or email feed. The counter of how many people have signed up is displayed as well. So far it is just me. Once we reach 100, we will start moving on really getting the Church Online started. If you can take a few minutes, please go check out the site by clicking here Church Online, or, the web address is www.internetchurchonline.com. Read the short article there and then sign up for the free email subscription. I look forward to partnering with all of you to advance the Kingdom of God!
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