Mark 1:40-45
Willing to Make Him Clean
Read the passage
40Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
41Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”
42And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed.
43Jesus promptly sent him away with a stern warning:
44“See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
45But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
A man with leprosy kneels before Jesus and begs for cleansing. He believes Jesus is able; his request is whether Jesus is willing. Leviticus describes the isolation associated with such uncleanness, so cleansing concerns more than relief from a visible condition.
Moved with compassion, Jesus reaches out and touches him. He says He is willing and commands him to be clean. Immediately the leprosy leaves. The Lord does not stand apart from the man’s need, and the cleansing comes through His power.
Jesus then gives a stern instruction: tell no one, but go to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed. That procedure provides a recognized testimony of cleansing. The man’s next task is to follow Jesus’ word, not decide that gratitude makes the instruction unnecessary.
Instead, he spreads the news openly. As a result Jesus can no longer enter a town in plain view and remains in solitary places, though people keep coming. The healing is real, and the disobedience has real consequences. Mark lets us see both without telling us whether the man completed the priestly examination.
Jesus’ compassion gives us reason to bring Him needs we fear might keep us at a distance. His authority also asks us to listen after help has come. Thankfulness should make us attentive to the Lord, not confident that we know a better way to honor Him.
How We Know
Leviticus describes the isolation of a person declared unclean and the priest’s examination after healing, followed by prescribed cleansing rites. Jesus’ instruction fits that procedure. Mark reports the healing and the command without recording every later step of the man’s return to community life.
Questions
1 What does the man’s request reveal about his trust?
AnswerHe believes Jesus can cleanse him and asks whether He is willing. He brings his need directly to Jesus rather than trying to make himself clean first.
2 How does Jesus answer?
AnswerHe responds with compassion, touches the man and commands him to be clean. The leprosy leaves immediately, showing that His willingness is joined to power.
3 What results from the man spreading the news?
AnswerJesus can no longer enter towns openly and stays in solitary places. The man’s public announcement disregards the command and changes the circumstances of Jesus’ ministry.
4 How can gratitude help us listen instead of taking over?
AnswerWe can thank Jesus for His care and pay attention to a command we are tempted to bypass. A response that feels enthusiastic still needs to be obedient.
What This Means for Us
The man kneels with an illness he cannot remove. Jesus’ compassion gives us reason to bring Him needs that leave us feeling isolated or ashamed. We can pray for healing and receive practical care without claiming that every recovery must follow this same course.
The man’s response also warns us about enthusiastic disobedience. We might share someone’s private story because it sounds encouraging, even after being asked to keep it confidential. Good intentions do not make another person’s instruction irrelevant. Listen carefully before deciding that the way we want to help must be the right one.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your compassion toward the man who needed cleansing. Hear us in our need. Make our gratitude attentive to Your words, and teach us to care for people with patience and respect. Amen.