Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” Mark 1:41 NABRE
Jesus is travelling from village to village teaching and healing. A man with a skin disease called leprosy comes and kneels before him and says if you wish you could make me clean. The disease was something that made the man unclean, he could not worship in the synagogue, be around other members of the community and even his family. Jesus’ reputation as a healing Rabbi is obviously known by the man who puts faith and trust in Jesus. Jesus is moved with pity, an emotional response, a sign of compassion for the man. Onlookers would have been astonished that Jesus is not put off by the man, concerned with becoming unclean Himself. Even more remarkably Jesus reaches out His hand and touches the man saying, “I do will it” and instantly the man is made clean. Jesus is not concerned about cleanliness, He is only interested in acting with compassion for the man. Being made clean will change the man’s entire future, he will be a member in good standing in the community and live as normally as any other person. Though this man is a stranger, Jesus puts Himself at risk to serve him and show how love behaves.
We too are challenged to take risks to help others. Minimally discipleship requires we live with compassion, even for those we do not know. If someone needs our help and we do not offer help we are not living as Jesus. Our discipleship can be easily challenged if we don’t do as Jesus has done.
Do you demonstrate compassion to the stranger? What risks have you taken to serve others?
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