Dr Paul Allen

Our Lord Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) In Mark 1:40–45 we see the third of four miracles that Mark groups together to show the power of the Son of God . These miracles demonstrated His power over the demon world, over the world of disease and weakness, over the defilement of leprosy and over paralysis. In these four we have a full demonstration of our condition as sinners . We are controlled by the god of this world, we are powerless to serve God, we are separated from God, and we cannot walk in communion with God because of sin. In these miracles we see the power, the compassion, the willingness, and the deity of Christ reaching out to those who have been rendered useless for God. By coming into contact with the Saviour all are healed and become useful to God. We were in our sins living at a great distance from God . Like the leper in the Old Testament we were banned from the presence of God, walking in an outside place, and were unclean in our very natures. Isaia

English: Christ cleansing a leper by Jean-Marie Melchior Doze, 1864. Source: http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Jesus-Healing-the-Leper-1864-Posters_i1945716_.htm (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 8:5 –13 “When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith’” (v. 10). Notably, Jesus orders the leper to tell no one about his healing. Instead, he must first go to the priest in order to be declared clean (Matt. 8:4). Having the cured man obey the laws for leprosy’s cleansing (Lev. 14:1–32) testifies to the priests that Jesus does not come to break the Mosaic law . Also, the ability to heal leprosy is a prophetic miracle (2 Kings 5:1–14), and so Christ may intend to reveal His prophethood to the priest through the leper’s testimony. Moreover, the commoners expect a Messiah who will kick the Romans out of Palestine. Having the cured man not proclaim Christ’s power will help keep His acclaim from spreadi

Moses with the tablets of the Ten Commandments, painting by Rembrandt (1659) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 8:1 –4 “ Jesus said to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them’” (v. 4). The first evangelist has shown our Savior to be a new Moses in his gospel. Like Moses, Jesus was in mortal danger shortly after His birth ( Ex. 1:8–2:10; Matt. 2:16–18). Christ, the new covenant mediator, delivered God’s word on a mountain just as Moses received the Torah (the Law) on Sinai (Ex. 19:20–23:33; Matt. 5–7). However, Jesus comes not as Moses’ equal, but as his superior. Unlike Moses, our Lord explains the Law by His own authority (7:28–29). Moreover, Jesus comes down from the mountain to cleanse His people after declaring His Father’s will (8:1–4). Christ is better than Moses, who came down with commands that could only pronounce them “unclean” (Ex. 34:29; Lev. 13:1–8). According to

Psalm 3:4 I cried to the LORD with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah Read the description of this scene: “When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘ Lord , if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed” ( Matt. 8:1–3). Jesus wants us to see Him as our only Source of help in every situation. Although the multitudes pressed in on Him, compassion rose up from within Him at the sight of the approaching man with leprosy who was deeply despised by others. Leprosy was a curse. All who associated with people having leprosy were considered ceremonially unclean as well. Yet the man dared to venture into the city in hopes of talking to Jesus. When Christ came near, the man immediately knelt before Him. It was a demonstration of his adoration of God . Next he told Jesus: “If

Icon of Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?" ( Luke 17:17 )   Ten lepers , hopeless and incurable, had come to Jesus, begging for His help, and He had miraculously healed them. All ten should have fallen down to worship and thank Him, but only one praised God and thanked Jesus for His marvelous deliverance, while the others rushed away.   We are at first amazed at such ingratitude, until we realize that not more than 10 percent of even those people who know about Christ ever stop to give Him thanks for His innumerable blessings--life, freedom, food, shelter, health, family, and especially easy access to the Bible and His gracious offer of salvation--far greater in value than the gift of special healing received by the ten lepers.   The thankful leper received a much greater gift than all the others. "Thy faith hath made thee whole" ( Luke 17:19 ). They had received an outward cle

First page of the Gospel of Mark, by Sargis Pitsak, a Medieval Armenian scribe and miniaturist (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator), a 6th-century encaustic icon from Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai. NB - slightly cut down - for full size see here (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 8:5-13 "When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, 'Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith'" ( v. 10 ). Notably, Jesus orders the leper to tell no one about his healing. Instead, he must first go to the priest in order to be declared clean ( Matt. 8:4 ). Having the cured man obey the laws for leprosy's cleansing ( Lev. 14:1-32 ) testifies to the priests that Jesus does not come to break the Mosaic law. Also, the ability to heal leprosy is a prophetic miracle ( 2 Kings 5:1-14 ), and so Christ may intend to reveal His prophethood to the priest through the leper's testimony. Moreover, the