How Jesus Heals – Book of Mark

By Pastor Marcus Brown

Table of Contents

Introduction

Welcome, New Life Church family and friends, to our exciting new sermon series on the Book of Mark! We’re thrilled to embark on this journey through one of the most dynamic and action-packed gospels in the New Testament. From now until Easter, we’ll be exploring the life and teachings of Jesus as recorded by Mark, and I promise you, it’s going to be an incredible ride!

Whether you’ve been studying the Bible for decades or this is your first time diving into Scripture, there’s something here for everyone. God’s Word is like an ocean – vast, deep, and full of wonders. As Psalm 119:18 (NLT) says, “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.” No matter how many times we explore it, there’s always something new to discover.

To help you get the most out of this series, we’ve prepared a special Book of Mark journal that you can purchase on Amazon or download from our website. This journal will be an invaluable tool for taking notes, reflecting on the teachings, and tracking your personal growth throughout this journey.

Additionally, many of our Life Groups will be going deeper into the Book of Mark during their meetings. If you’re not part of a Life Group yet, this is the perfect time to join one! Head over to newlifechurch.tv/lifegroups to find a group at your local campus. It’s in these smaller communities that we often experience the most significant spiritual growth and build lasting relationships, as Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT) encourages us: “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

The Action-Packed Gospel

Now, let me tell you why I’m so excited about the Book of Mark. If the gospels were movies, Matthew would be like “Legends of the Fall” – epic and sweeping. Luke would be “Gone with the Wind” – detailed and dramatic. But Mark? Mark is “The Fast and the Furious” of the gospels!

Mark’s writing style is fast-paced, concise, and filled with action. He uses the word “immediately” about 40 times throughout his gospel. It’s like he’s constantly saying, “And then, boom! Jesus immediately did this. And then, boom! He immediately went there.” For those of you who drink coffee in the morning, Red Bull in the afternoon, and always drive in the left lane – this gospel is tailor-made for you!

But don’t let the pace fool you. Mark’s brevity doesn’t mean lack of depth. On the contrary, his to-the-point style often highlights the urgency and immediacy of Jesus’ ministry. It reminds us that the good news of the gospel is not something to be pondered at leisure, but a call to immediate action and transformation. As Jesus says in Mark 1:15 (NLT), “The time promised by God has come at last!… The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Mark’s Testimony: A Second Chance

Before we dive into the text, it’s important to understand a bit about Mark himself. His personal story is one of redemption and second chances – a testimony that many of us can relate to.

Mark, also known as John Mark, grew up in a Christian environment. His mother, Mary, was a wealthy widow and a courageous believer. Her home was a gathering place for early Christians, even during times of persecution. We read about her in Acts 12:12 (NLT): “He went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer.”

Despite this godly upbringing, Mark struggled with his faith as he got older. He had the opportunity to go on a missionary journey with the Apostle Paul but abandoned the mission when things got tough. We see this in Acts 13:13 (NLT): “Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. John Mark left them there and returned to Jerusalem.”

He burned that bridge so badly that when his uncle Barnabas later suggested taking Mark on another journey, Paul refused. Acts 15:37-38 (NLT) tells us: “Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work.”

Mark was a runner – both literally and figuratively. There’s even a theory that the young man mentioned in Mark 14:51-52 (NLT) was Mark himself: “One young man following behind was clothed only in a long linen shirt. When the mob tried to grab him, he slipped out of his shirt and ran away naked.” Talk about running away from your calling!

But here’s the beautiful part of Mark’s story: it doesn’t end with his failure. God gave him a second chance, and Mark seized it. By the end of his life, he had reconciled with Paul and become a valuable ministry partner. In fact, before Paul was martyred, he specifically asked for Mark, saying in 2 Timothy 4:11 (NLT), “Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.”

Mark’s story reminds us that New Life Church is not a place for perfect people. It’s a community of imperfect individuals who need Jesus. We’re not strong people trying to help needy people; we’re all needy people who have found strength in Christ. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT), “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” And just like Mark, we believe in the power of second chances.

Understanding Leprosy in Biblical Times

Before we dive into our main text for today, it’s crucial to understand the context of leprosy in biblical times. Leprosy wasn’t just a physical ailment; it was a sentence of living death that affected every aspect of a person’s life.

In many ways, leprosy was like Satan’s masterpiece of suffering. It was a disease that destroyed the human body from head to toe, affecting the spirit, soul, and body, but it wouldn’t kill the person for 20 to 30 years. It stripped away a person’s money, health, relationships, and even their perceived closeness to God.

Leprosy in biblical times had three devastating effects:

  1. It killed the soul first: When someone was diagnosed with leprosy, they immediately lost all human contact. Leviticus 13:45-46 (NLT) outlines the strict rules for lepers: “Those who suffer from a serious skin disease must tear their clothing and leave their hair uncombed. They must cover their mouth and call out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as the serious disease lasts, they will be ceremonially unclean. They must live in isolation in their place outside the camp.” Imagine the psychological toll of being treated like a dangerous animal, unable to touch or be touched by another human being for the rest of your life.
  2. It eroded the body over time: Leprosy caused the body to decay slowly. Skin would become dry and ulcerated, fingers and toes would fall off, and the person would lose sensation in affected areas, often leading to accidental injuries. Perhaps most cruelly, lepers didn’t lose their sense of smell, forcing them to endure the odor of their own decaying flesh.
  3. It separated people from worship: Lepers were banned from the Temple and from seeing a priest unless they were completely healed. This meant that in addition to physical and social isolation, lepers were cut off from the religious community and the comforting rituals of their faith. As Psalm 84:2 (NLT) expresses, “I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord,” we can imagine how painful this separation must have been for those afflicted with leprosy.

Understanding this context helps us grasp the full weight of the encounter we’re about to examine in Mark’s gospel.

The Leper’s Encounter with Jesus

Now, let’s turn to Mark 1:40-45 (NLT), where we see a powerful encounter between Jesus and a leper:

“A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. ‘If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,’ he said.

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’ Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: ‘Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.’

But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.”

This encounter is packed with significance and teaches us several important truths about Jesus and His ministry.

Three Powerful Truths

1. Jesus is Willing

The leper’s question, “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” reveals both faith and doubt. He believed in Jesus’ power but wasn’t sure of His willingness. How often do we approach God the same way? We may believe He can do anything, but we’re not sure if He wants to do it for us.

Jesus’ response is immediate and emphatic: “I am willing.” The text tells us that Jesus was “moved with compassion.” This wasn’t just a casual “sure, why not?” It was a heartfelt, gut-level response to human suffering.

This truth is wired into the very heart of God. No matter what you’ve done, no matter where you’ve been, no matter how filthy you may feel on the inside, Jesus is willing to cleanse you. His love and compassion are not limited by our unworthiness. As 1 John 1:9 (NLT) assures us, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

2. Jesus Cleanses Our Soul

Notice the order of events here. Before healing the leper’s body, Jesus does something radical – He touches him. This was more than just a physical gesture; it was a profound act of love and acceptance.

In touching the leper, Jesus was breaking social and religious taboos. He was risking His own ceremonial cleanliness. But Jesus saw beyond the physical disease to the deeper need of the soul. He knew that this man needed more than physical healing; he needed to be touched, to be accepted, to be loved.

This teaches us that Jesus is concerned with our whole being – body, mind, and spirit. He doesn’t just want to fix our external problems; He wants to heal our souls. He wants to touch those places in us that feel untouchable, to love the parts of ourselves that we think are unlovable. As Psalm 103:2-3 (NLT) reminds us, “Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.”

3. Jesus is Our Exchange

After the healing, we see an interesting turn of events. The healed leper, overjoyed at his transformation, begins to spread the news freely. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter towns openly but had to stay in lonely places.

This is a beautiful picture of the exchange that Jesus makes for us. He takes our place of isolation and shame so that we can take His place of freedom and acceptance. As Isaiah 53:4-5 (NLT) prophesied, “Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down… But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.”

The Great Exchange

This concept of exchange is at the heart of the gospel. Jesus doesn’t just forgive our sins; He puts us in His place of righteousness before God. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT), “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”

This means that when God looks at us, He doesn’t see our past mistakes or our current struggles. He sees us clothed in the righteousness of Christ. As Colossians 3:3 (NLT) puts it, “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”

This truth should radically change how we see ourselves and how we approach God. We don’t come to Him as beggars hoping for scraps from His table. We come as beloved children, fully accepted and cherished. Romans 8:15 (NLT) tells us, “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.'”

It’s important to understand that this exchange is complete. Jesus doesn’t partially take our place and partially put us in His. He fully takes our place of sin and shame, and fully puts us in His place of righteousness and acceptance.

This doesn’t mean we become sinless in our daily lives. We still struggle with temptation and sometimes fall short. But it does mean that our standing before God is secure. We are fully forgiven, fully accepted, and fully loved.

Applying These Truths to Our Lives

So how do we apply these powerful truths to our daily lives? Here are a few suggestions:

  1. Approach God with confidence: Knowing that Jesus is willing to cleanse us and that He has put us in His place of righteousness, we can come to God boldly. We don’t have to hesitate or wonder if He’ll accept us. Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) encourages us, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
  2. Extend touch to others: Just as Jesus touched the untouchable, we’re called to reach out to those who society often overlooks or avoids. This might mean befriending someone who’s different from you, volunteering at a homeless shelter, or simply being kind to the person everyone else ignores. Matthew 25:40 (NLT) reminds us, “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'”
  3. Live in your new identity: If you’ve put your faith in Christ, you are no longer defined by your past sins or current struggles. You are a child of God, clothed in Christ’s righteousness. Let this truth shape how you think about yourself and how you live your life. Galatians 2:20 (NLT) declares, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
  4. Share your story: Like the healed leper, we should be eager to tell others about what Jesus has done for us. Your story of transformation could be exactly what someone else needs to hear to find hope. As Jesus commanded in Mark 5:19 (NLT), “Go home to your friends, and tell them what wonderful things the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.”
  5. Embrace second chances: Remember Mark’s story. If you’ve messed up in the past, know that God is the God of second chances (and third, and fourth…). It’s never too late to turn back to Him and allow Him to use your life for His purposes. As Joel 2:25 (NLT) promises, “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.”

Conclusion

As we continue our journey through the Book of Mark, let’s keep these truths close to our hearts. Jesus is willing to meet us in our mess. He doesn’t just heal our external problems but touches our very souls. And in the ultimate act of love

 

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