Mark 1:40-45
Chapter 1
40
Heals a Leper
A leper approached Jesus and begged him: “If you want to, you can make me clean.”41
Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying:
“I do want to; be clean.”
42
The leprosy instantly left the man, and he was made clean.
43
As Jesus sent the man away, he sternly warned him:
44
“Don’t tell anyone about this, but go and show yourself to the priest; and for the cleansing, bring the offering ordered by Moses; in this way, you will give them your testimony.”
45
However, as soon as the man went out, he started spreading the news everywhere, so Jesus could no longer openly enter any town. But even though he stayed in rural areas, people came to him from all over.
Commentaries
Heals a Leper.
A leper had to live in isolation, away from others, to prevent them from becoming infected. Far from life, they were like “the living dead.” But Jesus can even overcome this. The leper’s faith and the Master’s mercy bring about the liberating power of God’s kingdom. Despite Jesus’ prohibition, the leper spreads the word about his freeing actions. This prohibition is known as the “messianic secret,” which, from the evangelist’s perspective, means that Jesus’ mission can only be fully understood after his death and resurrection.