Love Trumps Following A Bunch of Rules (Mark 1:40-45)

Mark 1:40 - 45 A leper came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling he said to him, "If you choose, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I do choose. Be made clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

The leper is an outcast in society forced to live outside of the community. He wasn't allowed to get close to Jesus or anyone else. Jesus would become unclean if he is within speaking distance of the leper. But the leper bucks the rules and so does Jesus. The man falls on his knees before Jesus. Jesus could have healed the man without touching him, but he stretches out his hand and touches him.

What rules might we be following instead of following Jesus' example of putting compassion before the law? Who are the outcasts that need your gentle touch?

Maybe you are like me... and can also identify with the outcast? Maybe you don't fit in - maybe "the community of God" has told you to live outside their walls - that you make them unclean? How would it feel to fall at Jesus' feet and feel his hand grab hold of yours?

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The other gospels weigh in...

Matthew 8:1-4  When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him;  2 and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean."  3 He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I do choose. Be made clean!" Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  4 Then 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, as a testimony to them." 

Luke 5:12-16   12 Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean."  13 Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do choose. Be made clean." Immediately the leprosy left him.  14 And he ordered him to tell no one. "Go," he said, "and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them."  15 But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases.  16 But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.