Mark 1:40-45 – A touch from the Master's hand

In Mark’s Gospel there are more records of Christ’s miracles than His sermons. So in verses 40-45 we see another account of the Lord’s miracle, the healing of a leper. While in His preaching tour of Galilee, a leper came to Him. Despite being an outcast, that leper found the courage to come to the Lord. He came to Him pleading for healing as he fell on his knees before the Lord.

Ostracized by society, that leper was probably in despair and was also feeling worthless and shameful. And though he was sure that Christ could heal him, he was not sure if He would heal him. Hesitatingly, he said to the Lord saying, “If you are willing, You can make me clean.” Of course the Lord was willing, for this was in His mission agenda. Moved with compassion, we are told that the Lord stretched out His hand and touched Him saying, “I am willing, be cleansed.” Though the Law stated that touching a leper would make one unclean, yet the Lord broke that convention and touched that leper and made him clean. We are told in verse 42 that the leprosy left that man immediately and he was cleansed.

As stipulated by the Law of Moses, the Lord instructed him to go first to the priest to have his healing verified. And also sternly warned him not to talk about his healing till it was verified by the priest. The reason was obvious. For according to the Law the Lord had just become unclean because he had touched that leper. He was expected to go through ceremonial cleansing and his work would be hampered if the man indiscreetly shared how he was healed.

Unfortunately, the cleansed leper did not obey the Lord’s instruction. Verse 45 tells us that he went out and proclaimed freely and spread the news around. And because he did not follow the Lord’s instruction, it created some inconvenience for Him. The Lord could no longer have the liberty to move freely in public because in the eyes of the Law He was ceremonially unclean. So He could not go into the city but only to some unpopulated areas. But even then, people from everywhere came and sought Him out because He alone can fully meet their needs.

The Lord knew what the Law had stipulated yet He touched that man. He also knew how much that ostracized leper needed it. That’s something wonderful about a touch. It is reassuring. Through His touch He was saying, “I am willing. I understand your plight and I want to do something for you because I love you.”

One practical touch is better than one volume of theological arguments. Let’s remember that, in ministering to people, they are moved and better served by our compassionate touch than our deep theological understandings and thoughts.