July 14th | Mark 1

The Gospel of Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels. Mark is around 40% shorter than Matthew and Luke and around 25% shorter than John. With many fewer words, Mark must communicate the Gospel message of Jesus. Therefore, Mark moves at a breakneck speed. In chapter one, there is no mention of Jesus' birth, but we dive right into the action. Jesus is baptized and begins His ministry. 

One word we see a lot in the book of Mark is the word “Immediately.” As soon as one thing happens, we immediately get to something else. In the first chapter of Mark, we see Jesus is baptized, He calls the first disciples, He casts out demons, He heals many, and He is already on the run from the religious powers of the day. Reading Mark can be exhausting! 

After doing all of this, Mark 1:36-39 says, “37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.”

Jesus was on a mission. He wasn’t going to stay in one place long, but he came to preach and call people to repent and believe. Yet, in the next verse, he encounters a leper. Jesus is on a mission, but He is stopped in His tracks by a man begging for healing. 

Mark 1:40, “40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”

Jesus had no obligation to this man. He had no requirement to stop and heal him. Jesus could have said, “I am on an important mission and cannot stop.” But this is not what Jesus said. 

Mark 1:41-42, “41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.” 

Jesus was moved with pity. He saw this man with a horrible skin condition. A man who was likely an outcast, unable to live in the city because of this contagious skin disease. This man was at the bottom of the social ladder. Many probably assumed it was some sin he committed that caused him to contract leprosy. In other words, people didn’t care about this man and probably thought he deserved this pitiful fate. 

Yet Jesus did not see him this way. He was moved with pity. We have a Savior who is not too busy for us but one who cares deeply for us. We are in the same position as the leper. We are plagued by sin, and our condition is terrifying and tragic. Yet Jesus doesn’t run from our sin or consider himself too busy to help us. Rather, Christ shows us great compassion. Jesus is not a distant Savior or a God who moves robotically towards His mission. No, Christ LOVES us. He sees us in our shame and feels sorrow. Christ, in His intense and deep compassion, desires to bring healing to our lives. 

Today, would you come to Christ like the leper and find a Savior who is compassionate and kind? Today, would you pause from the busyness of life and find someone who needs to hear about our compassionate Christ?