Week 31, Section 45
A year since Jesus was baptized his public ministry now includes more healing as he shows his compassion to others and the number of followers and disciples is increasing. Our study today reveals something more about Jesus’ purpose, his manner of ministry, and his concern for our own physical condition.
Scripture:
[one_third last=”no”]Matthew 8:2-4
2 Behold, a leper came to him1 and worshiped2 him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”3¯4 3 Jesus stretched out his hand,5 and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately6 his leprosy was cleansed.
4 Jesus said to him, “See that you tell nobody, but go, show yourself to the priest,7 and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]Mark 1:40-45
40 A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, “If you want to, you can make me clean.” 41 Being moved with compassion,8 he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.” 42 When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.
43 He strictly warned him, and immediately sent him out, 44 and said to him, “See you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.” 45 But he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to spread about the matter, so that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places. People came to him from everywhere.[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]Luke 5:12-16
12 While he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”9 13 He stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him. 14 He commanded him to tell no one, “But go your way, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”10
15 But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.11 16 But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed.[/one_third]
Group Dialog:
- Why does the leper come to Jesus? By doing so, he breaks the rules of Lev 13-14 (Lev 13: 45-46)
- How might our perspective of what God wants and what he’s able to do affect the way we approach Him in prayer, worship, and service?
- In the midst of serving in ministry, has your prayer life become stronger or less frequent?
- What is stopping you from being His witness, sharing your testimony of what God is (and has) done in your life?
- Pray for one another’s healing, well-being, and ministry.
Learning Objectives: obedience, compassion toward others, Character of Christ, healing, God’s will, gratitude, testimony, prayer in success, no shame, ask, worship, reverence.
Image: An armadillo seen in a land preserve in Orlando, FL. In America leprosy is most often transmitted by contact or consumption of armadillos.
Study Notes:
This week we read of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law and learn about the nature of community, compassion, and care. In this passage we see the compassion of Christ as the consolation of Jerusalem. Jesus’ attention to the Sabbath, care of the Peter’s mother-in-law and the others gathered provide us a worthy model that would transform cultures and communities around the globe.