The Book of Mark: “Encountering the Miracles and Mission of Jesus Christ”

 The Book of Mark:

“Encountering the Miracles and Mission of Jesus Christ”

Opening Illustration:

Good morning brothers and sisters. Welcome to Eastern Shore Baptist Church. Thank you for worshipping with us this morning. I have a question for you this morning. When is the last time someone showed you compassion? Real compassion? Maybe you said something untrue about another person, maybe a friend, and that person forgave you. Could it have been that you took something, stole something, and the person that you wronged forgave you. Maybe you hurt someone’s feelings. Could it have been that you said something off hand, maybe not even meaning to have hurt that person? That friend that you wronged gave you another chance. They literally forgave and forgot. That sort of compassion is rare these days. That sort of unmerited and amazing grace is just not seen in our world often. 

The other day, I found a unique definition of the word “compassion”. I read it in a book entitled “Wishful Thinking” by Frederick Buechner. Listen to his definition of “compassion”. “Compassion is the sometimes fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else’s skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too."

Showing compassion is not generally the main concern for most people today. Compassion is neither our central concern nor our primary stance in life. What we really desire is to make it in life, to get ahead, to be first, to be different. We want to be better than others, raising ourselves to new heights while leaving the rest of the crowd behind. We want to forge our own identities by carving out for ourselves niches in life where we can maintain a safe distance from others. We do not seek to suffer with others. The opposite is actually true. We develop methods and techniques that allow us to stay away from the pain and suffering of others. We have been raised and reared in a competitive “dog eat dog” world instead of living in a compassionate mindset and worldview. 

Back in 2017, I heard an unusual story of compassion. Hurricane Harvey was bearing down on the residents of Houston, Texas. People were out looking for shelter, walking the streets, having no where to go. There was a local businessman by the name of Jim McIngvale. His nickname is “Mattress Mack”. 

McIngvale owned one of the largest furniture stores in Houston. He was moved to do what he could to help those searching for a place to stay. McIngvale, a new Christian at the time had just read in his Bible Colossians 3:12 which states "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”. Mattress Mack wanted to follow the example of Jesus Christ so he opened up his furniture store and invited Houston’s most needy in. They came by the hundreds looking for shelter. 

What started as a small gesture quickly snowballed into a massive community effort, with volunteers pitching in to help in any way they could. People donated food, clothing, and their time to support those who had lost everything.

McIngvale's act of compassion not only provided physical shelter but also emotional support and solidarity during a time of crisis. His selflessness inspired countless others to come together and demonstrate the true spirit of compassion and resilience in the face of adversity.

Background and Context:

Friends, this morning’s message is entitled “Moved By Compassion”. I will be reading from Mark 1:40-45 this morning. 

Today’s Message:

“Moved By Compassion”

In this passage, a man with leprosy approaches Jesus, seeking healing and restoration. Leprosy was not only a physical ailment but also carried heavy social and religious stigma, causing those afflicted to be ostracized from society.

Despite the cultural norms and taboos surrounding leprosy, this brave man takes a bold step of faith and approaches Jesus, falling on his knees and pleading, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."

Moved by compassion, Jesus does something extraordinary. Instead of recoiling in fear or judgment, He reaches out and touches the man, saying, "I am willing. Be clean!" Instantly, the man is healed, and his skin is restored to wholeness.

But Jesus doesn't stop there. He instructs the man to go and show himself to the priest, adhering to the religious customs of the time to validate his healing and reintegrate into society.

Do me a favor this morning. Fill in the blanks under “Today’s Thought”. After all, what is this sermon ultimately about this morning? It’s pretty simple. Jesus’ touch transforms the trajectory of your life. I certainly transformed the life of this leper and it can transform our lives as well. It is so comforting to know that Jesus does not recoil at the sight of this man. He does not sneer at his illness. He doesn’t refuse to touch him or to talk to him. Jesus doesn’t abandon him to his own devices. No! Jesus shows him compassion. This man didn’t earn it. His healing did not come by following the rules. His healing was not contingent on how much he gave to the synagogue. Jesus just healed him. Why? Because Jesus loves him and He loves you. Because Jesus is in the healing business. 

Today’s Thought:

Jesus’ Touch Transforms The Trajectory of Your Life!

Charles Stanley is one of my favorite preachers and teachers. He has a great quote about the compassion of Jesus Christ. Listen to what he says on the subject. 

"Jesus Christ's compassion was not just a feeling or an emotion; it was a force that moved Him to action. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and comforted the brokenhearted. His compassion was tangible, practical, and transformative. As His disciples, we are called to embody His compassion in our daily lives, reaching out to those in need and bringing hope to the hopeless." 

Today’s Quote:

"Jesus Christ's compassion was not just a feeling or an emotion; it was a force that moved Him to action. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and comforted the brokenhearted. His compassion was tangible, practical, and transformative. As His disciples, we are called to embody His compassion in our daily lives, reaching out to those in need and bringing hope to the hopeless." 

- Charles Stanley

Statement of Belief:

We believe the Bible to be inspired, God breathed, infallible, and authoritative. We believe the Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training believer’s in righteousness. God’s Word gives life. It provides peace in trouble and protection in tribulation. It is alive, active, and cuts to the core of the human soul. Since there is no other book like it, let us stand to show our reverence and respect.  

Today’s Scripture:

Mark 1:40-45 NLT

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean," he said. [41] Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!" [42] Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. [43] Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: [44] "Don't tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed." [45] But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn't publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.

Pastor: “This Is The Word of the Lord.”

Congregation: “Praise His Name. Praise His Holy Name.”

Let’s Jesus’ Touch Be Our Teacher…

Remember…Jesus Teaches Us To Be Sensitive To The Suffering vs. 40

This morning, I want to use today’s Scripture as our teacher. I want to allow Christ’s actions captured in Mark to teach us a few lessons on compassion. This morning, fill in this first blank. Remember…Jesus teaches us to be sensitive to the suffering. Let’s go back and read verse 40. 

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean," he said.

Leprosy is not a disease that is common today. Sadly, it was very common in Jesus’ day. Back during ancient times, leprosy was a devastating disease not only because of the physical disabilities that it caused, but it also had social and religious implications. Leprosy starts as a bacterial infection that affects the skin, nerves, and mucous membranes. In the later stages of the disease, it would cause horrible disfigurements. The disease would so damage the nerves of an individual, people would lose their ears, their nose, their fingers and their toes. Their skin would turn gray and eventually would stuff off exposing raw tissue to the open air which would lead to more infections. Leprosy in Jesus’ day was a death sentence. 

Sadly people stricken with leprosy were often judged to be evil, wicked, sinners who were receiving their just deserves by a judgmental God. Leprosy was viewed as a symbol of ritual impurity, and strict laws were established to isolate and quarantine those affected. Leviticus 13-14 contains detailed instructions for diagnosing and managing cases of leprosy, emphasizing the importance of maintaining ceremonial purity within the community.

This man would have been excommunicated from his family. He would have been instructed to live outside the city walls. He was living as a judged and condemned man. He was living with heavy judgement on his shoulders. He had no hope. He was unloved. What’s worse, it was thought that if you were to touch this man, that you yourself would be viewed as unclean. There was an entire system in place to keep this man in the situation that he was in. Imagine how lonely he must have been. Separated from his family. Separated from his parents. Separated from his siblings, from his wife if he had one, from his children if he had any. Homeless. Starving. He was the definition of desperation. 

This man lived the entire life of his disease unseen and outcast. Jesus breaks from the norms of society. Instead of turning His back on the man, Jesus sees the man. He gives this man not only His time but also His attention. Jesus displays a soft heart for this man in need. Why? What is Jesus trying to teach us?

I think that Jesus is showing us that this man’s exterior issues mimic and model our greatest interior spiritual need. Without Him, our spirits are dead, rotting, and deteriorating. Just like Jesus is going to bring new life and healing to this man’s life, Jesus desires to bring us life and healing. Not necessarily physically but most certainly spiritually. You and I are no better and we are no worse than this man stricken with leprosy. We are all people who stand equally in need of a Savior. We are all equally dead and we are all equally of Jesus’ touch and salvation. Jesus is also teaching us a lesson on hard heartedness. As followers of Christ, we should have a heart for the “least of these”. We should care for the victims of society. We should stand for those who cannot stand for themselves. We should defend those who are defenseless. My mind immediately is drawn towards the unborn. We should defend the rights of the child in the womb as a human being made in the image of God. 

My mind is drawn to the child in need of a home. We should actively seek to adopt children and foster children. We should care for the refugee, praying for people fleeing persecution. We should see the man or woman begging for food and have pity on them. We should feed the homeless, giving shelter to the destitute and show hospitality to the desperate. We should do this in Jesus Name as a reflection of the Gospel at work in our spirits. Brothers and sisters, I will tell you here and now, if you feel nothing for the less fortunate, if you have no heart for the man or woman in need, I question your salvation. Jesus was sensitive to those who suffer and we should be as well. 

Matthew 25:35-40 NLT

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. [36] I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' [37] "Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? [38] Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? [39] When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?' [40] "And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'

Illustration:

The other day I was reminded about Father Joseph Damien. Damien was a Belgian priest, he was sent in 1873 to minister to lepers in Hawaii. As soon as he arrived on Molokai, he began trying to build friendships with the residents of the leper colony, but they rejected him. He poured himself into this ministry, building a small chapel and holding worship services. But hardly anyone came.

After 12 long years, and after having very little success, he was about to give up. As he was about to board a ship to return home, he looked down at his hands and he saw a large white spot on his left hand. He knew what that spot was immediately. He had contracted leprosy. So instead of going home, he returned to his work in the leper colony.

The news of the missionary’s disease spread through the community within hours, and soon the lepers--hundreds of them--had gathered outside his hut. They understood his pain and despair. The following Sunday when Damien arrived at the chapel, the small building was filled to overflowing. That was the beginning of a long and fruitful ministry.

What made the difference? Now the lepers knew that he understood their condition. There was no question about whether he cared or not.

In the same way, we have a God who has identified with our situation. Though without sin, our Savior experienced all the pain and frustration of earthly existence in order to bring us life.

Matthew 9:36 NLT

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Let’s Jesus’ Touch Be Our Teacher…

Remember…Jesus Teaches Us To Be Sensitive To The Suffering vs. 40

Remember…Jesus Teaches Us To Step Up And Serve vs. 41

So, our first lesson is to remember that Jesus teaches us to be sensitive to the suffering of others. Next, remember that Jesus teaches us to step up and serve. We see this illustrated in verses 40-41. 

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean," he said. [41] Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!"

There are a couple of things that I want to reveal to you about these two verses. The first is the boldness with which this man makes his request known to Jesus. After I read this verse a few times, something hit me. This man is showing us how to pray. He is showing us how to ask something of God. This is a prayer of desperation. 

Have you ever desperately wanted something from God? Raise your hand if you have ever had a prayer of desperation to God. Maybe it was for a sick child. 

“God please save my son.”

“God please rescue my daughter, save her life.”

Maybe you had a parent with a terminal disease…cancer. 

“God please don’t let Mom die from this cancer. I don’t know what’d I do without her.”

“God, I will do whatever I have to do. Please let Dad live.”

Maybe you were worried about your job, your finances, your marriage. You hit your knees and begged God to save you from that situation. You pleaded with Him to spare your marriage or to bring about a good result from that interview. 

Do you remember how you prayed? Did you pray like this?

“Oh most Holy Lord Almighty. Thou art beautiful and I give to thee my utmost adoration. Oh blessed Lord, I beseech thee to give aid to thee your humble servant. Hear thou my plea, as I to thee draw nigh. For lo, thine doth ail with grievous pain. This disability is thus a nuisance, driving me near to the pit of despair. Bring healing to thine servant. Amen.

Of course not. When you are desperate, you hit your needs, clasp your hands together and you pray the most raw prayer imaginable. You get to the point. You cut out all of the fluff and frills. 

That is what this man does. The leper was earnest, desperate. He implored Christ, begging Jesus for help. He was reverent. This leper took a stance of submission to God. He knelt down, bending his knee to Christ. He was humble and submissive to Christ. He stated “if you are willing”. He made no demands of Jesus. He made a simple humble request. He displayed belief in Christ. He said “Jesus you can do this”. All of our prayers should be infused with belief and faith that God is big enough, strong enough to heal. He got to the point. He acknowledged his need. “You can make me clean Jesus”. Friends, tell God what you need. He already knows what you need so in your prayers, get to the point. He was also specific with his request. How many times have you heard someone say “Lord bless me”? That is not bad but that is not what this man needed. He did not need blessing. He needed healing. He didn’t tell Jesus “bless me Lord”. No. He said “make me clean”. The other part that I really love is the brevity of this man’s prayer. He did not use fancy words. He did not drone on and on and on. He was not trying to be impressive. He did not speak a bunch of Bible verses. He didn’t use big words. 

"If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” 11 words. 

Friends, we can learn a lot about prayer from this leper. 

The second thing that I wanted to show you about these verses is Jesus’ reaction. Scripture says that He was “moved by compassion”. Some of your translations will say that Jesus was “filled with pity” for this man. The Greek word for “compassion” or “pity” is splangkh-nid'-zom-ahee pronounced “Splag-kneed-so-mide”. The word actually is not describing an action rather it is describing a feeling. The word is describing that feeling that you feel when you see something wrong in the world. That pit in your stomach when something is wrong. The word means to be moved as to one's bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity). In the first point, I said that Jesus was sensitive to the suffering of others. What good is being sensitive if you never do anything about it? What good is it for Mattress Mack to have all the tools to help people if he never gets around to helping people? The love that Jesus displays is always a love in action. It is a love on a mission. It is a love that is always directed at people. It is a self sacrificing love. Remember, in the eyes of the religious leaders, Jesus has now made Himself unclean by touching this man stricken with leprosy. Jesus has sacrificed Himself, his social standing, His religious standing to save this man. That is love on the move. That is Christian love. That should be our love. 

Illustration:

In every war there are stories of courage, bravery, and acts of heroism that go beyond all human limitations. Do you know the name Desmond Doss? He was a soldier in WW2 that came from Lynchburg, Virginia. Because of his faith tradition that prevented him from carrying a weapon, he enlisted as a medic. Doss and his company were sent to Okinawa in 1945 where they had to climb a steep cliff to meet the enemy above. As the battle raged, Desmond Doss crawled on his belly to find wounded men. Over the course of 12 hours, he pulled 75 men from the battlefield and lowered them down with a rope. All the while he prayed, “Lord, please help me get one more.” This miracle was made into the movie, “Hacksaw Ridge.” Desmond Doss was a great example of compassion on the move. Love in action. It reminds me of Paul’s words captured in Philippians 2:4.

Philippians 2:4 NLT

Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Let’s Jesus’ Touch Be Our Teacher…

Remember…Jesus Teaches Us To Be Sensitive To The Suffering vs. 40

Remember…Jesus Teaches Us To Step Up And Serve vs. 41

Remember…Jesus Teaches Us To Spread The Salvation Story vs. 44

So our first point was to remember that Jesus teaches us to be sensitive to the suffering. Our second point is to remember that Jesus teaches us to step up and serve. Lastly, our third point is to remember that Jesus teaches us to spread the salvation story. We see this in verses 44 and 45. 

"Don't tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed." [45] But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn't publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.

Now, don’t get lost on the part where Jesus tells the man not to tell anyone about what happened to him. Instead, Jesus tells the man to go to the priest. Why? Well, timing is everything. Jesus often emphasized the importance of God's timing in His ministry. Perhaps He knew that the time for widespread publicity about His miracles had not yet come. He may have wanted to adhere to God's timing and plan for His ministry, trusting that the right opportunities for spreading the news would present themselves in due course. I think the real reason is that Jesus wanted to adhere to Jewish tradition. In some cases, Jesus instructed those He healed to follow the Jewish tradition of presenting themselves to the priests to be declared clean. This would validate their healing according to Jewish law and allow them to reintegrate into society. In this specific instance, Jesus might have wanted the healed leper to follow this protocol before spreading the news of his healing.

Either way, the leper does what all of us would have done. After he obeyed Christ, he ran and told others about what had happened to him. What about you friend, when is the last time you shared your conversion story? When is the last time you told someone about Jesus?

Back in 2009, I was visiting China. I was spending time with a missionary couple. I was in a large coastal city called Yantai. It is a beautiful place. The missionary told me a story that I thought was just awesome. In Yantai it is not unusual for police officers to stand in the middle of the road and direct traffic instead of using stop lights. On one occasion he was standing on a street corner and a police officer waved for him to come to the other side of the road. As this missionary approached the officer, he felt the Holy Spirit prompt him to ask the officer if he would like him to pray for him. He really doubted and argued with the Holy Spirit. After all, government officials living in China were not known to be open to Christianity. Still, the missionary was obedient. As he came to the intersection, he stopped and ask the officer if he would like him to pray for him. Luckily, there was little to no traffic at the time. I think that was God orchestrated. The officer looked at the missionary with bewilderment. He couldn’t believe what was happening. He told the missionary that he had had a vision of Jesus the night before. He was wearing a white robe and calling him by name. Jesus, in the vision, told the officer that he would send someone to him to tell him about Christ. Jesus told him that He would send a messenger to pray for him and that would be proof of the reality of Christ. The man woke up but didn’t believe what had happened. It wasn’t until the missionary came to pray for him that he finally believed. The officer called for back up and after he was relieved from duty, he went to the missionary’s house where he accepted Christ. That’s a true story friends. Amazing. We often forget that God is always moving in the background. However, for you and I to see it, we have to demonstrate our obedience in sharing the message of the Gospel. 

Follow Paul’s advice to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2. 

2 Timothy 4:2 NLT

Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

Will you pray with me…

Closing Prayer:

Gracious and loving God,

As we conclude this time of reflection on Your Word, we are humbled by the example of compassion set forth by Jesus in Mark 1:40-45. He reached out to the marginalized, the hurting, and the outcasts with love and healing. May His example inspire us to do likewise, extending compassion to those around us in our daily interactions.

Lord, we recognize that following Christ is not just about believing but also about living out His teachings in our lives. So, we invite anyone here today who has yet to make a decision to follow Christ to open their hearts and minds to Him. May they experience the transforming power of Your love and grace.

For those of us who already walk in the footsteps of Christ, help us to be intentional about showing compassion to others. Whether it's a smile, a kind word, or a helping hand, may we embody Your love in all that we do.

We pray that our acts of compassion may bring glory to Your name, Lord. May they be a testament to Your goodness and grace in the world. Strengthen us, Lord, to be vessels of Your compassion, spreading Your light and love wherever we go.

As we come to this time of invitation, may we carry with us the challenge and the joy of showing compassion to those around us. And may Your Spirit guide us every step of the way.

In Jesus' name, we pray.

Amen.

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