Marked By Jesus: Mark 1:40-45
He marked my hands, pouring out His love to reach your heart. Soul. Mind. Body. Mark our love with deepening Heaven. Fierce. Calm. Strong. Regal. Passion flows from the hands of God. The hands that held the universe before we came to exist in the grandeur of His creation. Now we do exist. In the eternal glory of His earth made for us. So He came to us. To rescue us. And be with us. To save us into forever with Him in Heaven. God’s presence emanates from an earthquake rattling the earth when souls see Him. They know it’s Him. The Messiah. This Jesus who walks before them and heals them, teaches them, and dwells with Him. God dwells with His people.
Everywhere Jesus goes, He attracts others to Himself. Because He carries the power of God in His own body. He is the Son of God. Fully God and fully human, and everyone needs what He has… so He gives it freely. We need Your love, God and we depend on it daily. Nurture us with the freeverse of your heart spilled out in love notes of intimate adoration. Mark us with Your heart.
The Marks of Jesus we will talk about in today’s study.
Verse 40: The Mark of Confidence
Verse 41: The Mark of Compassion
Verse 42: The Mark of A Voice
Verse 43: The Mark of Exception
Verse 44: The Mark of Concealed Matters
Verse 45: The Mark of Recognition
Introduction
This week in Marked by Jesus: Mark 1:40-44, we travel with Jesus as he goes out into Galilee healing and preaching. In these verses, the author, Mark, focuses on one healing of a man who had leprosy and Jesus’ response to him. This passage followed by the next passage (Ch. 2 verses 1-12) gives two succinct and specific stories about Jesus healing others. And there were more than two healings that will unfurl throughout the book in repetitive order. But Mark chooses these two to write about in his gospel at this point in the story. This passage tells about the leper and the next will inform us about the paralyzed man whom Jesus heals to full health again.
Mark wants the reader to see these real instances of Jesus’ hands in motion. His power at work. His healing on display. In this example of the man with leprosy being cleansed, we learn something about Jesus’ need for confidentiality in regards to his full identity and miracles. But once healed, many find it hard to contain the secret of the Messiah. We will find that the mark of being the Messiah, means living exposed to the public even when He doesn’t want to be. How does Jesus handle this? How does He stay refreshed by God even amidst the demands of ministry? Jesus shows us how to love while depending on God to supply our every need, and how being marked by His character prepares us for this.
Verse 40: The Mark of Confidence
“Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Mark 1:40
Jesus in you gives you confidence. Boldness. Courage. Strength to life with hope and expectation for the blessing awaiting you.
Do you believe Jesus is willing?
The mark of confidence gives you every reason to believe in the power of God working for you. God is Lord over the universe and He loves you as His own. He works on your behalf and appears on your behalf because He loves you.
In verse 40, a man comes to Jesus boldly. Mark says he came “imploring Him,” which means this man greatly needed Jesus to do a miracle in his life. For him to come to Jesus for this request shows us he knows who Jesus is and the power He possesses. Therefore he approaches Jesus in confidence.
The man here in verse 40 proves his confidence in Jesus by saying “You can.”
This is a strong declaration. A confident declaration.
I know you can! He says. Jesus’ ability to perform a miracle for him was undoubted and unquestioned. But it was his next question that brought him to a state of vulnerability before Jesus… He says. “If you are willing…”
Again I ask you, do you believe Jesus is willing?
The man knew Jesus could. But He did not yet know if He was willing.
What if the man came to Jesus both knowing He was capable and also willing? Either way, we are going to see Jesus heal the man. But I wonder how the man’s heart might have been strengthened in the waiting period to remind Himself that Jesus is willing to do what He can do.
Remember God can and God wants to.
Be confident in God’s power to be your God every moment in every need.
He loves you and He came for you… you! Be confident in the Lord’s love to be there for you in every single way you need Him.
“Indeed the river may rage, yet he is not disturbed; He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth.” Job 40:23
Confidence in the Lord is one of your greatest assets.
Confidence surges your strength and expedites your hope to soar upward so that you feel happy and powerful in everything. Let confidence adorn you.
Confidence upholds your belief in Him no matter the situation. It generates faith unwavering and unstoppable. It reminds you God can and to go to Him with expectation that He is willing to do for you what you know He can do.
Go to God with confident anticipation of His love to meet you there. He will. We are going to see Jesus’ reaction to the man’s confidence now as we progress to verse 41.
Verse 41: The Mark of Compassion
“Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
Mark 1:41
Your compassion melts me. A tender heart and a kind smile. A loving soul and a precious spirit. That’s what moves me. Captures me. Wins me. Keeps me.
I like the love of Jesus. His affectionate love. His sappy love. His intimate love. I like the sweetness of Jesus. His gentle embrace and His strong arms holding me. He never lets go… and I never want you to, Lord.
Don’t let go of Jesus. He won’t let go of you…
The man who came to Jesus imploring Him to heal him is now waiting for Jesus’ response and He is about to see this truth of the Lord’s loving kindness. The fact that He won’t let go of Him. He wants to touch Him.
Verse 41 says, Jesus “moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him.”
Compassion marks the heart of Jesus.
“For the mountaintops may be removed and the hills may shake, But my favor will not be removed from you, nor will My covenant of peace be shaken,” says the Lord has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10
The mark of compassion is the mark of love. True empathy. True sincerity. True authenticity of emotion given to and for another.
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness.” Colossians 3:12
Compassion is one of the most virtuous marks of a warrior.
You need compassion in order to fight for whom you love, so that you can also be kind to everyone else in the midst of the battle.
Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.
Trust God to fight the battles you don’t need to fight. And live with compassion for every person, knowing they are facing many battles you may never know. We should love one another and truly seek their benefit over our own as Philippians 2:4 says. Jesus constantly looked to take care of others and prioritize their needs over his own.
When you prioritize loving others over yourself, you find your own well of love filling up from the overflow.
To give love is to feel love rising in you.
Jesus walked fully whole in His identity and power because He spent his days pouring out love.
To this man who comes to Him needing healing, Jesus does not hesitate to heal him. He proves to the man that He can heal and also, that He is willing to heal. Jesus “stretches out his hand” and heals the man’s entire body.
One touch from Jesus heals your entire being inside and out.
Jesus touches the dirty places. The unholy places. The wounded places. The scars. The bruises. The pains. The ailments.
Jesus is always willing to touch you.
Do you believe Jesus is willing?
The man will never have to ask this question again.
Verse 42: The Mark of A Voice
“As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.
Mark 1:42
You know it when you hear it. The voice of power. The voice of love. The voice of something like Heaven that you want to listen to and keep listening to…
It’s the mark of a voice.
God’s voice.
He heralds it.
You host it.
And when it’s spoken, it releases a solvent of healing balm into a world waiting for a touch of Heaven to renew it back to life again and kill off the deadness. God wants you thrive with life.
Jesus’ mouth speaks life.
Verse 42 says, “as soon as He had spoken” the man was healed. All it required was Jesus’ voice.
That’s the mark of a powerful voice. When you speak and just the voice alone solves it. The airwaves cleanse from the soundwaves reverberating in the molecules of oxygen. Done. Healed. Sealed.
Jesus’ voice heals you. Listen to every word from His mouth.
Speak your love over me when you touch me and I’ll reciprocate the passion. I want to hear your every word.
Jesus’ love notes carry a powerful voice.
What do you listen to?
What you hear will affect your heart. Don’t listen to negativity. Rid it out. Don’t listen to despair. Boot it out. Don’t listen to anger. Turn it off. Don’t listen to discouragement. Mute every voice that speaks against the love and hope of the Lord. Now we have a living hope in Jesus Christ because of His resurrected life that gives us eternal life forever. So we have nothing to fear. Listen to the positive and life-giving words He speaks over you.
Who do you listen to?
Discern the spirits and see who is speaking from the Lord’s heart and who is speaking from a heart of darkness and death. Choose to listen to the voices who speak the truth of God’s voice, not the lies of the enemy’s voice.
“Now with the voice of truth and power of God—armed on the right and armed on the left with righteousness from God—we continue.” 2 Corinthinas 6:7
God’s voice always speaks truth. You will never go wrong listening to God.
“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:12
God is also a good listener. When you listen to Him, He will listen to you. It’s a mutual relationship of intimacy and communication founded on mutual respect for one another. God wants to hear what you have to say so He listens to your heart. Therefore, He is the best voice to lead you in your life. Let Him direct your discernemnt in who else is a trustworthy and uplifting voice to listen to.
You must inspect a person’s heart before letting them be an influential voice in your life. How do you know their heart? Start by asking yourself… How do they love? How do they treat others? How do they hope? How do they talk about Jesus? Those are good questions to ask.
Fall in love with Jesus and you gain a powerful voice. A loving voice. An uplifting voice. An encouraging voice. An inspiring voice. A chain-breaking voice. A voice that rescues and voices that makes change for the Kingdom of God.
Powerful voices speak for the Kingdom of God.
Use your voice… and speak the love of Jesus.
Verse 43: The Mark of Exception
“And He sternly charged him and sent him away at once.”
Mark 1:43
His voice commands the seas. His voice commands the deep. His voice commands the land. His voice commands the light that beams to speak His glory in the earth from Heaven’s worthy throne where Jesus will reside after He gives His life for mankind.
Jesus came to unveil His identity as Messiah. To make known the Kingdom of God. But there are times, when he makes an exception. And He chooses to keep things concealed.
Now that this man has been healed by Jesus, Jesus gives him a charge and sends him away, verse 43 says.
Exceptions are made when vital signs signal its neccessity. There is something at stake here, and Jesus knows that the disclosure of this particular miracle done too soon will only stir the Phariesses. So He gives a charge to the man, or commands him, to keep quiet as verse 44 reveals.
Jesus can make any charge He wants to make. He holds the authority to do so.
When Jesus gives a charge, He does so because He is God.
Verse 43 uses the word “sternly” here when Mark talks about how Jesus commanded the man. Jesus speaks sternly when He needs to. He doesn’t always need to. But when He does, take notice. There is a good reason for His authority. There must be a big reason why Jesus needs this matter to not be made known right now and so He makes that sternly clear to the man as he goes on in verse 44 to tell him to keep silent about it for right now.
Listen to God when He tells you something sternly. It never comes from anger nor meanness, but it rather comes from His protective love over you and over the mission.
God’s commands are good.
God is the author of the commandments. He is the King of the universe. Every order given from Him is meant to bring success for you.
“Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7
Jesus gives commands, not out of fear but out of protection. If the man does not keep quiet, then there will be consequences for how Jesus is seen and received. And it will put His life more in danger, and it’s not time for Him to go to the cross yet.
Sometimes, God needs you to keep quiet about a matter until it’s time to disclose it. Discernment from the Holy Spirit helps you to know when it’s the right time to disclose everything.
Verse 44: The Mark of Concealed Matters
“And said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Mark 1:44
I tuck you in my core. Treasure you in my soul. Cherish your Words hidden in the vault of my spirit’s safe. It’s sacred space. No one else has access except you and me.
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God.” Deuteronomy 29:29
Can you keep a secret?
Jesus can.
All my secrets are Yours, God. Only Yours.
Jesus carries concealed matters.
Things nobody else can know.
“And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone…” Mark 1:44a
He doesn’t want you to say anything about it. Lips locked.
“But go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Mark 1:44b
Give them the highest explanation. The one that shows God did it. For if they truly knew Him, they would see it has His fingerprints all over it.
“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began.”
Romans 16:25
God’s got secrets. Secrets that go back to the beginning of time.
Do you have permission to receive that kind of top secret information?
Don’t ask if you lack the security clearance.
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.” Proverbs 25:2
My king has top secret security clearance to see every part of me. So I treat with Him with most excellent of passionate affection.
When you know Jesus, you get insider info. But it’s not yours to share, nor to release. Not yours to publicize nor advertise. Go in the revelry of all you savored in your heart. Like Mary did when she first heard she would birth the Messiah.
“But Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about it often.” Luke 2:19
Think about your treasure often. In your heart, mind and soul.
You don’t have to tell everybody your secrets.
Not everyone can receive them with appreciation.
“Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:6
Treasured information is meant for the object of yoru affection. Share your heart with your lover and only your lover, and let them feel the deepest passion of your love.
Verse 45: The Mark of Recognition
“However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.”
Mark 1:45
Recognition is inevitable when the power of God is present.
Jesus Christ is a name that is known by everyone. And when He walked on the earth, soon his face was a face also recognized by everyone.
But before this moment where everyone flocked to Jesus by recognizing Him, Jesus could travel freely without being known or recognized. This is why he commanded the man not to tell anyone what miracle He did… because He wanted to keep this low profile.
Ironic, really. That the God of the Universe who will be known at the end of days as the God of the Universe would want to keep a low profile on earth. Wouldn’t He want to be known as Messiah and save the people by recognition of His identity as the Son of God? It’s not that He does not want to be known, it’s that with being known comes the dilemma of being able to heal and preach freely amidst the loitering presence of the Pharisees who will try to kill him for 3 years until they finally get their wish and Jesus accomplishes the greatest miracle ever heard of in the universe. To die for sins of mankind. So it will work out in the end for good, but it still makes it difficult for Jesus to carry out His mission when He has this pressure everywhere He goes.
Jesus will be known as the Son of God to those who perceive it. But to those who cannot perceive it, Jesus will not declare it to them. This is why He taught in parables. He said, so that “so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand.” in Mark 4:12. Jesus teaches in parables, metaphors, and symbolic imagery in order to grab the hearts who have a spirit that yearns to understand Heaven’s realities.
Jesus cannot control human reactions. That is our choice. Either we can listen to His commands or we can do as we please. The man whom Jesus sternly charged to keep quiet about the miracle goes and does the opposite of what Jesus said. He tells everyone in the village about Jesus and what happened.
What would you do?
Would you tell what Jesus said not to tell? Or would you give away the secret?
God’s command is the prevailing command, remember that. If Jesus said don’t say it, don’t say it. But if Jesus said say it, then you must say it. It’s good to know that Jesus’ advice on these matters is the right advice, so you don’t have to worry about if it’s the right choice or not. Every counsel that comes from the mouth of God is always the right counsel. Spend alone time with Jesus and hear His words to you so that you will know what He gives you permission to say and what not to say. Sometimes, the freedom comes from what you don’t have to say.
Speak when you need to and use discretion when you need to.
“Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you.” Proversb 2:11
After this disclosure of the miracle, Jesus’ recognition grew because the man went and told everyone what Jesus charged him not to say. Jesus did not want the people to know it was Him that healed the man.
I asked God while reading this passage… Why did you not want them to know it was you?
He said… If they knew Me, they would know the healing Moses commanded.
The rulers in the temple did not know Jesus nor Yahweh, but rather performed rituals and religion according to their own traditions. Thus, they were against Jesus. They would not have come to Jesus if the man had told them it was Jesus anyways. They were not waiting for the Messiah the way that they should have been because He was right in front of them, and they could not see it. And Jesus knew this. So He decides to tell them it was Him through a prophetic unveiling of Moses’ commandment, which was meant to point to the Messiah all along. For Jesus is the fulfillment of the commandment of Moses and of every other Old Testament law and prophecy.
Jesus is very smart and strategic, tailoring how he approaches and speaks with every audience. Whether its the Pharisees, whom he knew the man would encounter at the reveltion of his healing; or with the people, whom He knew loved Him for Him. Jesus wants to speak to you… but you must open your heart to receive Him. Then you will find Him looking back at you with love.
People found Jesus. They recognized Him when they saw Him. So much so, that they flocked to Him. Then Jesus would often withdraw to “deserted places” to refresh himself. It’s very interesting because He is God, the one who created the billions and billions of people who exist on the earth but yet he did not always want to be around crowds. He loved the people. But He needed spiritual refreshment along the way in order to pour out of Himself for these people.
His humanity plays a huge factor in this. And as a human person, part God and part human, Jesus needed time to refresh by himself with the Father and be alone to connect with Heaven. Because Jesus is normally a fully spritual being, the Son of God. And being on earth, His power is a partially limited and thus, He does indeed feel fatigue and weakness at times which He does not feel now that He is in Heaven. Jesus takes time when He needs it to be with God. He knows Himself.
Know yourself and what you need to be refreshed and stay energized with the power of God in you.
We know Jesus eagerly awaits the day we dwell with Him in Heaven because He says so in John chapter 17 praying for us while alone with the Father, and He will not shy away from the crowds then. For we will be in His dwelling place, where He will be fully God in His full, glorious form. He will reign as the great Messiah and King forever.
Jesus Christ deserves to be recognized for His glory.
His love.
His rescue.
His victory.
Others recognize Jesus in you.
“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
You show Christ in you by how you love Jesus in you. Your love for Him is the greatest display of God’s power.
They need to know that He loves them… keep loving and keep showing them the Messiah of the world who comes to make us His own and save us from death forever. He is a good God and He loves you.
Carry Jesus in your heart wherever you go.
The world will come to know who Jesus is… The King of the Universe. Recognition is a guarantee. Every eye will behold Him one day and know He is God.
“Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him.” Revelation 1:7
we look to You
the King of the universe
who saved us
into hope
freed us
into life
won us
into eternal light
everlasting in Your love
we bask in Your love forever God
My Favorite Takeaway of the Passage
“…You can…”
Mark 1:40
Jesus can. Jesus will. Jesus is. Jesus wants to. This is my favorite part of the passage. Where the man in need of Jesus declares with full assurance “You can” heal me. Do you believe Jesus can?
I know Jesus can do anything He wants to do. Nobody tells Jesus what to do. Nobody confines Him or limits Him to their way of thinking or their way of living. Jesus can do anything He wants to do. He is the King.
I love being held by the King. The one who can do anything. Love me any way He wants to. Hold me any way He feels inclined to. He wants to love my every breath and I want Him to love my every affection.
You can…
Live the life you dream of.
Seize the goals you envision.
See the world beyond you.
Enjoy the existence given by God for joy and wonder.
You can…
Experience the heights of Heaven on earth.
Encounter the angels with light from Zion.
Embrace the moonlight in the starlit skies.
You can live the life you want to. God has given it to you. Don’t let anything hold you back from where He is taking you. Dream and soar and fly and run into the wild open skies of beauty dawning in the paradise of your future. The days will only enhance as time goes on. As Job 8:7 says, you latter days will be even greater than the first.
“The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!” Haggai 2:9
The future is only amplifying to bring a better vibrancy of life than ever has been experienced. Because God can. And He will. I love your power, Lord. Forever you make our lives revel in the pleasure of Your love for us. Marked by Your will and designed by Your mind that thinks about how to love us forever. We learn from you. Mark us with Your love and divine destiny.
Life and God 