Rev. David Vandercook, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in North Little Rock, AR and Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church in Maumelle, AR, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 1:40-45.
The leper who approaches Jesus was breaking all the rules. He was experiencing the physical and spiritual consequences of his uncleanness , yet he had confidence that Jesus could heal him. He prays with humility, submitting his own desire to the will of Jesus. Out of His divine mercy and compassion, Jesus too breaks the rules; He touches the leper, imparting His cleansing to the man. By His almighty authority, Jesus answers the man’s prayers. As the One who had come not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it, Jesus commands the man to go to the priests in Jerusalem, as Moses had required. This was a proof not only of the man’s healing, but also of Jesus as the One who had come as Savior of the world. The man ignores Jesus and tells everyone about Him. Jesus is left in the desolate places, giving a picture of the Great Exchange: Jesus has taken our sin and given us His righteousness.
“The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Mark. The Evangelist hits the ground running with the very first verse of his Gospel account, and he never lets up the pace. As one deed of Jesus comes right after another, always paired with His authoritative Word, St. Mark proclaims the good news that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, revealed conclusively by His death on the cross.
