Jesus Imparts Life

Mark 1:40-41, “And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”

There are some people in life that can make any plant grow. You could say that they have a green thumb. I recently heard a story of a lady who grew a lemon tree in Wisconsin. I am certain you know that Wisconsin does not have the climate suitable for growing lemon trees. But, that did not stop the Dorothy Schmid from trying. She grew the tree in a green house. After ten years the Dorothy pollinated the tree’s blooms and it produced lemons. There are others, however, who can make any healthy plant turn brown and die. Maybe you have a green thumb and you can grow grass out of asphalt. Whatever you touch comes to life and flourishes. Jesus brings to life those whom He touches. In Mark 1:40-41 Jesus touched a leper and the leper became well. This is quite an extraordinary accomplishment. Lepers in Jesus' day were relegated as societal outcasts. Whoever came in contact with a leprous person was declared as unclean as the leper and they would have been relegated to become outcasts of society. Warren Wiersbe explained, “Lepers were supposed to keep their distance and warn everyone that they were coming, lest others would be defiled.” However, this leper redeemed his opportunity to seek Jesus. He did not let his societal position keep him from pursing Jesus. The leper knew Jesus could cure his leprosy, but wasn’t sure He would be willing to do so. Jesus was moved with compassion for the man and instead of keeping His distance reached out and touched the man. Jesus touched the leper and healed him. Instead of Jesus becoming defiled with leprosy, He imparted His life unto the leper. Perhaps, you are marked like this man. You are not marked with leprosy, but you are marked with sin. You have done things of which you are not proud and feel the guilt of your mistakes. I want you to to know that Jesus is able to touch your life and impart to you forgiveness. He is able to impart healing where sin has brought brokenness in your heart. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Those whom Jesus touches come to life. May you seek Jesus as the leper did and ask Him to forgive and save you. He is more than wiling to do so.