Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In the last few episodes, we’ve been looking at Mark’s gospel, a good news story about Jesus the Messiah (Mark 1:1). In the story, Jesus told four fishermen to follow him. Then he traveled around Galilee preaching, healing, and exorcizing demons.   

So far, only the demons recognized Jesus as the son of God. Jesus told them to keep quiet because he didn’t want publicity from them! (Mark 1:34). This leaves us wondering when someone else, perhaps the disciples, will figure out who Jesus is. 

Early one morning, Jesus went away to pray. When the disciples woke up, they found him and said, “Everyone is looking for you” (Mark 1:37). 

Jesus replied, “Let’s go to other villages. I need to preach to more people!” (Mark 1:39). 

Along the way, a leper knelt before Jesus and said, “If you are willing, you can heal me” (Mark 1:40). Jesus said, “I am willing.”

Then, weirdly, Jesus said, “Don’t talk about your getting cured to anyone. Just go to the priests. They will give you a cleansing-from-leprosy ritual.” But this guy, running on adrenaline, had no patience to go see the priests. He’s seen Jesus, and that’s all he needs. So he tells everyone who will listen the good news about his healing.

Mark says the consequence of this man’s enthusiastic storytelling is that Jesus couldn’t enter a town openly, so he stayed outside in lonely places, far from the maddening crowds. 

I present three comments on these stories. 

1. I like it that Jesus found a solitary place to pray. Maybe we should do that too. 

2. I like the leper’s request, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” If leprosy is a metaphor for sin, then I pray the leper’s prayer every day. But I’ve not received an immediate, radical healing like the leper. Perhaps Jesus wants me to live out a process of healing.   

3. Mark mentions Jesus’ growing fame numerous times. When he cast out a demon, the news spread rapidly. After he healed Simon’s mother-in-law, the whole town gathered at the door. After the disciples found him praying, they said, “Everyone is looking for you!” 

And the leper spread his good news so enthusiastically that Mark blames him for a surge in Jesus’ popularity. 

Mark’s last comment, which closes chapter 1, says that even though Jesus looked for solitude, people still came to him from everywhere (Mark 1:45). 

I wonder. Is this much popularity a good thing? Stay tuned. 

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, you brought unexpected good news to people in Galilee. You invaded the kingdom of darkness, subduing its demons, curing ills and fevers. Your presence and your words brought health and light.

O Jesus, invade our lives today. Drive out the demons that lurk in our minds. Subdue our endless temptations. Make our lives good news stories that share your endless goodness. 

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

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