The Disobedient Leper

While reading about the miracles of our Lord in Mark's Gospel, I came across this verse. "But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news about, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas?" Mark 1.45

Here was a leper, full of leprosy, who implored Jesus to make him clean; and the Lord, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. Our Lord sternly warned him not to tell anyone, but to go to the priest and offer the necessary sacrifice as a testimony of his cleansing. 'But he?'

But he was disobedient! He began to publish the news of his cleansing freely and to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city. Here was a man whose witness was hindering the work of the Lord! Because of his reckless behaviour, our Lord could no longer publicly enter the cities. He had to stay out in unpopulated areas.

We too are rather careless about our Christian testimony. There are many Christians who are born again, but who have no fear of God. We go around preaching without praying. A lot of Christian gospel work is done in the flesh. The Lord honours whatever is done for Him [even in the flesh!], but definitely His arm is hindered. He can do much more, but we limit Him by our natural reactions, by human wisdom and fleshly activity.

There are hundreds of Christian debates and discussions going on in various Christian websites on the Internet. But how many of us kneel down and ask the Lord, "Where should I go? What should I do?" Often we are busy with our so-called Christian activities and we neglect to pray. It has reached a stage in my own life, where I realise that all my Christian ministry has no effect [even though many may like the preaching!] because I have not spent time in prayer and seeking God's will. There are still certain areas in my life which I have not handed over to the Lord. There are areas in which I am disobedient. Surely, if I hand them over to the Lord, will He not give me grace to obey?

The Lord sternly warned that man because He knew his weakness. We should know our own weaknesses and failings, and plead with God regarding them. We need to spend more time at the Lord's feet. Then the Lord will be able to do His work freely, without our ever hindering him. Through prayer God will give us grace to obey and help us overcome our failings. And with a clear conscience we can carry His presence with us as we witness to others. We can walk with the Lord and willingly follow Him in all His ways.

Blind Man of Bethsaida

You know the story in Mark chapter 8. Just five verses, from 22 to 26.

The blind man was honest. He said, 'I cannot see clearly. Things are blurred.'

Are we honest? Do we admit to God that we cannot see clearly? The Bible talks a lot about spiritual sight. The eyes of our understanding being open. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. We need sight, we need revelation; we need to see clearly. We have come out of darkness into His marvellous light. The light must grow, Prov 4.18.

Yet we live in darkness. We live in a kind of twilight zone. We can't see clearly. Job says, in chapter 42.5, 'Now my eyes sees You!'. Now Job can see clearly, after the terrible and devastating experience of the Cross.

Jesus wants an honest answer. Lord, open my eyes that I may see wondrous things out of Your law [word], Psalm 119.18. If we are honest about our inability to see, then He will be gracious and touch our eyes once again. There is need for a second touch. We need to see the heavenly things, the spiritual things, and experience resurrection life, ascension life, heavenly life. Did not Elisha see in 2 Kings 6.17,18? There is a spiritual dimension, a pure and heavenly dimension, where we can experience the Presence of the Lord and appreciate the things of heaven. But we are satisfied with earthly things, with a limited and hazy vision; we claim to see, but in reality we are blind [John 9.39-41]