Mark 1

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.

And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

And all the city was gathered together at the door.

And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.

And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;

And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

What does Mark 1:40 mean?

Explanation

This verse from Mark 1:40 depicts a powerful encounter between Jesus and a leper.

Leprosy, known today as Hansen's disease, was a condition that rendered individuals ritually unclean and social outcasts in the Jewish society of the time.

The leper's approach to Jesus demonstrates both desperation and faith – he is breaking social norms by approaching a clean individual, but he does so because he believes in Jesus' power to heal.

The leper's request, "If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean," acknowledges Jesus' authority and power to heal, and it implies the man's submission to Jesus' will, whatever that might be.

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Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, leprosy was a term used for various skin diseases described in the book of Leviticus.

It was highly stigmatized and feared due to its association with ritual impurity.

Lepers were required to live outside of the community, and they were to announce their presence with the cry "Unclean, unclean!" when others approached.

By approaching Jesus, the leper is defying the social and religious norms of his day, demonstrating the level of his faith and desperation.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints may focus on various aspects of this passage:

Divine Authority: Many Christian theologians would highlight this verse as demonstrating Jesus' divine authority over illness and impurity.
Faith and Grace: The leper's approach to Jesus might be interpreted as an act of faith, and Jesus' response as an act of grace, which is given freely and not based on the leper's merit.
Jesus and the Law: Some theologians may discuss how Jesus responds to the purity laws of the Old Testament, with his willingness to heal illustrating a transformative interpretation of the law.

Practical Applications

This passage offers several practical applications:

Compassion: Emulating Jesus' compassion towards those marginalized by society.
Faith in Action: Advancing the idea that faith should overcome fear and social barriers.
Divine Dependence: Encouraging reliance on divine will and recognition of God's sovereignty in healing and life situations.

Cross-References

Leviticus 13:45-46 (KJV): "And the leper in whom the plague is... shall cry, Unclean, unclean."
Matthew 8:2-3 (KJV): "And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."
Luke 5:12-13 (KJV): "And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."

Language Study

The key words in this scripture are:

"Leper" (Greek: "λεπρὸς" - lepros): Generally referred to someone suffering from a variety of skin diseases, not necessarily Hansen's disease.
"Beseeching" (Greek: "παρακαλέω" - parakaleō): To call upon, to implore or to beg earnestly.
"Kneeling down" (Greek: "γονυπετέω" - gonypeteō): A posture of deep respect and supplication.
"Clean" (Greek: "καθαρίζω" - katharizō): To make clean, in both a physical and a ritual sense.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, diseases like leprosy were often seen as divine punishment or as impurity.

Certain religious interpretations from Hinduism or Buddhism also require segregating individuals believed to be impure.

The Christian narrative that portrays Jesus cleansing a leper contrasts with many ancient beliefs, as it shows a divine figure removing impurity and restoring community rather than sanctioning exclusion.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science has a better understanding of leprosy (Hansen's disease) than the ancient world did.

It is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, and it is not as highly contagious as once thought. The scientific perspective would focus on medical treatment rather than ritual cleanliness.

However, the psychological and social aspects of the narrative remain relevant, as the stigma of disease and isolation is a universal human experience that intersects with many medical conditions.

Commentaries

Expert commentaries vary in their interpretation but often emphasize:

The story's indication of Jesus' willingness to cross societal boundaries to heal and support.
The leper's belief in Jesus' power to cleanse being as significant as his physical healing.
The passage's demonstration that Jesus' miracles were signs of the arrival of God's kingdom, where purity and health are restored.

Mark 1

Mark 1

What does Mark 1:40 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 1:40 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?