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 1:41 mean?

Explanation

Mark 1:41 is a verse from the New Testament of the Bible that describes an event in the life of Jesus Christ where he demonstrates compassion and healing.

In this verse, Jesus encounters a man with leprosy, a contagious and highly stigmatized disease at the time.

Moved by compassion, Jesus defies social norms by physically touching the man, something that was forbidden due to the fear of contamination.

By saying "I will; be thou clean," Jesus asserts his willingness to heal the man and, by his command, cures him of his ailment.

The verse highlights the dual nature of Jesus's ministry, showcasing both his miraculous healing power and his deep empathy for the suffering.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, leprosy was a feared disease with significant social implications.

It rendered individuals ritually unclean according to Jewish religious laws, leading to their isolation from society.

Anyone diagnosed with leprosy was required to live apart from others and to announce their unclean status when in the proximity of healthy individuals.

The historical context underscores the radical nature of Jesus's actions.

By touching the leper, Jesus breaks with traditional expectations and cultural norms, demonstrating that his message is one of inclusion and restoration.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Mark 1:41 reveals several key insights about the character of Jesus and the nature of the Kingdom of God.

Firstly, it demonstrates Jesus's divine authority over illness and impurity, reinforcing the Christian belief in his divine nature and power.

Secondly, the passage underscores the theme of mercy as a cornerstone of Jesus's ministry.

Touching the leper illustrates how Jesus's compassion overrides legalistic concerns and societal taboos.

Lastly, this act is a foreshadowing of the broader mission of Jesus, to cleanse humanity of its spiritual impurities.

Practical Applications

The teachings of Mark 1:41 can inspire several practical applications in daily life. It encourages individuals to act with compassion towards those who are marginalized or stigmatized by society.

Furthermore, the verse serves as a call to not allow fear or social norms to prevent the offering of aid and comfort to those in need.

In a modern context, it compels believers to reach out to those who may be rejected due to illness, appearance, or societal status, reflecting Jesus's example of inclusivity and unconditional love.

Cross-References

Matthew 8:3: "And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean.

And immediately his leprosy was cleansed."

Luke 5:12-13: "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.

And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean.

And immediately the leprosy departed from him."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Mark 1:41 are significant for understanding the verse's meaning:

"Moved with compassion" (Greek: σπλαγχνισθεὶς, "splagchnistheis"): This term conveys deep emotional empathy or visceral feelings.
"Touched" (Greek: ἥψατο, "hapsato"): To attach oneself to, lay hold of, or touch.

This word is significant in that physical touch was taboo regarding lepers.

"I will" (Greek: Θέλω, "Thelo"): Expresses volition or a strong determination.
"Be thou clean" (Greek: καθαρίσθητι, "katharistheti"): To be purified or cleansed, both in a physical and a ceremonial sense.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, diseases like leprosy were often seen as divine punishment or a mark of uncleanliness, not just physically but spiritually as well.

In many religious interpretations, the cleansing of a leper would therefore be seen as an act of purification with both physical and spiritual implications.

In the context of other religious narratives, such as healing myths in Greco-Roman or Egyptian traditions, the healer often had a divine aspect, which parallels the Christian understanding of Jesus as divine.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understanding recognizes leprosy, known as Hansen's disease, as a bacterial infection, not a divine punishment.

The perspective on disease has shifted considerably since ancient times, with an emphasis on medical treatment rather than religious purification.

In terms of the healing itself, contemporary science would explain that spontaneous remissions of diseases are rare but occasionally documented, though many would interpret the healing in this verse as a supernatural event beyond the scope of science.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and religious commentators have offered various interpretations of Mark 1:41:

Some stress the importance of Jesus's willingness to heal as an expression of divine mercy.
Others focus on the subversion of social norms and the radical inclusion that Jesus practiced by reaching out to someone like a leper.
Conservative theologians might emphasize the miracle as proof of Jesus's divinity, while more liberal theologians might see the passage as symbolic of breaking down barriers between clean and unclean, saint and sinner.
Many commentaries also discuss the significance of faith and Jesus's response to the leper's plea as a reflection of Jesus's responsiveness to genuine faith and humility.

Mark 1

Mark 1

What does Mark 1:41 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 1:41 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?