Series: The Gospel of Mark
Sermon: The Secret Identity of Jesus
Bible Passage: Mark 1:40–Mark 2:11

I. The leper was socially and religiously unclean (cf. Lev chs. 13–14)

1. Leprosy is painful and debilitating
2. Lepers were not allowed to live with the rest of the society, had to live outside the city (cf. Luke 17:12)

II. When a leper touches a person, the one he touches contracts uncleanness

III. Leprosy was a symbol of sin and it needs to be cleansed (cf. Num 12:10)

IV. A leper came close to Jesus, risking social and religious distancing norms (verse 40)

V. He demonstrated an unusual courage just like the four men who carried the paralytic to Jesus

1. He (a leper) came close to Jesus and knelt before Him (verse 40)
2. The four men went on the roof of the house where Jesus was preaching (2:4)

VI. He (leper) makes an unusual request to Jesus (verse 40) “If you wish, you can make me clean”

1. Only God can heal leprosy (cf. 2 Kings 5:7) just as only God can forgive sins (cf. Mark 2:6-7)
2. Epicurean paradox: God either wishes to take away evils, and is unable; or He is able, and is unwilling; or He is neither willing nor able, or He is both willing and able.
3. Jesus was both willing and able

a. Jesus says, “I am willing. Be clean!”
b. Leprosy left him immediately (verse 42)
c. He was clean (verse 42)

4. In this case, Jesus did not become unclean, but the unclean person becomes clean

VII. If Jesus heals leprosy and paralysis, Jesus is God—the secret identity of Jesus

1. Jesus’ action points to His person
2. Jesus’ healing of the paralytic validates Jesus’ claim that He forgives sins (it’s a reverse logic

VIII. Look at the response of the leper

1. Though Jesus told him to go to the priests first, he began to “preach”
2.(this is the main purpose for which Jesus chose the disciples)
3. He began to preach publicly and announced the healing story widely
4. His testimony drove people to Jesus (cf. 1:45)
5. The specific one is found in ch. 2:1-10

a. Four men brought the invalid to Jesus (2:3-4)
b. Houses were overflowing to hear from Jesus (2:2)

IX. Healing and forgiveness indicate the arrival of the Kingdom of God to those who believe God’s work in Jesus (cf. Luke 7:22-23)

Take Away: 

1. Come to Jesus because Jesus is God (He forgives and cleanses)
2. Bring others to Jesus because Jesus is God