If you choose, you can make me clean

As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

- Mark 1:29-45

In yesterday's reading, we read of the demon's recognition of Jesus as Christ, as Jesus preached in the synagogue. As we commented on yesterday's reading, all acts of "cleansing" or any kind of spiritual transformation, salvation, restoration of right relationship, is a healing. And in today's reading, Mark the Evangelist continues with acts of healing. But first comes first: we are introduced to the spiritual reality behind all the miracles and healings performed by Jesus, via the event in yesterday's passage.

As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. The image here is of a woman restored; Jesus' touch has restored her to herself, to her life and the things she wishes to do. We are also given a glimpse here of the family life of the apostles, specifically the fact that Peter is married. Elsewhere, Peter will say, "Look, we have left everything and followed you."

That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. More healings continue, and we are to assume that they are of a variety of ailments. But always, they are couched with the knowledge given to us of the work against the demons, a spiritual level of activity that coincides with human healing. My study bible notes that Jesus does not permit the demons to speak of his identity as Christ because it is not a confession of faith. He is also purposely avoiding proclamation of his own divinity.

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. My study bible points out that this passage in Mark is the only place in the gospels that gives us a picture of Jesus' 24-hour day. This is a day built around prayer and ministry. Just as Jesus went to the wilderness for a 40-day period of fasting and prayer before beginning his ministry and choosing his disciples, so he retreats again here - before embarking on his ministry to the synagogues throughout Galilee. Jesus does not separate prayer and ministry. To quote my study bible's helpful note: "Jesus' priority is prayer to His Father: prayer before service. He goes to a solitary (or "deserted") place to be free from distraction, despite the multitudes' need of Him. His ministry comes out of His relationship with His Father, not foremost out of people's need. Here He moves along to the next towns. He knows His task, and performs it although the crowds clamor around Him."

A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. Once again, Jesus heals by touch. Touch is significant here, because lepers were set apart from the community, as unclean. My study bible points out that this healing is from compassion; we are always to understand the source of everything that Jesus is: truth, faith, power, adversary to the demons, healer, comes from love. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ The healed leper must present himself to the priest in order to officially be cleared for acceptance back into the community. We must note that Jesus' healing is a restoration of right relationship. Later, Jesus' family will be those who are healed, yet excluded from the community. But Jesus wants his own divinity to remain a secret. It is not time for him to reveal himself; instead he works by healing and prayer and ministry, as the Father wills. But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter. So, already in Mark's gospel, Jesus' fame has spread to "every quarter." It's quite interesting that we're given the details of a full day of prayer, ministry and healing - and yet events in this gospel move along at a clip. It's one more beautiful poetic paradox of the gospels. While our understanding of fame and renown encompasses the stuff of publicity agents and media, Jesus takes care not to proclaim himself. He is working on a different schedule, a different timetable, to the priorities of the Father and the ministry and prayer necessary to him. This is a ministry of love, as God is love. That is quite different from accommodating the demands of those who wish merely to take, or to use. We see Jesus' ministry, healings and miracles not as "proofs" but rather as "signs" of divinity; they are the works of the Father, they stem from that Source. We need to cultivate spiritual eyes and ears to discern them properly.

As we move deeper into Lent, consider Jesus, and his humility. Prayer comes before everything. As my study bible says, he has a job to do and he does it. He is not seeking personal fame or great proclamations of his divinity (however true). He is taking one step at a time, and taking his time, using it properly as his Father wills - and setting aside time as his first priority for prayer in order to discern that will. This Lent, can we practice doing the same? Can you set aside time, free of tasks, for God's timetable? for the relationship to Creator which must happen in that place within the heart that is an eternal "now?" Oddly enough, to do that, one must detach from the exigencies of time, and clear a space in the calendar for contemplative time, in the heart, for prayer and dialogue. Can you do that?