40 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. 41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. 43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 45 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. (Mark 1:40-45 KJV)
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
We have here the story of Christ cleansing a leper, also recorded in Matthew 8:2-4. It teaches us how to approach Christ. This leper came with great humility, begging and kneeling before him (Mark 1:40). Whether he was honoring Christ as God or showing deep respect as to a great prophet, it reminds us that those seeking grace and mercy from Christ must approach him with humility and reverence.
He also came with a firm belief in Christ’s power: “You can make me clean.” Despite Christ’s humble outward appearance, the man believed in his divine authority, showing personal faith, not just that Christ could do everything, but that he could do this for him. We must likewise apply what we believe about Christ’s power to our own situations. He also submitted to Christ’s will: “If you are willing.” This wasn’t doubt about Christ’s kindness, but he showed respectful submission, leaving the outcome to him.
This passage also shows what to expect from Christ: that our faith will be answered. Though the leper’s words were not a formal prayer, Christ responded with mercy. Expressions of faith and submission are powerful petitions and are answered accordingly. Jesus was moved with compassion—this detail in Mark emphasizes that his power is driven by his mercy. His reasons come from within himself, not from anything deserving in us, but simply from our need.
He reached out and touched the man—he didn’t just heal, he made personal contact. In healing souls, Christ touches them (see 1 Samuel 10:26). Earthly monarchs may touch and say, “God heals,” but Christ touches and does heal. He said, “I will; be clean.” His healing came through his word, showing how spiritual healing often comes: “He sent out his word and healed them” (Psalm 107:20; John 15:3; 17:17). The leper said, “If you will,” but Christ removed all doubt: “I will.” He was confident in Christ’s power, and Christ responded to his faith with authority. The leprosy immediately left him, and he was completely healed (Mark 1:42).
When we receive mercy from Christ, we must also receive his commands. After healing the man, Jesus strictly warned him. The original word used is very strong, implying a serious warning. This may refer not just to the command to keep it quiet (Mark 1:44), but to a warning like the one Christ gave the lame man in John 5:14: “Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you.” Leprosy was often a judgment for specific sins, as seen with Miriam, Gehazi, and Uzziah. Christ likely warned him against returning to sin.
Jesus also gave him specific instructions: first, to show himself to the priest, so the priest could confirm the healing and be a witness for Christ, that he was the Messiah (see Matthew 11:5). Second, until he did that, he was told not to speak about it to anyone. This reflects Christ’s humility and self-restraint—he didn’t seek fame or stir up crowds (Isaiah 42:2). It’s an example to us not to seek our own praise (Proverbs 25:27). Christ wanted to avoid unnecessary crowds, not because he was unwilling to help, but to avoid disturbance or giving the appearance of seeking popularity.
The leper, however, began to spread the news widely. Whether he was wrong to do so is hard to say. Often, the good works of humble people are better left unsaid by them, though others may speak of them. Still, the leper should have obeyed Jesus’ instructions. No doubt he meant well in telling others, but the effect was that crowds increased so much that Jesus could no longer enter cities openly. Not because of danger or persecution, but because the crowds were overwhelming. This forced him to stay in more remote places—on mountains (Mark 3:13) or by the sea (Mark 4:1).
This highlights how necessary it was for Christ to go away and send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. His physical presence could only be in one place at a time, and not everyone could get near him. But by his spiritual presence, he is with his people everywhere, coming to them from every direction.