#BibleStudy Signs and Wonders – Miracles: Miracle #3 – A Man With Leprosy – Mark 1:40-45 04-14-2021 – Discussion Highlights 02-21-2021

Until we finish, my Sunday school class is studying Miracles of Jesus on the list below. The comments below are from our discussion this week.

 

Signs and Wonders – Miracles

Sunday School Lesson Series

Based on Signs and Wonders: Thirteen Miracles from the Life of Christ 

Serendipity House ©1998 - ISBN: 1-57494-107-0

 

Miracle #3 – A Man With Leprosy – Mark 1:40-45

The early church used stories like this to illustrate the power of Jesus over sin. List similarities and differences between sin and leprosy.

Similarities

• Separation. Sin separates us from God. Leprosy separated the man from society.
• Both are destructive.
• Sin numbs our view of evil leading to spiritual death. Leprosy numbs body part leading to damage.

Differences

• Leprosy has nothing to do with the person. Sin is personal.
• Leprosy is obvious. Sin is usually hidden.
• There was no cure for leprosy then. Jesus is the cure for sin.

Put yourself in the place of a disciple. What did you learn (what insight did you gain) from this miracle?

• Ministry is not just for the upper class. It includes everyone.
• The idea that only sinners get leprosy and other diseases is wrong.
• The disciples had no idea of what they were.

45 “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt,[a] cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’  Leviticus 13:45

• Torn clothing was a sign of grief. For leprosy victims, it allows the body to have fresh air.
• Jesus was an “out of the box” thinker and a breaker of barriers.
• Jesus confronted Priests but told the man to obey the Law.
• This reaffirmed who Jesus is.
• Leprosy bacteria are hard to kill. Even today the treatment last 1-2 years.
• The leper’s approach to Jesus is very different from the only other unclean person recorded as seeking healing from Jesus. Both the leper and the women with “an issue of blood” were unclean and both knew that Jesus had power. However, the leper approached Jesus boldly. The woman touch Him without asking.

 

Dissecting the Miracle

How does Christ touch you when you feel cut off from God and may despise yourself? Check all that apply. Describe your experience for one. He touched me through…

God needs us to be in such a position to lean on Him.

It’s the result of frustration and disappointments. This comes from looking at the past. You must move on and look to the future.

What’s happening?

 

1.   My personal times of prayer.

2.   The compassion of someone. They cared enough to contact me. We can all do that.

3.   A change in my circumstances. The perspective is different and often self-caused.

4.   A sense of inner peace even though nothing changed. Learn to be content. It’s hard, but it’s based on a relationship with Jesus.

5.   The way my church responded to my need. They welcomed me.

6.   I’m still waiting for His touch.

Other: 

• You must move on from the issue.
• Your life is the sum of your choices and actions. Many people are very upset with themselves for those choices and actions. But, blaming yourself is Satan’s doing.
• God doesn’t put us in horrible situations, He helps us out of them.
• Trusting God is simply the best reaction.

 We Got This Far This Week

 

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