Genu flexo | Kneeling down

"A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, 'If you choose, you can make me clean.'" — Mark 1:40 (NRSV) 

Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash

Reflecting on the beautiful exchange between our Lord Jesus and the leper, who in his humility, came on his knees and begged the Son of God to heal him. It is lovingly portrayed by the Apostle Mark in 1:40-45. Our Lord's merciful and immediate response to this man's heartfelt pleas: 

"I do choose. Be made clean." 

Jesus' response reminded me of God's loving question to Adam, "Where are you?", after Adam and Eve had disobeyed His Commandment not to eat of the fruit of the Knowledge of Good & Evil. It never fails to amaze me that even though He is our Omniscient and Omnipotent Creator, yet His one desire is to have a personal relationship with a sinful humanity (His creation). 

It must have been a painful and lonely existence for the leper, as an outcast from the Jewish community. It certainly took great courage for Him to appear in a public space, to go on bended knees and made His desperate plea to the Son of God. It gives me a blessed assurance that I too a leper in my heart (of many sins) can have direct access to God's mercy and healing grace if I am willing to humble myself and ask for healing in Jesus' Name. Just like the leper who stepped out in bold faith as recorded in today's gospel from Mark Chapter 1. 

I will close with this beautiful hymn by Twila Paris, as a reminder that Jesus is not only the Son of God, but He's also God's Perfect Redemptive Sacrifice for all sinful humanity.

Lamb of God – Twila Paris 

Verse 1 

Your only Son no sin to hide

 But You have sent Him from Your side 

To walk upon this guilty sod 

And to become the Lamb of God 

Chorus

Sweet lamb of God 

I love the Holy Lamb of God 

Oh wash me in His precious Blood 

My Jesus Christ the Lamb of God 

Verse 2 

Your gift of love they crucified 

They laughed and scorned Him as he died 

The humble King they named a fraud 

And sacrificed the Lamb of God 

Chorus 

Oh Lamb of God, Sweet lamb of God 

I love the Holy Lamb of God 

Oh wash me in His precious Blood 

My Jesus Christ the Lamb of God 

Verse 3 

I was so lost I should have died 

But You have brought me to Your side 

To be led by Your staff and rod

 And to be called a lamb of God 

Chorus 

Oh Lamb of God, Sweet lamb of God 

I love the Holy Lamb of God 

Oh wash me in His precious Blood 

My Jesus Christ the Lamb of God

YouTube: https://youtu.be/2QGNUDsQ6fI 

Songwriters: Twila Paris

Licenses: UMG (on behalf of Sparrow (SPR)); Adorando Publishing, LatinAutor - UMPG, Warner Chappell, Adorando Brazil, Capitol CMG Publishing, LatinAutorPerf, ASCAP, and 8 Music Rights Societies

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Reflection on Mark 1:40-45 by Chris Tan