Contemplative Bible Reading

Mark 1:44-45 (New Living Translation)

44 “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”

45 But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.

Jesus had just healed a man with an incurable disease—leprosy. As per the law of the people, the man was to go to a priest for confirmation of the absence of leprosy. The man was also to give a sacrifice of thanksgiving and such. Jesus told the man to do these required actions.

The man disobeyed Jesus.

Hold on here. The man was doomed to live in the shadows of society. Those with leprosy stayed on the fringe and depended on people who would put food and clothing out here and there, now and then. Jesus changed the man’s life. Things would always be better.

And the man disobeyed Jesus. Instead, the man spread the word. Crowds surrounded Jesus. Jesus stayed outside of towns, but people found him in the countryside and kept pressing on Jesus.

There is much in this (hi)story. What was wrong with the man? He met Jesus face to face. Jesus blessed him. He disobeyed Jesus. What? If I were … Oops, let’s stop there. Since that day to this, Jesus has blessed millions or billions of us (especially me). And then we proceeded to disobey (especially me). Despite our stupid disobedience, people seek Jesus, find Jesus, and receive blessings from Jesus.

This is not how things are supposed to work. Good leads to good, which leads to good. Right? Here we have good leading to bad, which leads to good. God works in mysterious ways. I don’t understand them. I am thankful and confused.