Mind Meld of A Different Kind

MARK 1:40-45

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: “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.”

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.

Razzle-Dazzle Me Jesus

Show time. Jesus knew that’s what it would turn into. Who doesn’t love to be entertained. Wowed. Amazed. I do.

I think Jesus knew his ministry would turn into something of a traveling circus the more people spread the word that they experienced an amazing miracle. So, don’t tell anyone, became a command repeated often enough that Mark chooses to include it in his Gospel. All Jesus wanted this guy to do was fulfill the requirements of the Law. That will be public testimony enough.

The healed guy disobeyed his healer. Perhaps the overflowing joy or sudden burst of renewed hope simply took control and there was just no shutting him up. Who could fault him? And who could fault Jesus for being full of compassion but also full of weariness at the consequence of his compassion. John observes that Jesus understand the fickle nature of people.

So the masses gather. Music brings the arena to full arousal. The faith healer preaches to a crescendo. People come forward to be healed, report healing, and find themselves slain in the spirit. Even supposing this is all authentic, real worship, real compassion, real godliness, and real healing; such an events repeated around the globe today reflects what I think Jesus wearied of along our human sinfulness.

We - I, would rather a religion that makes me feel good rather than a “take up your cross and follow me” relationship with Jesus himself. Spiritual arousal is more satisfying than working to crucify my prejudices, my unforgiveness, my unrighteous attitudes, my lack of action on behalf of the poor, my unfaithfulness to my neighbors, and on and one…

Give me a good church service, an exhilarating healing, an emotional touch of the Master’s hand any Sunday morning, just don’t ask me to go pick up trash at a city park, lead a kid’s club in the Projects, or volunteer on a hospice floor full of AIDS patients.

Self serving rather than Jesus serving. As long as he made people feel good, the crowds gathered. Not too much unlike today. But start making demands, begin down the road leading to Golgotha, insist that we follow in the face of setting aside our expectations, wants, and agendas, well… Mark will report what happened later.

But that is really what Jesus was all about. “Repent and believe the Good News” – the Good News that Jesus brought not my watered down version.

Father, search me, at the deepest levels. Am I following you only, or even mostly, for your entertainment value? Do I expect to find fullness, joy, even happiness when you razzle-dazzle me? Convict me where I do. Help me to appreciate the miracles you perform while faithfully taking up my own cross for the joy set before me.