Oasis Bible Study – Wed 8 Feb, 2012
Overview of Study
Jesus is beginning to take His message to other towns. He is spreading the Good News and allowing other communities to hear His gospel. He comes into contact with a leper who has been shunned by his community. This confronts Jesus with a dilemma: should he embrace the man and alienate the rest of the community, or should he follow the religious laws and ignore the man completely?
Approaching God
Prayer: Lord Jesus, show us through Your interaction with other people how we should participate in our own communities today. Challenge our pre-conceived opinions and change our ways so that our lives reflect Your own. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture: Mark 1:40-45
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44“See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
Input from Group
Why did the leper think that Jesus could help him? What shows us that he was desperate?
What was Jesus’ initial response? Why?
How could Jesus make the man clean? What does this tell us about His power?
What did Jesus command the man to do after he was healed? Why did He send him to the priest?
What did the man actually do? Was he sinfully disobeying Jesus?
What was the community’s response to the healing? Did Jesus want this?
Who are the lepers in our own community? How does the church generally deal with them?
What does this miracle challenge us to do with outcasts in our own community? If we do nothing, are we being sinfully disobedient?
Any other questions or comments?
Service Applications
Helping an outcast was Christ’s priority in this passage. Jesus lets humanitarian compassion override religious observance. What ministries or missions can we support in our towns that show this compassion?
For silent prayerful reflection: How much does what I believe depend upon standards in both my religious and cultural communities? Is that okay with Jesus?
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