Rising early in the morning, in the darkness, he went out and departed to a deserted place and prayed there. Simon and the crowd sought him out, found him, and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” They detained him so that he could not go from them. And he said, “Let us go somewhere else, into the neighboring towns. It is necessary for me to announce the good tidings of the Kingdom of God to the other cities as well because for this I was sent forth.” (Mark 1:35-38, Luke 4:42-43)
More Preaching, Teaching, and Miracles
Jesus then continued making his proclamation into their synagogues of Judaea throughout the whole of Galilee, preaching the good news of the kingdom, healing every disease and sickness, and exorcising demons among the people. Word of him went out into the whole area of Syria. People brought to him all who were very sick, suffering from complicated illnesses and enduring torments, demon possession, seizures, and the paralytics, and Jesus healed them. Huge crowds began to follow Jesus from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judaea, and beyond the Jordan. (Matthew 4:23-25, Mark 1:30, Luke 4:44)
Jesus Cures Leprosy
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man covered with Leprosy came to Him. He knelt before Jesus with his face on the ground and implored, “Lord, if you will it, you can cleanse me.” Moved inwardly with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man, saying, “I will it, be cleansed.” Immediately, leprosy left him, and he was cured. (Mark 1:40-42, Luke 5:12-13, Matthew 8:2-3)
With a stern warning, Jesus sent him away at once, “See that you tell nothing to anyone, but go show the priest and make an offering that Moses commanded for your cleansing, for a testimony to them.” But on going out, that man began announcing it frequently and spreading the story so that Jesus could no longer enter a city openly. Many crowds came together to listen and to be healed by Jesus of their sicknesses from everywhere, but Jesus was withdrawn into desert places to pray. (Mark 1:43-45, Luke 5:14-16, Matthew 8:4)
Discussion Questions
- Jesus made it a priority to find a quiet place to pray early in the morning. Why do you think prayer was so important to Jesus, and how can we make time for prayer in our own busy lives? What benefits do you think come from spending time in prayer?
- When Jesus’ disciples found Him and told Him that everyone was looking for Him, He chose to move on to other towns to preach the good news. What does this tell us about Jesus’ mission and priorities? How can we stay focused on our own mission and priorities when there are many demands on our time?
- Jesus healed many people from various diseases and ailments, and word about Him spread quickly. What does this tell us about Jesus’ compassion and power? How can we show compassion and help others in our own communities?
- A man with leprosy approached Jesus and asked to be cleansed, and Jesus healed him with a touch. Why do you think Jesus was moved with compassion to heal this man, and what can we learn from His willingness to reach out to those who are marginalized or suffering?
- Jesus instructed the healed leper not to tell anyone but to show himself to the priest and make an offering. Why do you think Jesus gave this instruction, and what can we learn from the man’s response of spreading the news despite Jesus’ warning? How should we handle sharing our experiences and testimonies while respecting others’ guidance and boundaries?
