Mark - Too Popular

Too Popular

Mark 1:38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

By hearing the good news, many would be saved from sins punishment. He came to redeem, restore and reconcile people unto God.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Mark 1:39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

The synagogue or meeting place was the first place to preach the word of God and again he cast out many devils. Better to preach the word and cast out the devils then to have a devil friendly meeting place where the word is not preached. Jesus showed us what we are to do.

Mark 1:40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Mark 1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

No one was supposed to touch a leper, because they were unclean and this would defile you. Jesus was more than a man, he was God in a man. His purity touched the leper and the leper was made clean. Leprosy is a type of sin, Jesus removes our sins and cleanses us.

Mark 1:42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
Mark 1:43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
Mark 1:44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
Mark 1:45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

The law required that a priest examines a leper who claims to be healed. Jesus wasn't looking for new people to follow him, already he had great crowds pressing in to him. For the leper to publicly point others to Jesus, would make moving around in the city difficult and would make the priests envious.

A word here to pastors and priests. Follow Jesus and do as he did, do not be a crowd pleaser, nor count numbers as success. Be faithful to preach the word, the Lord gives the increase. Jesus had to go back to where John had preached, because of the great crowds. He was in the desert, not a great building. It is the message, followed by miracles, that drew the people to him. The people wanted to see this man who did what no other had ever done; healed lepers, the blind, all manner of illness and cast out devils. This man spoke with authority.