Take a few deep breaths to center your heart and your mind as you prepare to meet with God.

Meditation on God

Our brokenness does not deter God from pouring out His perfect love on us. Take a moment to lean into the love that God has toward you.

Lesson

"So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “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.” 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." (Mark 1:39-45)

In this passage, we get a glimpse of one aspect of the character of Christ: His compassion for the broken. This man comes to him, ailed by leprosy, a disease that has stolen everything from him. It has removed him from society, cut him off from his community, and separated him from his family. He comes to Jesus because he has either heard of him through others or has seen firsthand the way that Jesus has worked in the lives of other outcasts and the marginalized like himself.

Yet, even in the words he says, there is a sense of hopelessness. It’s as if he has tried everything, but nothing has saved him from his condition. He says to Jesus, “you can make me clean if you are willing.”

There have been several ways that different translations of the Bible have described the movement in Christ's heart at hearing these words. Some say he was indignant, some say he was even angry, and others say he was moved with compassion. No matter the translation, we know that Christ had an emotional response to this request which led to action. The way in which he responds tells us that compassion for Jesus is not just a momentary reaction–it’s a character trait. It is in his nature to let His compassion lead him to action. In this story, that action was to heal a man who was sick with leprosy. But this compassion also leads him to the cross where he pours out healing for our sin sickness and bridges the gap between us and God, adopting us into a family that we cannot be separated from.

Examination

Take a second to evaluate your own heart. Does compassion lead you to act? Where is God calling you to step into the brokenness of those around you and invite them to be a part of your community?

Memory Verse

As you go about your day, keep this scripture in your mind. John 13:35 says,

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35)