-THE LIFE OF CHRIST - THE GALILEAN MINISTRY

  Jesus Tours Galilee With His Disciples

-Jesus Tours Galilee With His Disciples

-Matt 4:23-25, Mark 1:35-39, Luke 4:42-44

-Jesus went out of town to pray in a solitary place – a good example for us.  While there, His disciples

 came to Him and told Him that many people were looking for Him.  This is when Jesus told them they

 were going to go into the other towns of Galilee – “for therefore am I sent” (Luke 4:43).

-We are not given specifics regarding this tour of Galilee.  We are not told the locations that Jesus

visited nor how long it lasted.  We are primarily told of one event – the healing of a leper.

-The Healing of a Leper – Matt 8:2-4, Mark 1:40-45, Luke 5:12-16 – Let’s notice a few points

  regarding this occasion.

       -Mark 1:41 – “Jesus, moved with compassion” – While many others would have looked down    

         upon this man due to his leprosy, Jesus looked at Him with compassion.

       -In striving to follow in the steps of Jesus, this is one area (among many) in which we could

         certainly improve – showing compassion for others.  Are we compassionate toward lost souls?

        -Jesus touched this man.  This is significant due to the fact that others were not to touch a leper

         (see Lev 13:44-46, also compare Num 5:2 with Lev 11:39-40. Also, notice, this man didn’t stay

         away from Jesus crying out “Unclean, unclean”.  Instead, he came to Jesus, knelt before Him

         and asked to be healed.)  “Touch was prohibited because it defiled the person touching, and

         aided not the person touched.  In Jesus’ case the reasons for the law were absent, the

         conditions being reversed.  Touching defiled not the toucher, and healed the touch.  In all things

         Jesus touches and shares our human state, but he so shares it that instead of his being defiled

         by our uncleanness, we are purified by his righteousness” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 179).

       -Because Jesus touched the leper, some might say that He ignored the Law.  However, as

         previously stated, this was not the case.  As a matter of fact, Jesus then instructed this healed

         man to go to the priests “and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded”

        (Mark 1:44) – in accordance with the Law (Lev 14).

           -Jesus instructed this man to remain quiet about the circumstances of his healing. 

             There are different ideas as to why this was the case.  Some say that Jesus did not want

             to attract an increased degree of the Jewish leaders’ attention.  However, these passages

             seem to present another reason.  As word spread about the miraculous acts of Jesus, the

             people pressed upon Him to such a degree that He couldn’t openly enter into any of the

             cities and withdrew to the desert region.  Even there, the people continued to come to Him.