GodSprings - February 14, 2016

Do I Dare to Do Things Differently?

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” – Mark 1:40 (NIV)

William Jennings Bryan once wrote: "Never be afraid to stand with the minority which is right, for the minority which is right will one day be the majority. Always be afraid to stand with the majority which is wrong, for the majority which is wrong will one day be the minority."

What is it that makes great men great? One of the characteristics of great men who have made mighty impacts on history is their refusal to be molded and shaped by the world around them. Great men are great because they dare to be different. They stand for their convictions, champion the cause of justice, speak out for what is right, refuse to be intimidated or silenced--even if it costs great personal sacrifice to do so.

Here in the read portion I believe leprosy isn’t just about the disease. It’s about contamination. It’s about designating certain people as unacceptable. Who’s in and who’s out?

We see that the leper comes to Jesus. This was a violation of the rules and regulations concerning lepers.  He was supposed to shout, "Unclean!" to keep Jesus away!  But instead he runs to Jesus. And Jesus does not run away.

Then what does the leper ask? Does he say, "Heal my disease!"? No. "Make me clean!" We miss a great deal if we think of this request as the equivalent to "Heal my disease." The leper is saying:

"I want to worship God!"

"I want to be a part of God's people, in relationship to Him!"

"I want to touch others, to be in relationship to the people of God!"

That is what the leper is asking. Of course he wants physical healing. But becoming clean is much more than becoming healed! The leper says, "If you want to, you can (dunasai––you have the power––we get the word "dynamite" from a form of this word, dunamis) make me clean" (v. 40).  In a way the leper is telling Jesus that he doesn’t want to hear anything about what the law says, what the system says. But just one simple thing – if you have read the law – do you have the courage to do certain things even if your life is at stake. And for that Jesus answered yes I am willing to take the challenge. I dare to do things which is according to the Law. I cannot tolerate injustice. I stand for you.

Someone once told John Knox, the great reformer, "All the world is against you, John Knox." To which he replied, "Then John Knox is against the whole world!" Most of us are by nature conformists. We tend to want to blend into the crowd and desire not to stand out as different.

This portion is a call for all of us who live lives of mediocrity and urges us to dare to do things so that all are given equal rights. All enjoy freedom. Above all it’s a call not to conform to this world but to transform this world. Do I have the guts? Do I dare?