by David Scott Robertson
(Mark 1:40 NIV) A man with leprosy came to him [Jesus] and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."
(Mark 1:41 NIV) Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"
(Mark 1:42 NIV) Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
In our present day society quality healthcare is expensive.
In the United States healthcare is a multi-billion dollar enterprise.
Physicians, surgeons, nurses, hospitals, pharmacists, wellness and disease prevention organizations, health clubs, weight loss clinics, home health care, emergency services, insurance companies, research and development industries, and a host of other players all contribute to the economic infrastructure of modern day medicine.
Many people these days sacrifice their health in pursuit of wealth.
Later in life, priorities change, and they spend their wealth trying to regain their health.
What do you suppose it would cost - at current healthcare pricing - to restore a man from a terminal condition back to radiant health?
The price tag could escalate into the hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.
That's presupposing that the medical technology even existed to save his life let alone provide for a high quality of life.
What would a man pay to save his life?
The life of his wife or child?
Probably all that he had.
But what about the physician?
What would it cost him to administer the life saving procedure?
Does a doctor normally and personally bear the cost of the healing process?
Does the cost of the Band-Aid, the medication, the surgery suite, come out of his pocket instead of being passed along to each of his patients along with his profit margin?
Of course not!
Although we tend to gripe about the high cost of healing
We don't stop going to the doctor just because he's making a living.
But turn your attention to a different kind of physician,
A very great Physician,
Who operated His practice quite differently that any healthcare system that ever existed.
The Healer's name was Jesus.
And He personally bore the high cost of healing for all His patients.
In our opening scripture,
The healthcare solution that was provided to the leper cost him absolutely nothing,
However it was not without cost.
It cost Jesus the ability to even enter a town.
(Mark 1:43 NIV) Jesus sent him [the ex-leper] away at once with a strong warning:
(Mark 1:44 NIV) "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."
(Mark 1:45 NIV) 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.
By reaching out to this leper,
Jesus was, in effect, waving goodbye to a more comfortable life on this earth.
It was as if He were exchanging places with the leper, who was a social outcast.
In those days, lepers could not openly enter the city
But were forced to dwell outside the city in deserted places because of their contagious disease.
The healed leper could not leave the deserted places and re-enter society.
However, this one act of compassion on the part of Christ
Meant that, at least in that region, Jesus was forced to relocate to places less comfortable.
The high cost of healing.
In the lonely places,
What did Jesus do with it rained without a roof over His head?
What about when it was cold?
How was food preparation different in the lonely places?
Granted, dwellings in the time of Christ were far from what they are today
But they did grant some conveniences and at least offered protection from the elements.
Think about all the comforts of staying in a friend's home
Versus camping out in the woods.
The high cost of healing.
Even though Jesus was explicit and emphatic and sternly warned (Mark 1:43) many He healed not to tell anyone, their first act of newfound health was to disobey Christ - for they were not as strong as He and simply could not contain the joy of their healing.
Because of this, we read scenes like this:
Standing room only
(Mark 2:1 NIV) A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.
(Mark 2:2 NIV) So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.
The multitudes throng Christ
(Mark 5:22 KJV) And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
(Mark 5:23 KJV) And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
(Mark 5:24 KJV) And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.
Jesus on the move constantly
(Mark 1:36 NIV) Simon and his companions went to look for him,
(Mark 1:37 NIV) and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"
(Mark 1:38 NIV) Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."
Jesus knew very well the high cost of healing…and did it anyway.
And that brings it back to us, the followers of Jesus Christ who to this day are continuing His ministry on the earth.
(Mark 16:17 NIV) And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
(Mark 16:18 NIV) they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
What will you and I do when presented with the high cost of serving Christ?
Will we do it anyway?
DSR
11/25/02