February 12, 2012 · Mark 1:43–44

The Leper Who Wouldn't Listen

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."

“He didn't listen to the instructions of the very person who healed him. Imagine that? Wouldn't he even listen to the very instructions of the person who healed him? He couldn't understand why Jesus would tell him not to tell people. "Why would you tell me not to tell people, Jesus?" He probably thought Jesus was just being shy — that false humility of Jesus, that's so endearing. He reasoned to himself that Jesus couldn't really mean what he said. "I mean, why would Jesus tell me not to tell people?" So — he — didn't make sense to the leper. He wanted to help Jesus. He wanted to spread the word. He wanted to help — but the leper got conned, and there wasn't any gold at the end of his refrain. See what he did? He proclaimed to everyone he walked by: "Jesus healed me. Jesus healed me. Jesus healed me. Jesus healed me" — to anyone he could see. Everyone, everywhere he went. He thought he knew better than Jesus. He thought telling everyone was the best way forward. But Jesus knew better. See, not everything is about getting as many people to hear about what you have to say. Sometimes it's just about making sure the right people hear what you got to say.”