Unclean

Unclean
Text: 2 Kings 5:1-14, Mark 1:40-45

By: Rev. Terry Carty
Date: 02-12-12
Place: Kingston Springs United Methodist Church
Season: Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany; Scouting Sunday

Main Point: Discipleship – we learn that our growing capacity for caring may lead us to places where we are counted among the ‘unclean.’

Leprosy is a dreaded disease today in many parts of the world. But it was especially feared in Biblical times. It was a general term used to diagnose anything from patches of dry skin to a contagious skin disease that caused the skin to deteriorate and fall off. Not having sophisticated medical methods, any skin disease was considered leprosy and people were quarantined to separate them from infecting others.

In Israel, the law required that anyone with a skin disease – leprosy – must stay a required distance from other people. If they saw a person approaching they were required to shout loudly, “unclean, unclean,” to warn people of the danger of contact. It was the responsibility of the leper to keep the distance because if someone touched a leper, then they would be considered unclean as well.

If a Jewish leper had one of the curable forms of skin disease and it cleared up, they were required to undergo a washing ritual and make a prescribed animal sacrifice in the Temple in order to be officially declared “clean” and fit to move around freely in society.
Today’s text is Mark 1:4-45. It describes an episode in which Jesus encounters a man with leprosy. I have struggled with how to approach talking about this story – what perspective to use. We have been talking about being disciples for the past few weeks and I continue that emphasis today. I think that it will be helpful to observe the story from two viewpoints today.

The Disciple as Leper

First, we will consider this story from the perspective of the leper. As i read it, put yourself in the place of the leper.
Read Mark 1:40-45 (The Message paraphrase)

Subconsciously, some people approach faith as though they were lepers. They focus on their imperfections and consider themselves not worthy of God’s perfecting grace. They see the “spots” in their lives and feel discouraged from the hope that God can make their spiritual skin “smooth and healthy.”

That subconscious lack of hope can stand in the way of following Jesus as a disciple. It can stand in the way of living toward “The Way” that Jesus taught the disciples to live.

This story tells us that God, in Jesus Christ, has the power to overcome even leprosy. There is no spiritual disease that God cannot overcome. If we fall to our knees and beg, “If you want to, you can cleanse me,” we open the door to following Jesus in discipleship.

The Disciple as Learner

Now, we will consider the story from the perspective as witnesses. As I read it, put yourself in the place of those who saw it happen – assume the perspective of the disciples who were watching Jesus’ every move.

Again read Mark 1:40-45 (The Message paraphrase)

As a disciple, did you witness the tenderness as Jesus was deeply moved. He was so moved that he put out his hand and touched the untouchable. They learned there that it is not weakness to show compassion. Those same disciples would spend their lives showing compassion and sharing this as a lifestyle.

And they learned another lesson that day that we would do well to acknowledge. When Jesus was so moved that he offered the gift of touch – when he touched a diseased body – he also became “unclean.” And he knew it. He gave the man strict orders not to tell anyone. Jesus knew that the stigma of having touched someone with leprosy would impact his ministry. And the disciples knew it too.

When the man, in his joy, told everyone he met about what Jesus had done, the news spread quickly. The man who had touched the leper could no longer move freely in and out of the city – now Jesus was the one who must stay to the out-of-the-way places as one who is unclean by societal standards. The disciples duly noted this and followed Jesus along this path. But they saw that this path led them to those who were the most likely to respond to God’s grace.
As dedicated disciples today, we find ourselves as witnesses to many instances in which compassionate people touch those who are considered unclean, thus becoming marginalized as well. Disciples who chose the out-of-the-way places often find themselves not fitting in with so-called “clean” society.

And yet, when we follow Jesus we become like him – we find ourselves deeply moved such that we reach out our hands and offer cleaning touch to those who consider themselves untouchable.

Go into an unclean world this week knowing that you are not only touchable, but that God has touched your life. And accept your call to follow Jesus into the out-of-the-way places.