Monday, June 12, 2023 - MOVED WITH PITY

 

Monday, June 12, 2023 - Day 163 - (Today’s Bible readings: Zephaniah 13:15-27; Psalm 131; Acts 8:26-40)

MOVED WITH PITY

And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. (Mark 1:40-42 ESV)

In this portion of today’s year-through-the-Bible verses from Mark, Jesus teaches us several important lessons.

1) How to properly pray for earthly blessings (“If it is Your will”):

And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”

2) Jesus cares about sinners in need. He has compassion on them:

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him...

Compassion, Greek splagchnizomai. Literally “his gut moved.” Jesus experienced the same gut reaction as we sometimes do in sad situations. (Concordia Study Bible, CPS, 2009, page 722)

This is good news for us sinners living in an imperfect world. Jesus truly cares about us and our human condition. The ultimate assurance that this is true is found on the cross. Jesus cared so much about us and our lostness that He died as payment for our sins.

3) Jesus is God:

... and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

Lord Jesus, thank You for having gut wrenching pity on me and my condition. Thank You also for acting on that pity and love by obediently going to the cross and redeeming me from sin, death and the devil. Please use me to share Your great love with other lost sinners.  Amen.