On Cleansing and Shame - Introduction

GracePointe family,

Last week our scripture text was from Mark's gospel, 1:35-38. In it, Mark described Jesus, at the outset of His Galilean ministry, stealing away from the crowds in the early hours of the morning to pray. Depending on the translation of the Bible you use, the place He stole away to is variously described as: a solitary place, a secluded place, a lonely place, a place where he could be alone, etc.

From Christ's example, we considered the clear benefits of finding a similar space in our own journeys. I think we all recognize this type of spiritual exercise is truly a non-negotiable if we want to live healthy, balanced lives. We all have a deep need for strategic aloneness, intentional solitude, a place where we can decompress and revitalize in God's presence.

Our text this week immediately follows last week's. 

Mark 1:40-45 reads:

40 A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” 42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. 43 Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: 44 “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.” 45 But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.

Employing last week's metaphor of breathing, Jesus, having inhaled deeply in prayer, left the contemplative place of replenishment and was soon met by a man in grave need, a man in need of Jesus' breath. Obviously, the man was suffering physically and his healing by the hand of Christ remains legendary. But there is another point of interest in the story that I plan on teasing out this Sunday.

Via the life of the leprous man, we will focus on a type of aloneness quite different from the positive and planned kind. Whereas last week we addressed the benefits of chosen, purposeful solitude, this week we will be focusing on unwanted and unhealthy isolation; the type endured by leprous people in first-century Palestine and, frankly, the kind still experienced by even the busiest among us today.

Unwanted aloneness comes in many forms and derives from myriad sources. It can be imposed by others and it can also be imposed upon one's self by one's self. In any case, the resulting effects are painful and can be crippling.

This week, using the leper's story, we will consider the interrelated issues of loneliness, estrangement, shame, isolation, and exclusion as well as community, reunion, forgiveness and inclusion.

These issues, albeit to varying degrees, are experienced by all people - none of us are exempt. In Christ, though, there are answers, there is healing, there is reconciliation.

I hope you'll spend some time between now and Sunday reflecting on our gospel text and considering how this topic relates to your life. Come with your heart open and I have no doubt God will meet you there.

See you Sunday morning,
Stan