Mark 1:35-45

Verses 35-39 complete the "day in the ministry of Jesus" begun in verse 21. It starts out by telling us something very important about Jesus: he prayed. Mark doesn't say what Jesus prayed, or even why Jesus went out early to pray. The significant fact is simply that he prayed. Why is that significant? Because in the preceding accounts of Jesus preaching with unparalleled authority, casting out demons and healing people, the reader could easily get the impression that Jesus is doing this by his own power--that he is a divine being, a god. But the fact that Jesus prays shows that this is not his own power; he is a human being in a dependent relationship to God. Yes, he has been given unique authority and power as the Son of God, but it is God's authority and power, not his own. He is not God.

These verses also anticipate the structure of the Gospel of Mark as a whole. In the first half of Mark, Jesus is a powerful wonder-worker who is invading the kingdom of Satan and replacing it with the kingdom of God. But in the second half of Mark, Jesus is a servant of others who will suffer and be humiliated and die. Jesus, as Messiah, is both the Strong One, and the Weak One. His time in prayer, following a time of miracles, is a reminder of his weakness--an essential part of his being the Messiah.

The early morning being described is Sunday morning (the Sabbath was the day before). Jesus rises early, while it is still dark; the disciples are distressed by his absence and try to find him. Sound familiar? It may be that Mark is purposely anticipating Easter morning in this story. The Gospel of Mark is not simply a historical account; it is a deeply spiritual (and symbolic) story shaped by the tellings and retellings of the faith community. There is always more meaning under the surface.

The story of the healing of the leper also makes an important point: Jesus is not against the laws of Moses and the legitimate ministries of the priests in the temple. The next section of Mark (2:1-3:6) is going to show Jesus in strong conflict with religious authorities over the interpretation and application of Moses' laws. Indeed, Jesus will be crucified partly because of his tension-filled relationship with religious authorities. But Mark wants to let the reader know, beforehand, that Jesus was not against Moses' laws or the proper temple system. The leper is instructed to show himself to the priest, and to make the prescribed offerings found in Moses' laws.

Most English translations say that Jesus was "moved with pity" by the leper, but some of the oldest manuscripts say he was angry! This is supported by his equally rough response in verse 43 in which he "sternly warns" (the original Greek is stronger than this) and "immediately throws him out" (which is what the Greek literally says). Why is Jesus so angry and rough? Probably, he is not angry with the man, but with the leprosy, which is treated as an almost demonic illness which must be confronted and thrown out. The Gospel of Mark often uses rough language--not only for Jesus' actions but also for the disciples' actions (verse 36 literally says in Greek that the disciples "tracked him down"). Matthew and Luke are often uncomfortable with Mark's language and so they use toned down words in their own Gospels. But for Mark, Jesus is not "meek and mild." Jesus is a man brimming with divine power who acts decisively and who provokes strong emotions from others.

After healing the man, Jesus tells him quite strongly not to tell anyone. Why? This is often called by scholars "the Messianic secret." It is an unusal feature in the Gospel of Mark. At this point, it is a mystery the reader is meant to ponder: why would Jesus want his healing ministry to be secret? Perhaps the Gospel will reveal the answer later. In the meantime, the man violates Jesus' instructions and tells all about what Jesus has done. As a result, so many people want to see Jesus, he finds it impossible to even enter towns, and has to stay in the countryside. But if Jesus is so intent on taking his message to all the towns of Galilee (verse 38), why would he want to avoid the crowds? Perhaps he can preach to more people in the natural "amphitheaters" of the countryside than in the tiny homes and narrow streets of a village?