Mark 1:40-45

TITLE: The Spleen of Jesus TEXT: Mark 1:40-45 PROPOSITION: Jesus was a man of compassion and action. QUESTION: When? KEY WORD: Circumstances SCRIPTURE READING: Same INTRODUCTION:

1. If we are to follow Jesus, we must have his spleen.

2. We should have Jesus' mind (thinking) - 1 Peter 2:5

3. Follow His example - 1 Peter 2:21

4. We should imitate his mouth and speech - 1 Peter 4:11; 1 Timothy 6:3

5. Greek word for “compassion” is splagchnon splangkh'-non - strengthened from splen (the "spleen"); an intestine (plural); figuratively, pity or sympathy:--bowels, inward affection, + tender mercy.

6. Heart = feeling love, affection; Spleen = much deeper (more intense) emotions

7. Jesus was often “moved with compassion”

Circumstances of Jesus having compassion:

1. Leper (unclean) - Mark 1:41

2. Weary and scattered (no direction) - Matthew 9:36

3. Sick (caregivers) - Matthew 14:14

4. Hungry - Matthew 15:32; Mark 8:2

5. Blind - Matthew 20:34

6. Death - Luke 7:13 (widow of Nain's son)

7. Forgiving - Matthew 18:27 (forgive the debt)

8. Prodigal Son returns - Luke 15:20 (run and kiss him)

9. Lost - Mark 6:34 (He began to teach them many things)

Application for us:

1. 1 Peter 1:8 - We must have the “spleen” of Jesus

2. 1 John 3:17 - shut up your spleen - Can love of God dwell in you?

3. 1 Peter 2:1-2 - If you have any spleen left - love one another

SERMON #2

TITLE: Shun the Leper TEXT: Mark 1:40-45 PROPOSITION: QUESTION: KEY WORD: SCRIPTURE READING: INTRODUCTION:

1. Under the law of Moses - lepers were to be avoided

2. Numbers 5:1-3 - put them out of the camp

3. Leviticus 13:43-46 - Live in isolation (whole chapter on leper rules)

4. Let's talk about four “ shuns” of Jesus in our text.

Submission - 40

1. If you are willing

2. Not in a position to demand, plead, beg, order

3. Some prayers are not answered because - no submission.

4. Jesus in the Garden - Matthew 26:42

5. 2 Corinthians 9:13 - submit to the gospel

6. Ephesians 5:21 - submit to one another

Compassion - 41

1. Previous sermon on this word - the spleen - bowels

2. Center of inward affection, tender mercy, compassion

3. Cannot remove emotion from our religion

4. Reached out

5. Touched him

6. Responded - “I will, be clean.”

Purification - 42

1. There are specific rules about how to be cleansed after leprosy

2. Cleanse - literally or figuratively

3. We must be cleansed - declared clean

4. 1 John 1:9 - He will cleanse us from all sin

5. James 4:8 - Cleanse your hands, sinners

6. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 - God has not called us to uncleanness

Compulsion - 44-45

1. Told to obey the law

2. Charged to tell no man - How do keep a secret?

3. He began to tell everyone

4. 2 Corinthians 5:14 - Love of Christ compels us

5. 2 Corinthians 5:11 - Knowing the terror of the Lord - we persuade men

6. Jeremiah 20:9 - Fire in my bones, I could not contain

Question - Why command him to say nothing?

1. Reverse psychology - “Can't eat this spoonful” Tell a child he can't and he will.

2. If he was told to tell others - it would be a seen as a publicity stunt

3. Jesus sought to avoid any notion he was seeking praise or glory for his work