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FEBRUARY 19
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16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in city was gathered together at the door. Then
here”; He healed many who were sick with various
And as for him who lacks diseases, and cast out many demons; and He
understanding, she says to him, did not allow the demons to speak, because
17 “Stolen water is sweet, they knew Him.
And bread eaten in secret 35 Now in the morning, having risen a long
is pleasant.” while before daylight, He went out and
18 But he does not know that the dead departed to a solitary place; and there He
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are there, prayed. And Simon and those who were with
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That her guests are in the depths Him searched for Him. When they found
of hell. Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking
for You.”
Mark 1:23–45 38 But He said to them, “Let us go into the
23 Now there was a man in their synagogue next towns, that I may preach there also,
with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, say- because for this purpose I have come forth.”
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ing, “Let us alone! What have we to do with 39 And He was preaching in their synagogues
You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to throughout all Galilee, and casting out
destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy demons.
One of God!” 40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him,

1:24 What have we to do with You…? Or, 1:40 leper. Lepers were considered ceremoni-
possibly, “Why do You interfere with us?” The ally unclean and were outcasts from society
demon was acutely aware that he and Jesus (Lev. 13:11). While the Old Testament term for
belonged to two radically different kingdoms, leprosy included other skin diseases, this man
and thus had nothing in common. That the may have actually had true leprosy (Hansen’s
demon used the plural pronoun “we”indicates Disease), or else his cure would not have cre-
he spoke for all the demons. the Holy One of ated such a sensation (v. 45).
God. See Psalm 16:10; Daniel 9:24; Luke 4:34;
Acts 2:27; 3:14; 4:27; Revelation 3:7.Amazingly, 1:41 compassion. Only Mark records Jesus’
the demon affirmed Jesus’ sinlessness and emotional reaction to the leper’s desperate
deity—truths which many in Israel denied and plight. The Greek word appears only in the
still deny. synoptic Gospels and (apart from parables) is
used only in reference to Jesus. touched him.
Unlike rabbis, who avoided lepers lest they
25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, become ceremonially defiled,Jesus expressed
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and come out of him!” And when the His compassion with a physical gesture.
unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried
out with a loud voice, he came out of him.
27 Then they were all amazed, so that they kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If
questioned among themselves, saying, “What You are willing, You can make me clean.”
is this? What new doctrine is this? For with 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion,
authority He commands even the unclean stretched out His hand and touched him, and
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spirits, and they obey Him.” And immediate- said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As
ly His fame spread throughout all the region soon as He had spoken, immediately the lep-
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around Galilee. rosy left him, and he was cleansed. And He
29 Now as soon as they had come out of the strictly warned him and sent him away at
synagogue, they entered the house of Simon once, and said to him, “See that you say noth-
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and Andrew, with James and John. But Si- ing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself
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mon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and to the priest, and offer for your cleansing
they told Him about her at once. So He came those things which Moses commanded, as a
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and took her by the hand and lifted her up, testimony to them.”
and immediately the fever left her. And she 45 However, he went out and began to pro-
served them. claim it freely, and to spread the matter, so
32 At evening, when the sun had set, they that Jesus could no longer openly enter the
brought to Him all who were sick and those city, but was outside in deserted places; and
who were demon-possessed. And the whole they came to Him from every direction.
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