Mark 1:40-45
Suggest further reading: Luke 24:25-27, 44-49
Our Lord respected the ceremonial law even while knowing that the rituals commanded in Moses’ Law were temporary. He knew that, while they were crucial to the life of the believer in maintaining fellowship with God, they also served as symbols of His Person and Work. As such, the rituals were, at that time, still legitimately functioning as ordained by God and were worthy of being honored.
Christians should remember this lesson and not ignore the Old Testament and the ceremonial law simply because its work is done.
All Scripture is profitable, including the Law of Moses. Therefore, we must not neglect those parts of our Bible that has little to do with the Christian. While not all the Bible is written to us, it is written for us! The Law of Moses, with its priests, and altars, and ritual is full of instruction for today’s believer and is worthy of serious study. Remember, in the Old Testament, the Gospel is concealed; in the New Testament it is revealed.
There is a time to be quiet about our Lord as well as a time to speak. Here, the zeal of the cured man led him to disobey our Lord’s command, only to bring unwanted consequences on our Lord.
Here is a lesson of deep importance. We need wisdom to know when to speak for our Lord and when to be quiet. The honor of Christ may be diminished in the eyes of others by speaking unwisely.
Without a doubt, many Christians are far more inclined to be silent about their glorious Master than to confess Him before men. They do not need a bridle as much as the spur. Let us pray for wisdom to know how to honor the Master by knowing when to speak and when to remain silent.
Lanny Tanton is the Pastor at The Bible Church of the Lakes in Horseshoe Bay, Texas – just outside of Marble Falls. Pastor Tanton welcomes you to our website and hopes that you’ll enjoy reading these insightful blog posts. Please contact us if you have further questions!!
