If you want to avoid terror at the second coming, you must accept the gentle first coming! This passage tells us where the church's focus should be: the Word of God. Faith is going to God, knowing he can do whatever he wills. True faith says, "Your will be done."

Mark is all about action, showing Jesus as always moving; he's communicating what Jesus did, to show us what WE are to do.

We had no interest in God before he called us. Like a leper, we were outside the camp. But we came to realize our condition and came to him. God reached out and took us as his own! His purity cleansed us! This is what we are called to do as the church. We must lay a foundation for those around us, and for the generations after us, making disciples of the nations.

The early church overtook the pagan holiday of Saturnalia, and replaced it with a celebration of Christ; the church can sanctify a sinful institution!

Are you unsaved? Jesus embraces lepers; come to him. Don't clean yourself up first. As he cleanses us, we become lighter and lighter, more free in him!