When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
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After Jesus gave His Sermon on the Mount, crowds followed Him, amazed at His teaching with an authority they'd not seen before. As a reader, I know what is the source of His authority. It is God in the form of the Holy Spirit empowering Jesus and speaking through Him. When God speaks, hearts are moved.
One man with leprosy must have believed Jesus had the authority to heal with divine power. Likely he'd heard of Jesus healing in Capernaum. He'd come for healing and to hear Jesus teach about the kingdom of heaven. He approached Jesus, which had to be difficult. As a leper, he was bound by law to cry out, "Unclean! Unclean!" as he made his way in public.
Jesus took compassion on the man and healed him. I love Mark's telling of this story because traditionally English translations have used the word compassion to describe Jesus' response to the man. However more recent translations have a very different reaction.
Mark 1:40-42 NIV
A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
The 1984 version of the NIV said Jesus was filled with compassion, but the 2011 version says Jesus was indignant. Why the big difference?
My own thinking is to sell more bibles by providing a so called fresh translation. Book makers know bibles mean a steady cash flow because the bible is their number one seller by far year after year. When a particular translation's sales begin to slump, book sellers provide a new and improved translation or a new packaging of the same translation in a devotional bible, study bible, or other special kind of edition. I'm not alone in this opinion. (http://www.bible-researcher.com/
The Greek word in question in Mark 1:41 is splagchnizomai, which according to Strong's means:
"to be moved as to one's bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity)."
The footnote in the 2011 NIV says many other translations use compassion. There is no other explanation. Newer translations share this trend. A quick search of the translators notes also reveals nothing to warrant the change. I think controversy gets the market talking which means selling more books.
A possible interpretation of why Jesus felt indignant was that He was appalled at the disease, not the leper. Jesus came to call sinners back to God. Jews believed that those with disease were stricken by God because of their sins. Was Jesus indignant over the leper's sin? Or was He put out to be bothered by this man? The fact that Jesus was willing to touch an untouchable man shows that He wasn't put out or upset. He was compassionate. Any indignation was likely His disappointment that God's people lived with such brokenness, a brokenness He came to heal by ushering in the new creation.
For myself, the traditional reading is best. Jesus was filled with compassion. Matthew doesn't reveal this detail at all, so my going on about this word is my own curiosity and my own preference. In other words I'm as guilty as the NIV publishers for trying to make the bible say what I want it to say. Lol! (For more on this subject read: http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/
Jesus told the leper to not say anything and go to the priests for proof of healing. The Law of Moses provides a means of being released from a leprosy stigma. Jesus wants the man to be faithful to the covenant, as all Jews were bound to it. He also wants the man to be free of his marginalized role in society. He may now reenter society with full rights and privileges.
Jesus commanded the former leper to remain silent about his healing. It may be that He wanted him to be quick in His obedience to the law, not talking to others until he'd been officially cleared of leprosy. But it could also be that Jesus did not want to draw more attention to Himself unnecessarily. Large crowds were following Him. Even sending Him to the priests may have sent a message about Jesus' power to heal. Jesus, perhaps, needed to manage His time before His destiny with the cross. An undue amount of attention from Jerusalem might shorten His time on earth.
That's a popular interpretation and one I've usually adopted, but today I think it is merely that He wants the man to be quick in obedience to Moses and the covenant. He wants the man to have official clearance as soon as possible.
What is it that causes you to feel outside of society, marginalized like the leper? Sometimes I struggle with low self esteem. How might Jesus heal me and give me freedom from my self imposed stigma? The Law of Moses, or the New Testament does not teach me to see myself in low esteem. Of course before God humility is appropriate, but unhealthy shame is poison and not God's will.
Jesus would free us of all bondage, if we come seeking His divine authority to heal. He would free us because He loves us. He feels deeply in His bowls a compassion for His children. So come seeking the Lord's healing. If you are willing, so is He.
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