Articles
The Gift
Have you ever gotten a gift that you just couldn’t wait to tell everyone about? I know as a
child I was always excited to go to school after Christmas and talk to my friends about the
different toys we had received. I was excited about what I had gotten.
The New Testament gives us just such an example. And a leper came to Jesus,
beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can
make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and
said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, and He said to him, “See that you
say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what
Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and
to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but
stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere (Mark 2:40-45
).
Jesus heals the man and warns him to tell no one. Does the man listen? No, he wants to
share this good news with everyone he meets. What Jesus did for him was life changing. Not
only was he made well, he could return home and be around other people.
Now compare that to yourself. What has Jesus done for you? If you are a Christian, his
blood has saved you. Your sins have been forgiven, you have a promise of a new body, and a
heavenly home with the Savior. We have received an even greater gift than did the man
described in Mark. Are you excited about sharing this news with others? Shouldn’t you be?
~B Tolbert
