Today's Gospel in Art - Say nothing to anyone

Jesus Heals the Leper, by Ann Lukesh, 2014 © Ann Lukesh Artist

Gospel of 14th February 2021 - Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: 'If you want to' he said 'you can cure me.' Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. 'Of course I want to!' he said. 'Be cured!' And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, 'Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.' The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.

Reflection on the Painting

After Jesus performs a miracle, He often says to the healed person 'say nothing to anyone'. But time and time again, that very person actually does the very thing he/she is asked not to do! It must mean that they were so overwhelmed by gratitude, they couldn't hold back. They simply had to tell everyone they had been healed. Our leper today became a disciple, by spreading the word about Jesus. He bore witness to Jesus' goodness.

Why did Jesus instruct the people He healed not to tell anyone? Probably two reasons. Firstly, if Jesus' miracles were widely known they would attract so much attention and create so much excitement with the crowds that His movements would be restricted. But I think Jesus' main concern might have been that if people were too much attracted to Him only for the sake of the miracles He performed, then that could become a distraction from the more important aspect of his ministry: the ministry of the Word. The crowds would not be interested in the Truth that Jesus came to teach, but rather be seduced into having their senses dazzled by seeing a miracle.

Our painting by Ann Lukesh portrays the intimacy with which Jesus performed the healings. It was a special, unique moment between Him and the healed person. No crowds present. And I guess therein lies the answer to our question: the substance of Jesus' ministry was compassion, not power and spectacle.

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/701
Christian Art - www.christian.art/index.php