Mar 1:40-45 | TNotes | STEP | 1:40 Leprosy refers to a number of skin diseases (or even mildew in a building). An infected person was considered unclean and was ostracized from family and society (Lev 13:45-46 ; Num 12:9-12 ; 2 Chr 26:16-21 ; Luke 17:12 ).

1:40 ^a Leprosy refers to a number of skin diseases (or even mildew in a building). An infected person was considered unclean and was ostracized from family and society (Lev 13:45-46 ^b; Num 12:9-12 ^c; 2 Chr 26:16-21 ^d; Luke 17:12 ^e).
1:41 ^f Jesus’ willingness to touch a ceremonially unclean leper reflects the new order of the Kingdom of God (1:15 ^g; 5:25-34 ^h; Luke 7:36-50 ⁱ; see Matt 10:8 ^j; 11:5 ^k).
Summary for Mark 1:43-45: 1:43-45 ^l Jesus told the man to go to the priest to certify his healing and to make the appropriate sacrificial offering. This would be the public testimony of his healing.

• Despite Jesus’ stern warning, ... the man went and spread the word, so that Jesus was not able to go into town but had to preach in more secluded places. Jesus’ fame could not be confined as people from everywhere came to see him (3:7-8 ^m).

Thematic note: Following Jesus
One of the core purposes of the Gospels is to help readers understand and accept the call to take up their cross and follow Jesus. This call is addressed not only to those who would be Jesus’ apostles (Mark 3:13-19 ⁿ; cp. 1:16-20 ^o; 2:14 ^p) but to all who desired to follow him (Mark 8:34 ^q; cp. 2:15 ^r; 10:21 ^s, 52 ^t). For some, the call to discipleship is very hard (Mark 10:17-25 ^u), but God provides grace (10:27 ^v). Others find it easy to respond to Jesus’ call (Mark 2:14 ^w; cp. Luke 7:36-50 ^x).
For everyone, following Jesus requires a total commitment to turn from selfish ways (Mark 8:34-35 ^y). Taking up one’s cross is a metaphor for giving up one’s life to follow Jesus—even to death. For example, Peter, Andrew, James, and John left their homes and their source of income to follow Jesus (Mark 1:16-20 ^z). For one rich man, turning from his selfish ways required selling all he had and giving the proceeds to the poor (Mark 10:21 ^aa). Following Jesus also means being identified with him without being ashamed and being faithful to him and his teachings (Mark 8:38 ^ab; cp. Rom 10:9 ^ac). It requires removing anything that would interfere with following Jesus, regardless of how painful doing so might be (Mark 9:43-48 ^ad). It requires entrusting one’s life entirely to Jesus and repenting of sin (Mark 1:15 ^ae; 6:12 ^af). It even requires putting loyalty to Jesus above loyalty to one’s own father and mother (Matt 10:37 ^ag; Luke 14:26 ^ah).
Jesus explicitly commanded his disciples to proclaim his message (Matt 28:18-20 ^ai; Luke 24:47-49 ^aj; Acts 1:8 ^ak). And we see throughout the rest of the New Testament that Jesus’ followers did indeed proclaim the Good News wherever they went, leading to more and more followers (see Acts 2:14-41 ^al; 3:12-26 ^am; 4:1-2 ^an, 20 ^ao; 8:4 ^ap; 9:20 ^aq; 11:19-26 ^ar; 13:1-3 ^as; Rom 1:1-16 ^at; 10:14-15 ^au; 15:18-21 ^av; 1 Cor 9:16 ^aw; Col 1:23 ^ax; 1 Thes 2:9 ^ay; 2 Tim 4:2 ^az).
Alongside Jesus’ demands for discipleship are the rewards of following Jesus. Those who follow Jesus are promised entrance into the Kingdom of God (Mark 9:43-48 ^ba; 10:23-31 ^bb). They receive his forgiveness for their sins (Mark 2:10-11 ^bc; see also 3:28 ^bd; 11:25 ^be), and they become members of the family of God (John 1:12 ^bf). They are saved from judgment (Mark 8:35 ^bg; 13:13 ^bh) and obtain eternal life (Mark 9:43 ^bi; 10:29-30 ^bj; 1 Jn 5:11-12 ^bk).

Passages for Further Study
Hos 6:3 ^bl; Matt 10:37-39 ^bm; 28:18-20 ^bn; Mark 1:15-20 ^bo; 2:14-15 ^bp; 3:13-15 ^bq; 5:18-20 ^br; 6:6-13 ^bs, 30-32 ^bt; 8:34-38 ^bu; 9:38-50 ^bv; 10:17-31 ^bw; 11:22-25 ^bx; 13:9-13 ^by; Luke 14:25-35 ^bz; 24:47-49 ^ca; John 8:12 ^cb; 10:27 ^cc; 12:26 ^cd; Acts 1:8 ^ce; 2:42-47 ^cf; 4:16-20 ^cg; 8:4 ^ch; 9:19-30 ^ci; 11:19-24 ^cj; 13:1-3 ^ck; Rom 1:1-16 ^cl; 10:7-15 ^cm; 1 Cor 9:16 ^cn; Eph 5:1 ^co; Col 1:23 ^cp; 2 Tim 4:2 ^cq; 1 Pet 2:21 ^cr