Mark 1:36-45 ▼

36 Simon [Peter] and his companions searched [everywhere, looking anxiously] for Him,

37 and they found Him and said, “Everybody is looking for You!”

38 He replied, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so I may preach there also; that is why I came [from the Father].”

39 So He went throughout Galilee, preaching [the gospel] in their synagogues and casting out demons.

40 And a leper came to Him, begging Him and falling on his knees before Him, saying, “If You are willing, You are able to make me clean.”

41 Moved with compassion [for his suffering], Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

42 The leprosy left him immediately and he was cleansed [completely healed and restored to health].

43 And Jesus [deeply moved] admonished him sternly and sent him away immediately,

44 saying to him, “See that you tell no one anything [about this]; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your purification what Moses commanded, as proof to them [that you are really healed].”

45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news [of his healing], to such an extent that Jesus could no longer openly enter a city [where He was known], but stayed out in the unpopulated places; yet people were still coming to Him from everywhere.