The testimony of Mark is another witness to us of Jesus Christ's life and ministry. Mark gives us an opportunity to view of the events, healings, parables and people surrounding Jesus through his own perspective that Jesus had power and authority!
Mark chapter 1:12-13 it reads...
12. And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.
13. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
In the footnotes it uses the JST(Mark 1:10-11) "And immediately the Spirit took him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, Satan seeking to tempt him; and was with"...the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
That sure makes it easier for me to understand. He was alone with Father in Heaven being taught and strengthened by angels! As the Son of God, Jesus came with power and authority. He taught the Scribes and Pharisees, the disciples, the ordinary people, the sinners, the sick and the tormented. He was thronged by those who believed.
In verse 40-42, a leper comes to Him..."And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." As I read this it was a tender moment for me. He came to the Savior...beseeching Him...kneeling down...pleading. Then came the sweet words of Jesus "I will; be thou clean."
If you will take a minute and change the words: Leper to Sinner and leprosy to sin, the meaning is powerful!
40. And there came a sinner to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
41. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
42. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the sin departed from him, and he was cleansed.
The whole mission of the Savior was to atone for our sins. Could we take a lesson from this exercise?
If we are willing to turn to God with earnest repentant hearts asking for him to cleanse us...he will!
Years ago we were Addiction Recovery Missionaries. We used the 12 step program with the power of the Atonement and the spiritual power of The Book of Mormon. I made a searching and fearless inventory of my life at that time, searching my memory of things I needed to clear out of my life and to repent. After I listed all the things I could think of I worked at asking forgiveness of or restoration to, those I had on my list. Then I took it to Heavenly Father, I went over my list and asked His forgiveness. Then I asked if He would help me remember all things that I had forgotten. It was an amazing experience. Heavenly Father did not give me a long overwhelming list of things to work on...just a few at a time. I worked on those things earnestly trying to make my life right with Heavenly Father and applying the atonement in my life. You cannot imagine the wonderful feeling you can have when you know your life is right with God. (If only we could keep our selves unspotted--going on a mission sure helps but it is a life long process.)
YES, I have a testimony of the cleansing power of the Atonement!
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