We note, also, his cleansing (1:41-43):

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. (1:41)

In all probability, some people there were moved with criticism: "Of all the nerve! A man like that! Coming to Christ indeed! He should be ashamed of himself! He ought to be stoned. He's a public menace." But Jesus was moved with compassion. He was able to identify Himself with the unhappy man whose life had been so ruined and ravaged by this "stroke of God." He would touch him, transform him, and, thereafter, forever identify him with Himself.

The whole scene is a microcosm of the plan of salvation. It was the Lord's infinite compassion and wondrous saving power that made "so great salvation" possible. He touched this wretched man. That was love in action. Not since he became known as a leper had anyone deliberately touched him.

There was something else too. Jesus "saith unto him, I will; be thou clean." That was "the word of his power" (Heb. 1:3). Who else but God could speak worlds into being, command light to shine, or order the distribution of land or sea (Gen. 1)? Who else but God could command a leper to be clean? This was

. . . the same Almighty word Chaos and darkness heard, And took their flight . . .

in the early dawn of time. Only now "the Word was made flesh," and Deity was robed in Humanity. "I will!" Jesus said, "Be clean." Just like that!

And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. (1:42)

Throughout his gospel, Mark seems to have been impressed by the swiftness with which the Lord's commands were obeyed. He spoke! It was done! There was no long and painful surgery; no protracted convalescence; no extended course of treatment; no stretched-out regime of therapy, exercise, and diet; and no medicine to be taken four times a day for months on end. There was instant cleansing for the leper, instant cure for the diseased, instant life for the dead, instant sight for the blind, and instant expulsion of demons. And there was instant cancellation of sin.

That is the difference between religion and regeneration. Religion has an agenda. It calls for meritorious good works, for fasts and flagellation, for rites and rituals, for penance and pilgrimages, for sacrifices and self-denials, for priests and payments. But religion never yet cleansed a leper or gave a guilty conscience peace.

Such is religion. All religions are born of human ingenuity, philosophy, and wisdom, and all religions are the same — salvation must be earned, purchased by good work. By contrast, regeneration (what John and Peter call "the new birth") is instantaneous, miraculous, and eternal. "As soon as he had spoken," says Mark, "immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed."