Mark 1:40–45 (NKJV) — 40Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”41Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 44and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”45However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

I’ve often thought that these verses were somewhat overlooked by Christians because most pay no attention to the fact that the leper failed to obey what Jesus told him. After all, many came to Him in the deserted place. But why would Jesus tell the man not to say anything to anyone, and strictly warn him? I believe the answer is what we saw yesterday. He needed to preach in the other towns. Now He could no longer do what He desired to do, and the gospel was hindered because of the disobedience of one man supernaturally healed of leprosy.