A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.” But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him. When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” Mark‬ ‭1:40 – 2:5‬ (nlt)

I can’t seem to help being curious as to what Jesus’ earthly ministry might have looked like if ‘people’ obeyed, in this instance, if the leper had obeyed and let his life testify to the healing instead of ‘proclaiming to everyone what had happened’ – if the leper had allowed himself to be ‘examined’ and simply let his life testify to the healing Jesus performed. Numbers didn’t seem to be Jesus’ game – as a matter of fact it says above, ‘As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places…’ 

I wonder about this same question today. What if we simply loved the Lord and let our lives testify… allowed The Priest to examine our hearts, giving Him full access to purify as He saw necessary. 

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. -1 Peter‬ ‭3:15‬ (nlt)

I am genuinely curious what it would look like if we didn’t busy ourselves with answering questions that were never asked. Humans are inevitably drawn to a ‘show’, and I believe Jesus knew this – He wants to reveal God to us – but He is so much more than a show. The show many times distracts us from Him; Jesus addresses this in the Book of John: Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.” -John‬ ‭6:26-27‬ (nlt) The miraculous signs are to reveal the Father in a way that we might know Him better, so we may draw closer to Him. It’s always about relationship. And this is real and eternal life: that they know you, the one and only True God…” John 17 (msg)

Now this being said, Praise Jesus that His ability to fulfill His promises is not based on our perfection… but He will perfect us/heal our very souls…  Praise for the Hope in this Truth! Jesus, crowded and not being obeyed, still blesses the people by revealing God’s Goodness through the paralyzed man. That’s the kind of God we have… this is the kind of Love that He will fill each of us with. This is Hope.