Gospel for the Outsiders

What is gospel? The word “gospel” simply means “good news.”  It is the good news of what God has done in Jesus Christ. It refers to the ministry of Jesus Christ and the redemption that he provided on the cross. Jesus’ mission was mostly focused on the Galilean regions. The majority of the population there were ordinary people. Among them, he shared the gospel. He walked with them. He ate with them. In fact, he shared communion with people who lived on the margin. Many people, including lepers, were healed by him. In Mark 1:40–45, Jesus heals a leper by touching him. It was unthinkable to touch a leper. It was against social standards to touch a leper. But when Jesus saw the leper, he was moved with compassion. He could have used his words to heal him. Why did he touch the leper?  He was attempting to establish a relationship with him by touching him. Jesus’ compassionate response reveals His supernatural power and willingness to heal, proving that no one is outside the scope of His grace. In society, lepers were viewed as outsiders. But Jesus restored him and enabled him to integrate into society. It was a life-changing event for the leper, a new beginning for him. It was a journey from the periphery to the center. In a way, we might consider Christian ministry as something where we reach out to the margins in order to bring people to the center. But who will reach the margins? It’s challenging.