Day 3
Mark 1:35-45; ministry in Galilee
Charles Umphress
Part 1 of 2
Sunday my wife told me I should sign up for a passage one day this week. I'm pretty sure where this devotion led me is not what my wife, or even my pastor, envisioned when he requested people to share some thoughts about the scriptures. God has been showing me some really great things recently. Every morning I read my Bible over breakfast. I usually eat breakfast alone because everyone else, including the dog, is still asleep. Recently the French-speaking people I know, both at work and at church, have been encouraging me to learn more French. I decided to listen to the Louis Segond 1910 French translation (“LS”) while I follow along in the English Standard Version (“ESV”). This has truly been an amazing experience. There are a lot of French words we use in English. However, following two different Bible translations at the same time is a new perspective. I see things like I have never understood them before. Out of the 11 verses in this text, I want to explain 5 points. You should read through today’s passage in your FIRST language before reading these explanations. I'll wait.
Now, look at v. 40. In the ESV, see the word “implore”? In the LS, the word is “suppliant”, with the same root as “supplication” in English. Do you get the same intensity and passion when you hear the word “supplication” as you do when you hear the word “implore”? I think about “implore” as a more serious level of request than “supplication”. It isn't a command; it’s a request. However, it is a different degree of request. If something is my choice and someone is trying to influence my decision, they may ask, which is how I think of supplication (same root as suppliant). If they IMPLORE me, maybe to them this is a life-or-death discussion and my decision will have huge consequences for them. When my wife and I decided to move, it had huge implications on the lives of our teenage children. It wasn't their decision, but like all decisions of parents, it impacted the children. Children always live with the choices of their parents. They might have “implored” us not to move.
Part 2 of 2
Look at v. 42. The ESV says “made clean”, but the LS says “purifié”. Made clean is what we do when we vacuum or take a shower. Purify is what we do when we sterilize bottles for the baby. Yes, it kind of means the same thing, but there just seems to be a difference of degree.
In v. 43, ESV says “sternly charged him”, but in the LS “sévères recommandations”. Severe recommendations seems to be a much stronger connotation than “sternly charged him”. Sternly charged him is what I tell my grandson when he is not supposed to eat dessert before dinner. He shouldn't do it, but it won't kill him. However, a severe recommendation might be to stay away from drugs or it will ruin your life and your eternity. Yes, it is a recommendation, you still have a choice, and you live with the consequences of your choice. The sad part is, others live with the consequences of your bad choices too.
In v. 44, the ESV translates “priest”, but LS “sacrificateur”. This word looks very much like the English word sacrifice, or the one who sacrifices. I have never thought about the word “priest” meaning “one who sacrifices”. Have you ever heard men are supposed to be the priests of their home? Have you ever heard men are supposed to sacrifice for their home, for their wife, for their family? That is a whole different paradigm in modern English, and the modern world.
Lastly, look at v. 45. The ESV translates to “spread the news”, but the LS translates to “divulguer”. Google translates “divulguer” as “to divulge”. You probably already figured that out. The connotations are much different for “divulge”. Divulge usually means to tell something you were supposed to keep quiet. We divulge secrets, and that is exactly what this man did.
The leper implored Jesus to heal him. Jesus purified the leper, but then made a severe recommendation to keep it to himself and give the appropriate sacrifice to the priest. The consequences for divulging the secret the leper was implored to keep cost Jesus dearly. Jesus could no longer enter the towns nearby and tell them of the good news.
