Jesus forgave sins.

Mark2:5 “When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”(Mark2:1-4 tells the whole story of the man being let down through the roof.) (Also Matthew 9:2 and Luke 5:17-20)

Even though forgiveness of sins is not in my job description, I can follow Jesus example when I forgive others. The dispensing of consequences is not in my job description either. I can do myself a favor when I learn from my experiences, remove myself from harmful situations and then forgive those who hurt me.

In Mark chapter two where this scripture is found it is unclear to whom the house belongs. It leaves me to wonder, did Jesus allow his own home to be broken into?
 

Jesus prayed alone.

Luke 5:16 “And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.”

He took time to commune with God without distraction. He took time to be by Himself. He withdrew from others. I like seeing this as an example of Jesus taking time for Himself; taking time to attend to the needs of His soul and making spiritual refreshment a priority. Sometimes when I am hiking, I take the opportunity of being alone to pray. I am glad that I have this scripture to show me that this too is following Jesus’ example.  

Jesus asked the leper to say nothing.

Mark1:43-45 “And he straitly charged him, (the leper) and forthwith sent him away: And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But he went out and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places; and they came to him from every quarter.( Also Matthew 8:4 and Luke 5:14-16)

He asked the leper to help him keep his low profile so he could more easily do his work. Jesus did what God asked Him to do when He asked Him to do it and it was not yet time for Him to be well known. I can do what Jesus did when I ask others for what I need.
 

Jesus healed a leper out of compassion.

Mark 1:40-42 “And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will: be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.” (Also Luke 5: 12-13 and Matthew 8:2-3)

What “wilt” I do? Every day we get to choose what we will and will not do. When we are following Jesus’ example, we will do our best to be compassionate and do what we can for others. Even if what we can do is small, we should not let us stop that from doing what we can. I recently observed the opening of wedding gifts. Big or small the gifts all added up and soon, a young couple was prepared with the tools they needed to start their lives together. I am reminded of the saying, “I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everyth