Mark 1_35-45

Title: The Lord of the Leper

Text: Mark 1:35-45

Intro: A man had a terribly lengthy surgery. It was expensive and the results weren’t very promising. He went to his doctor for the post-op visit, and the doc said, “Well, I have some sad news for you.. You’re not going to live more than six months.” And the man says, “Good night, doc. It’s gonna take me a year just to pay you back what I owe you."And the doc said, “Well, I’ll give you a year then.”

Jesus encounters a man with leprosy and incurable disease – now a physician during this time would say there isn’t any thing I can do for you. In fact the Bible doesn’t have much to say about curing lepers only cleansing them. It was thought that if one had leprosy it was a direct result of God punishment for sin – remember Miriam – struck with Leprosy –

CPS: But Jesus is no physician – He is the LORD and we will see Jesus’ Power over leprosy, power over sin and see a side of His humanity.

Vs. 35 -39 These verses represent one of those intimate glimpses into the life of the LORD. We see His secret of His ministry. Notice that early in the morning, while it was still dark. Jesus walks out into the desert place to pray and lift His heart to God. Jesus, our example, began His day with the Father. Private time with God prepares us for public time with people. Jesus was not disturbed by the interruption of Simon. He didn’t get His direction from men; He got His day’s assignment from God. Just ahead, Jesus would encounter a man with a hurt that only heaven could heal.

The condition of the Leper Vs. 40

40 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.

His disease

What is Leprosy/ how do you get it/ how is it seen?

Cut off from community -

Couldn’t Worship corporately –

He was in Bad shape – didn’t belong – rejected – “unclean” “unclean”

The Leper was Desperate – He had nowhere to turn to

But, he had heard of Jesus Vs. 39 - And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

He had heard of the One who he could turn too! Jesus

His desire

Beseeching Jesus – Calling to Jesus – If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

He wanted to be clean!

It was earnest and desperate—imploring Him.

2. It was reverent—kneeling down to Him.

3. It was humble and submissive—“If You are willing.” I don’t deserve this but if you are

4. It was believing—“You can.” - Faith

5. It acknowledged need—“make me clean.” – He understood his condition

6. It was specific—not “bless me” but “make me clean.”

7. It was personal—“make me clean.”

8. It was brief—five words in the original.

His desire was to be made whole, healed, so he could stand in community with people and worship God corporately!

Ill. What Leprosy did to this man, separated him from people…… Sin does to us, separates us from God!

App. What are you desperately in need of? Search you heart….. your deepest desire is what?

You may not realize this…. But our deepest need, desire is God!

What is evident of His existence is with in us…. Romans 1:19

Revealed to us through Nature….. therefore we are without excuse!

Friends…. we are in desperately in need of God……. In and of ourselves we are unclean and we need to be made clean and whole….. Only God can to do this

The only way to God is through God the Son!

I need thee oh I need thee every hour I need thee, oh bless me now my savior! I come to thee

He came to Jesus - What did the Leper say; simply …… If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

Transition: Friends, Jesus is willing

The compassion of the Lord. Vs. 41-42

41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

Personal

Moved with Compassion – Sympathy from His inner parts – caring – concern Mark Catches a picture of Jesus Humanity (?)

To see and experience as a human what sin has done to His creation had to have broken His heart

Have you ever seen someone and be moved with compassion?

When I see the homeless I am moved with compassion –

Ill. Paducah Kentucky – family / women with three small kids, the ages of my sons at that time -holding a sign saying HUNGRY – pizza and drinks – the gratitude – you can often tell when someone is genuine and when someone is playing you.

How often are we moved and do nothing about it?

Not Jesus! Jesus acted!

put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will

Leprosy was spread through contact but this didn’t deter Jesus

Jesus understood - A person’s outward condition did not make one unclean; rather that which proceeds from the heart determines one’s standing before God (think about that – successful looks clean but could be just a dirty inside as the leper was on the outside – 3rd John Gaius??)

This man’s plea was one of simple faith…… make me whole LORD

Jesus simply touched him saying “I am willing”

Jesus is more willing to heal than we are to be healed.

Powerful

Jesus bent down and touched this man

And as soon as He uttered the words “I will” the leprosy left the Man

Immediately (Eutheos) – At once – straightway

Ill. The power of Jesus….. the voice that caused all creation to come into being…. That told nothing to do something and it did

The voice that said…. Let there be light

Simply said I will.

App. Are you in need of being healed?

Are you separated from God by your sin?

Jesus is willing to heal you, the utterance of Jesus the Christ will heal you.

Romans 10:17 – word of Christ

Come to Him in faith, “Jesus” save my soul…. He will say “I will” …… curing you from an uncurable disease…. Sin.

You might be saved… but you have sin lurking at your door, it may be sin you hold on to in secret… Pornography… Homosexual lust… adultery…. It may be you are so caught up in life that you haven’t anytime for Jesus…… Lay it at the feet of the All Caring All powerful One….. Jesus….. He is willing… you must walk away from it

The command of the Law Vs. 43-45

The type

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus said “don’t tell anyone” but go obey the Law, go to the priest and present yourself to be clean.

he had to undergo a complicated ceremony of restoration which is described in Leviticus 13-14.

He was examined by the priest, a sacrifice 2 birds he is sprinkled with the blood of the dead bird 1 bird flies off, shave of all his hair (beard, eye brows, hair etc) wash himself and clothes – wait 7 days, be re-examined – another sacrifice was made 2 unblemished lambs ( sin offering and guilt offering) – a grain offering – touched on his right ear, right thumb, and right big toe with oil and blood – then re-examined and if clear of Leprosy he was given a certificate that he was clean.

This ritual is a picture of Jesus’ atoning work

The Pharisee and Scribes would say Jesus broke the Law,…… It was unheard of to touch someone with Leprosy….. Remember they had to announce “Unclean” Unclean”……. According to the Law it would have made Jesus unclean…… Intentionally unclean

But Jesus is Perfect Righteousness, he tells the man to present himself to the priest – He didn’t come to break the Law but to fulfill the Law.

It’s interesting what the man does next, he had been cut off from people, the temple, synagogue….. you would think he would be excited about going to the priest to be pronounced clean.

Show the priest, let the certificate they give you be the testimony of you being healed.

Only 3 people had been healed of Leprosy in the Scriptures –

Moses (exodus 4:6-7 put hand in cloak)

Miriam (Num. 12:10 – Aaron and Miriam speak out against Moses – Moses prayed)

Naaman (2nd Kings 5 – Commander of the army of Aram – Elisha)

This would have been a huge testimony to the fact that he had ben cured!

He had found something better than the Temple, Synagogue, or priest, He had found the Lord of Lords, the almighty

The testimony

He went out and publish it much vs. 45

Illustration: If you had the cure for Cancer or HIV/Aids wouldn’t you share it with the world?

He spread the news around saying “look at me” “look at me” once I had to pronounce “unclean” “unclean” “but now look at me, I am clean”

Leprosy is uncurable, the 3 examples earlier were healed by God!

The man should have obeyed Jesus and offered the testimony to them because Jesus had told him too.

This man running around shouting at the top of his lungs, look what Jesus did for me, should be a picture for us.

“Look at me Look at me I once was in bondage but now I’m set free.”

Word had spread around so that Jesus couldn’t even go into towns or villages but had to stay in the desolate places……

You ask why didn’t Jesus want him to speak openly?

He didn’t come to earth to put on shows of miracles for people. To heal people of their physical ailments

Vs. 39 tells us… He came to preach salvation…. The Kingdom of God is at hand

He came for redemptive purposes to offer His life as a ransom in order that you can be cleansed from sin.

There is only one ingredient that can cleanse from sin. That’s the blood of Jesus.

Men say, Dear Lord, my sins are deep. The Lord says, my blood goes deeper.

Oh, but, Lord, my sins have gone too far. He says, my blood has gone farther.

Oh, but, Lord, my sins are strong. Jesus says my blood is stronger.

App. The blood of Jesus is sufficient… it is the only way one can be cleaned from sin

Have you been washed in the blood of Jesus!

DO we understand how dirty we are and how desperate we are in need of cleansing?

Do we see others in need of cleansing from sin and are we moved with compassion to tell them how they can be cleansed.

Transition: What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Conclusion: Jesus is Lord of the Leper

1st point is true – There was a man with Leprosy who desired to be healed by Jesus

2nd point is true – Jesus was moved with compassion and acted with power healing the man

3rd point is true – The testimony of the man, Jesus cleansed me.

Then this conclusion must be true- Jesus is Lord of the Leper.

Not just the Leper but LORD of ALL.

Lord of all or not at all “Amen”

Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation, Lord of Sanctification,

Filled with compassion and having the power to save.

Have you been cleansed? Do you want to be cleansed? Jesus made it possible. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Just simply ask Him, cleanse me of my sin.

Invitation: Invite to be saved

Invite to search hearts - 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: 24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Ps 139:23–24