The One

Jesus has just given us the greatest sermon ever given. Its destroyed any dependence on the law and what real righteousness looks like in the life of a worshipper. It looks impossible without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Even then its a battle with the flesh.

No one can really live the Sermon on the Mount until they are born again; the Sermon on the Mount is impossible to the natural man or woman.

Children of God, 12

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)

For us today, lets see what the section we are in has for us today.

Matthew 7:28–8:4 “ And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 8:1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.””

Now if we have time, we’ll look at the other two instances of healing because like this one, they speak to the power/authority Jesus showed us so much more than healing in these narratives. We spoke of how terrifying the verses right before this were, because Jesus has this power.

Matthew 7:24–27 “ “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.””

To deny or disobey the Words of Jesus, is to rebel against God or Yahweh. And comes at a steep, severe price.

So lets check out our text today, first, the sermon ends but the lessons do not. Even Jesus actions in life teach us who He is, what we should do.

Matthew 7:28–29 “ And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

you could also read sayings, logus in greek, as messages! So when Jesus ended these messages.

They were astonished, ekplesso, to be greatly astounded, greatly amazed, to be overwhelmed. Like many the first time they saw Elvis, or your first fan game of football, etc.

His message was a didache: teaching, instruction, and thats what we are doing today. We are bringing you a message that indicates that these healings are again signs that God is seeking to establish the authority that Christ had and how he taught obedience to the law.

When the rulers sent men to take Jesus, after listening they came back and said, John 7:46 “ The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!””

The crowd was overwhelmed because Jesus taught and walked like the Word made flesh, not like a common person or the other rabbis, priests, etc. The scribes always quoted others defining. Its so common that they see the authority of the scriptures according to perceived authority - exousia the right to rule or govern over. The rabbis are the source of meaning not the torah itself. Many Jews today say the same. Not the scriptures say, but my rabbi says…but Jesus often says, Matthew 5:43–44 “ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” indicating He has that power.

So the next 3 healings we see are signs not just “healing”. 1 Corinthians 1:22 “ For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;” This is why its not always good to get your teaching from a tv show ;-) Lets see how Jesus practices this.

Matthew 8:1–2 “ When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.””

(Also Mark 1:40-44; Luke 5:12–14) The crowds are sticking close. To see a miracle, to catch a glimpse of this one at work. To see a sign. What they see is

A Leper. No matter the type of infection, its defined in the text as lepros - one with a skin disease. now the law of the disease is in Leviticus 13:1–46 - which describes in detail that Leviticus 13:45–46 “ “Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ 46 He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.”

the leper worshipped - prosekynei - prostrated, kneeled as to a better. No doubt because of his healing but also because many called him, Messiah. King.

not a demand but an entreating - begging - if you are willing make me the opposite of my cry, Unclean, Unclean. He doesn't deny his disease, he testifies to the world his failing. And he goes to the only one capable of healing, God in the flesh, Jesus Christ. The same and only one that can heal us of sin and therefore, death. And we must see we are by our sin, unclean. Unworthy of salvation but crying out If you are willing…

Matthew 8:3 “ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

When we cry out to him in faith, jesus if he wills it, instantly heals. When we trust in jesus for our salvation, believing he died for our sins and rose from the dead, when we want to be free from sin, he instantly heals (saves).

Thats why when the bible refers to our salvation it is in past tense. We don’t earn our way, He did it all. We just change our addresses.

Matthew 8:4 “ And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.””

Since Christ has not died and risen they are still “under the law”. And Jesus reminds the leper, he still has something to do. When folks think Jesus bucked the system, He never disobeyed the Law, he was the law.

dont turn - but the process for cleansing of the leper was Leviticus 14:1–32 - Leviticus 14:1–4 “ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “This shall be the law of the leper for the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest. 3 And the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall examine him; and indeed, if the leprosy is healed in the leper, 4 then the priest shall command to take for him who is to be cleansed two living and clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop.” and its a complicated/involved process after that.

because leprosy spreads so the law makes sue those being checked are clean and whole to not infect the camp (people).

The testimony returns the leper back to life, back to the people. They are set free from their disease. Going from separation and certain death, to life amongst the living again.

So to summarize, Jesus shows His power/authority every time he comes on the scene. Everything he says and does establishes His right to rule not just as messiah, but king of kings, lord of lords, Almighty God, Prince of Peace.

His healing now, in the salvation he bestows upon us, is another sign. The holy spirit indwelling us, a sign of our salvation, is another testimony that he heals even now!