Luke 5:12-26 - I am willing be cleansed.

Introduction

Please stand and read with me the Word of God to us today.

Romans 7:14–15 CSB

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold as a slave under sin. For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate.

Romans 7:24 CSB

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

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Sin is like a festering wound of the heart that is deeply infected and sending the infection to the rest our bodies, then others, our community, nation, and the world.

A disease so infectious that it passes from one victim to the other in every way a human experiences reality, smell, touch, sight, and hearing.

The disease of sin hides behind the very things we desire not realizing that one bite to fulfill our lust, hunger, anger, pride, and every other human desire will kill us.

This disease also entices us to continue in the behavior and thoughts that will lead us to death. Enticing us to forget about or diseased soul by partaking in the very thing that will inflict new wounds and infection.

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TODAY LUKE SHARES WITH US TWO HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF JESUS BUT WITHIN EACH OF THESE STORIES LUKE PURPOSEFULLY PAINTS A RICH THEOLOGY OF THE SAVING WORK OF JESUS.

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OUR LEPROSY AND THE HEALING BALM OF THE CROSS OF JESUS

Luke 5:12–14 NASB95

While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him. And He ordered him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

LEPROCY LEFT PEOPLE IN A DIRE STATE FEW EVER FOUND A WAY OUT OF.

Fleshly sores that ate away at the flesh and rotted all tissue.

Easily passed from one person to another through contact with the infection.

Excommunicated to Gehenna / Trash burning, etc.

JESUS’S HEALING OF THIS MAN ACCOMPLISHED MORE THAN WE MIGHT REALIZE.

Healing of the body / reconciliation with family and community / able to worship with community / able to provide for family.

When Jesus healed this man he also healed the entire family and community.

BUT LUKE WANTS YOU TO SEE MORE AND HE GIVES US A HINT.

Luke 5:14 NASB95

And He ordered him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

LUKE WANTS US TO SEE HOW THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS WERE POINTED TO BY THE LAW OF GOD.

Ceremonial cleansing of the one infected by lepercy (Lev 14:2-7)

2 doves / Earthen clay jar filled with water from a spring or river (living water) / Cedar wood / Scarlet yarn/ Hyssop

Sacrifice one dove over the living water in the clay jar -

Clay jar - human, Living Water - Spirit of God in the Human body,

Sacrifice of one bird, blood in the jar - Blood and water flowed from jesus side.

Living bird, cedar wood, hyssop, tied together by scarlet yarn - sprinkled blood and water 7 times. Fully clean.

Jesus hung on a wooden cross, blood and water flowed out of him

for our cleansing and removal of sin - salvation.

Second bird is released - resurrection of Jesus

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THE CRUSIFIXION OF JESUS IS THE HEALING BALM OF OUR SOUL SIN.

SIN LIKE LEPERCY EATS WAY AT OUR SOUL, MIND, AND EVEN BODY.

THE SACRIFICE AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS THE CURE TO SIN

HIS RESURRECTION IS THE CURE FROM DEATH!

LIKE THE LEPER, WHEN WE ARE CLEANSED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, WE ARE SPIRITUALLY HEALED, RECONCILED TO GOD AND HIS CHURCH, AND THE SAINTS OF OLD. WE ARE RESTORED TO AN ANCIENT FAMILY!

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THE HEALING OF THE SOUL STARTS WITH GOD PRONOUNCING US FORGIVEN.

Luke 5:20–26 NASB95

Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? “But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—He said to the paralytic—“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.” Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Luke is making the point of Jesus as not simply a human messiah but the Son of Man.

Daniel 7:13–14 NASB95

“I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.

Jesus can forgive sins because He is God and Man.

He feels our pains, sufferings, and temptations as a Human.

As God he defeats our temptations and is able to pronounce forgiveness.

But there is more to this story.

Why did Jesus forgive this man? Not all illnesses are from personal sin?

Jesus understood the heart of the man, while the friends only understood the physical pain of the man.

Jesus saw the sin, the inability of the man to make sacrifice and worship.

Jesus saw in this man, a desire to be healed so he may worship and confess his sins.

Luke 5:25 NASB95

Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.

Not only was he healed but his soul had had a great weight and burden lifted. He was forgiven - God had restored Him.

The miracle of healing was no more a miracle than being forgiven by God and restored to God as pure.

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CONCLUSION

Non-saved

Today, I offer you the opportunity to expereince the forgiveness of God, and the healing of our mortal wounds to your soul.

If today, you are here, separated from God, knowing your soul is sick and diseased with sins. If you desire freedom, forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing, then today, I offer you Jesus.

Come to the altar - step out in faith to him. Leave your shame, fear, and pride behind and publically come to Jesus.

If like the leper, you know in your heart Jesus is the cure you are in need of He will forgive and heal you.

Romans 10:9–11 NASB95

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

Child of God in sin.

There may well be some of you here today who are children of God, reconciled by Jesus but, you too have fallen prey to the temptations of sin. Over time your heart has been paralyzed, unable to respond to worship like you once did, burdened by sin.

He is saying come to me and let me forgive and heal you.

Revelation 3:19–22 NASB95

‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

JESUS TODAY IS SAYING TO SOME OF YOU, COME TO ME, LET ME HEAL YOU, FORGIVE YOU, AND MAKE YOU A SON OR DAUGHTER.