We Can Always Come To Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Open your bible with me to Luke 5:12-26.
12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. 17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
This is God’s word, let’s pray.
As kids, we played Hide and Seek and Tag without realizing their deeper meaning. In Hide and Seek, someone hides while another searches—like Adam and Eve hiding from God in Genesis 3, ashamed but still sought by Him. In Tag, being “it” spreads with a touch—like sin entering the world through Adam and spreading to all of us (Romans 5)."We’re not kids anymore, but that fear of hiding and carrying sin still affects how we come to Jesus today.
Remember the game cooties we used to play as kids? VERY STRANGE! If someone ‘had the cooties,’ no one wanted to be near them. You’d run, you’d scream, and you'd touch someone else just to be safe. The whole point was that the 'infected' kid became untouchable.
It was just a game. But in Jesus' time, people treated real human beings like that. Lepers were seen as unclean—physically, socially, and spiritually. They were cast out of communities, feared, and forgotten.
The man in Luke 5:12 wasn’t playing. He had a real disease. And yet, what did Jesus do? He touched him. No hesitation, no fear. Jesus didn’t catch what the man had—the man caught what Jesus had: healing.
And when Jesus healed the paralyzed man in the same chapter, He didn’t just fix his body—He forgave his sin. Jesus goes deeper than the surface. He reaches into the places we’re most ashamed of and says, ‘Be clean. Be forgiven. Get up and walk.’
But we’re not kids anymore, but the fear of being “untouchable” still lingers in us. We carry shame, guilt, and brokenness that keep us from coming to Jesus. We hesitate, afraid we’re too dirty or too far gone. Yet the gospel doesn’t change—Jesus moves toward us, not away. No matter how broken or stained we feel, He invites us to come, be healed, and be restored.
The gospel is this: no one is too unclean, too broken, or too far gone for Jesus. He doesn’t avoid the people with spiritual 'cooties.' He moves toward them. He moves toward us. And while also, invites us, as dirty, sinful, or broken as we may feel, to come to Christ for help!
Sermon Summary: No matter our condition, we can always come to Christ.
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I. Jesus Cleanses the Defiled (v.12-16)
I. Jesus Cleanses the Defiled (v.12-16)
Luke 5:12-16
12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
Jesus has just called his first disciples. Peter, James, and John. And now, Luke introduces us to a man with leprosy, who is interesting in the city. Leprosy was a skin disease. A very gross and nasty skin disease. It would affect the skin, so it was visible, but in the most severe forms, it would also affect the nerves and numb their sensitivity. But it was worse than that; in Israel, you were considered unclean and an outcast from society. The disease deprived victims not only of health but also of their names, occupations, social habits, families, fellowship, and worshiping communities.
45 “The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ 46 He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.
Lepers would live in isolation, and alone with a chronic and persistent disease. There was no cure, not much hope, only quarantine to keep the contagion at bay. And yet, here is a leper, in the city. And not just that, this guy wasn’t just at the beginning stages of the disease. It had taken over much of him. Dr. Luke tells us this man was FULL of LEPROSY. And I don’t think this is an accident. There is way in which, we could legitimately ask the question. What’s this guy doing? But I think the way that Luke has set this up for us is that Jesus had been performing miracles, there are crowds seeking him, begging him to stay, and interest in Jesus, but many walking away in doubt. And Luke is intentional to show us the power of Christ to heal and bring the kingdom of God and to restore.
And here is a leper, who it just feels like is doing whatever he has to do, to get near to Jesus, even if that means leaving quarantine and entering the city. Even if that means bearing the reproach and shame of his disease publicly, to come to Christ. He’s willing to do it. So he sees Jesus, falls down before Him, just like Peter did….He cries out to HIM, LORD, just like Peter does. HEAL ME!! Something is happening in this guy’s heart. He likely doesn’t mean Lord in the same way Peter does, but he clearly has a bead on Jesus that is more than just some teacher or some SIR! Rather, in complete desperation and need, HE comes fully and dependently to Christ for help and mercy! – LORD, if you are willing, YOU CAN MAKE ME CLEAN!
This would have likely been quite disturbing to see. To see a despised, unclean, rejected person in town covered in boils and rashes, crying out in the middle of town for healing. You could look at this guy and think, he’s breaking the law. He’s not even supposed to be here. And moreover, he’s got the judgment of God on him, in the form of a curse from God on his body. I mean, we all want something from Jesus, and who does this leper think he is. What’s he want Jesus to do for him? The leper isn’t clean. The leper isn’t worthy. The leper isn’t desirable, deserving. He’s actually the opposite. HE’s sin-filled, leper-filled, and defiled.
And then Jesus does the unthinkable. He says to the man, “I will be clean.” No, that would have been enough. But you see, Jesus did more than that, didn’t he? In that Jesus stretches out his hand and touches him, and speaks.
Touching a leper was forbidden. Not because the law forbids it, but because of the nature of the disease. To touch a leper meant a high likelihood of contamination. It was something no one dared do. And all throughout the law were warnings about not associating with anything unclean, lest the uncleanliness be transferred to you, and you become unclean. And yet, here is Jesus, touching the defiled, unclean leper and not becoming unclean, but healing him, completely!
Here we see the grace of Christ, in that he receives the unclean leper who enters the city and breaks the law. We see the mercy of Christ in listening to His cry for help. But we also see the compassion of Christ in reaching out to touch him, and the power of Christ to heal him! But more than heal him. Jesus restores him! He restores his body and restores his life in more ways than one. In that He is able to live, but also able to live in the community.
So Jesus says - 14 And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” And instructing Him to go to the priest, he was instructing him to go to the one person who could declare him clean within Israel, the Priest, almost like the public health inspector, if you will. But in going to the priest, already clean, the priest couldn’t take any credit for his healing. The priest couldn’t say, Well, let me tell you what I’ve done to help the man. Not at all; the priest could only verify the work of Jesus to heal and restore, and perform the necessary duty to restore him to society, as prescribed in Leviticus 14.
This brings about a dilemma that we’ve seen before. For witnesses of Jesus power and healing, not to speak of it. Of course, that doesn’t work. Word has been spreading and will continue spreading about Jesus. So much that Jesus often retreats to places of solace and solitude for prayer. You see that in Luke 5:15-16 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
So what are we to say about this healing? How is it that we can relate to this instance? The reality is that disease and infirmity of sin have defiled us. And in the same way, this leper was unclean and to be rejected from society. We, too, are unclean and defiled in our sin, and separated in our fellowship with God. Sin makes us unclean. Our depravity is a disfiguring disease that distorts the person God created us to be. This is why the bible describes us as dead in our trespasses and sins. This is why the Apostle Paul in Romans 7 describes himself in the flesh, and under the law of sin as a wretched man in need of rescue from bondage, corruption, and defilement.
And as a result, we too feel dirty. We feel unworthy. We feel like we are the untouchable. And that’s often where we live, right? We live reclused, at an arm’s distance. We live as one who is shunned, rejected, and defiled! That our sin has affected everything about us! It’s affected our physical bodies, its affect our relationships with others, and its affect our disposition toward the Lord. So much so, that we often hid, and run away from the Lord rather than to him in our need!
And yet, here is a man, who though he is unclean. Though, he is defiled. Though, he is an outcast. Is willing to cometo Jesus for help. And ask in faith, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. And in utter amazement, the Lord himself reaches down, touches him, and says, I’m willing – BE CLEAN!
And this man is a picture of our spiritual condition, and also pointing us to Christ in whom there is hope. A broken, sinful, and dejected man is willing to come to Christ in faith and receive restoration because it’s Jesus who brings healing and cleansing to the defiled. And when everything within us say, to run from God. He won’t receive me. He, too will reject me, that we instead come to Jesus in faith. And Jesus says, I will do it! Be clean! I will do it, and touches him! You’re healed.
It's almost like Luke is shouting, Jesus welcomes all who are willing to come to him in faith! Even the dirty. Even the defiled. Even the rejected, and unclean. They are welcome to come to Christ for healing.
The Apostle Paul says something similar – 1 Tim 1:15
15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
Paul’s point throughout that passage is not that he was deserving of grace, but that he wasn’t! And here is Jesus coming extending mercy and grace to the one who are defiled and rejected. He extends grace, mercy, and compassion on the weak, broken, and sinner. So Luke continues to show us and says in Luke 5:31-32
31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
And this passage is a reminder for us, who may feel in the same place spiritually, can come to Christ. No matter how we feel. No matter the thoughts of what we think may happen and what we fear will happen. May we remember the Leper, willing to go into the city, find Jesus, fall at his feet in faith. and cried out in faith -Lord, if you will, make me clean. NOT IF YOU CAN! I BELIEVE YOU CAN, but in mercy, if you will – HEAL ME!! Who came out FULL OF LEPROSY and left with FULL HEALING! We too, who cry out full of sin – LORD SAVE ME, in faith find healing and forgivenessin Christ!
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II.Jesus Forgives The Guilty (v.17-26)
II.Jesus Forgives The Guilty (v.17-26)
We’ve seenJesus ministry continue to grow in popularity. Jesus continues to withdraw away from the crowds for prayer, The more demands on him the more Jesus withdraw to be with His Father. And on the heels of the healing of the leper, we see his fame grows all the more.
17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.
We aren’t sure of the day, but in the days of Jesus’ ministry, thriving, sometime after the healing of Leper, two groups are mentioned – the Pharisees and the Teachers, or the scribes. These were the more technical readers of the law of God. They desired the law to be kept; they desired the word to be rightly interpreted. And they come from every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. We have no clue how many, but it was a great many. The crowds are growing, the interest soaring. And Luke gives a clue that everyone knew God was at work in Jesus’ ministry. Luke is not communicating that sometimes the power of God was on Jesus and sometimes it was not. He is simply communicating that it was evident to others that Jesus possesses the power and authority of God. You remember when Nicodemus, a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin, came to Jesus – you remember what he said to Jesus – John 3:2
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
So it is that all who came knew the powerof God was on Jesus to heal!
And the crowd was apparently so large that a paralytic and his friends couldn’t get through to Jesus. Not sure how to do it, they do almost the unthinkable, they climb the roof, and began lifting the tiles and lower their friend, who is paralyzed, down right where Jesus was teaching. Now, this is pretty daring and risky, and also quite compassionate on their part. That, regardless of what it might cost, or of the expense to them, they were willing to do whatever it takes to bring their friends before Christ.
20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Well, this is surprising. Jesus said something the friends never thought he would say. Especially on the heels of healing the leper, we would expect Jesus to say – you're healed…But instead Jesus says, Man, your sins are forgiven!And moreover, he does it in response to the faith of his friends. This is strange! Now, it’s likely that the paralytic also had faith, but Luke doesn’t highlight this. Instead, it highlights the friend’s faith. And the paralytic’s need for forgiveness. We will return to that in a moment.
But this is strange to those watching. And particularly troubling to the religious elites. To Scribes and Pharisees. And they are angry. And accuse Jesus of speaking blasphemy! Blasphemy, by the way, was punishable by death in the OT law (Lev 24:10-26). The Scribes and Pharisee’s were right in asking this question. They were right in saying that only God can forgive sin. Even in the OT, there is nowhere anticipated that even the Messiah could forgive sin. But don’t miss it. At least they are asking the right question. Only God could do this. Who is this…..YES! That’s a good question. WHO IS JESUS? It’s the question Luke has been revealing all along. It’s the question everyone is getting wrong! But at least they are on the right track now! WHO IS THIS!!
And Jesus declares who He is – HE is the SON of man v.24. The ancient one mentioned in the Psalms, Daniel, Ezekiel, who is given dominion, glory, and kingship! He is the one in Daniel 7 who is empowered with God’s authority.
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
Jesus is revealing himself right before them as DIVINE, as KING, and as GOD!
And yet, think about it. Here they are in their heart- Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Pointing at Jesus as evil, but it was their own hearts that were corrupted. For it was the same Pharisees and scribes who Jesus said –
7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
It was their own heart that were doubting and in disbelief! And yet, they are pointing at Jesus, casting blame. And Jesus sees right through it.
22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
The answer to Jesus’ question, in one sense, is well. They are both easy to say. But that’s not what Jesus is asking. I mean, I guess technically, you could say your sins are forgiven, and because final judgement is reserved for God alone, no one would even know. He’s implying which one is more evident. Which is easier, simply to say to someone your sins are forgiven or to command them to get up and walk? Both require words, but one is tangibly evident of authority. Either the paralytic will get up and walk, or he won’t. So, in that sense, it’s more difficult to say, RISE and WALK!
24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
And they didn’t have to wait long, did they!?
25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
By performing this miracle, Jesus proved for sure that he is from God and is the Son of Man and the Son of God. We saw in Luke 5:17 that the power of the Lord was with Jesus. And this power is the power and authority to heal the broken. And also the power to forgive. There is no disability he cannot heal, no sinner he cannot forgive. He is God the Son, with power to save.
They all begin to glorify God! They watch as the man who was paralyzed stood to his feet, rolled up the mat he’s been lying on for years, and though he entered the house through the roof, he likely asked, Can I leave out the front door? And he carries the bed that once carried him. And as he turned through the crowd, he was met with the common refrain, PRAISE GOD! PRAISE GOD!! PRAISE GOD!
And AMAZEMENT SEIZED THEM! THEY ARE FILLED WITH AWE. Saying we’ve seen extraordinary things today!! And it was before their very eyes they, for those with eyes to see, Jesus is making himself known! He is the one who forgives sin! He is the SON of MAN who is given authority from God! HE is God’s Son. He is God, who has come to bring the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven! As Jesus cleanses the defiled leper, and now forgives the guilty, and restores the paralytic.
But Jesus doesn’t separate the two, does he? You know those friends came to Jesus, thinking he’ll heal our friend, and he’ll walk again. But they weren’t expecting something deeper to take place. But really, the brokenness we have is deeper than what meets the surface. Jesus doesn’t just restore his physical brokenness, but a deeper and truer need. We know that about us. We are physical, but there is more to us than the physical. It’s not just that our bodies are broken, but so are our hearts. It’s not just that we have problems that manifest outward, but also an internal struggle that can often haunt us. And Jesus pierces through both! And here is a man with physical brokenness, but his great brokenness was the brokenness of his own sinful heart! His body didn’t just need healing. His heart needs redemption! And when a broken man, and sinful man, is lowered by his friends before Jesus while he’s teaching. Jesus doesn’t reject him or become disgruntled. He welcomed him. He heals him, and most importantly, he forgives him! Because Jesus forgives the guilty! And it doesn’t matter our condition. It doesn’t matter if we are defiled. It doesn’t matter if we are broken. It doesn’t matter if we are guilty. We can always come to Jesus for help! But what matters most, is that we come to him for help!
You know, the questionJesus asked the Pharisees and Scribes is interesting. Because from the perspective of this crowd on that day, the easier thing was to say, “Your sins are forgiven. But then again, from the perspective of the cross. Granting forgiveness was much harder. Forgiving sin was the hardestof all because it would cost Jesus his very life! Jesus would have to go to the cross. He would suffer, bleed, and died. That forgiveness wasn’t cheap — it cost Him everything.
22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus didn’t just come to make sick people well — He came to make dead people live. Physical healing is a beautiful sign, but it points to something greater: the healing of our souls.
Friend, maybe you’re like the leper — ashamed, cast out, feeling unclean. Or maybe you're like the paralyzed man — stuck, helpless, unable to change your situation. Jesus sees you. He has compassion. He reaches out. And He says, “Be clean.” “Your sins are forgiven.” “Get up and walk.”
The question is: Will you come to Him? Will you believe that He has the power — the mercy, grace, and love— to forgive your sins, to make you whole?
It’s not just your bodyHe wants to heal — it’s your heart. And He’s already done the hardest part — dying in your place. Now He invites you to rise with Him.
Come to Jesus. Be forgiven. Be made whole. So, the invitation, as always, is to come to Jesus.
Sermon Summary: No matter our condition, we can always come to Christ.
