"Be Clean"(Luke 5:12-16)

Introduction

As we continue our series, “Jesus the Miracle Worker”, today we will turn to Luke chapter 5 verses 12-16. In the passage Jesus heals a leper.

Luke 5:12–16 NIV84

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 5

Leprosy was on of the most fear disease of the Bible times. Leprosy was the cancer of our day but was worse.

God’s used this dreadful disease as punishment for King Uzziah sins.

King David cursed Joab’s family with Leprosy:

2 Samuel 3:29 NIV84

May his blood fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house! May Joab’s house never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.”

Being a leper was the worse imaginable condition, horribly disfiguring, horribly ugly, pockets worn into your face and your head, clawed limbs worn away, open sores, religiously isolated, socially isolated, economically isolated, no family, no job, no friends, no worship, no hope.

John MacArthur

Leprosy is like cancer that is contagious. As bad as it would be to be have terminal cancer but then be separated from friend and family as you slowly died. This is the context of this passage for this man that comes to Jesus.

John MacArthur Sermon Archive A Lesson from a Leper

Josephus says that lepers were to be treated as dead men. And the rabbis said that next to touching a dead body, getting near a leper was the rankest form of defilement. In Palestine in Jesus’ time lepers were barred from the city of Jerusalem and any other walled city. And if a leper ever came into a synagogue, in a town or a village, he had to go to a small isolated room called a maketza[??]. He couldn’t come near other people. The rabbis said they could come no closer than six feet upwind and 150 feet downwind. One rabbi said he wouldn’t even eat an egg after he took the shell off of it if it was bought on a street where a leper had passed by, fearful of its contagion. Another rabbi wrote that he would throw stones at lepers to keep them away.

In this passage we this hopeless man in a hopeless situation come to Jesus and receive a miracle. He became clean before God.

Just as leprosy separated this man from his family and community. Sin separates us from God and we need Jesus wash away our sins.

In this Sermon, I want each of us to see sin like we see leprosy.

Every person here today has things in their life that they need out of their life and only Jesus can make you clean.

Will you come to Christ today and let Him clean you up?

John MacArthur Sermon Archive A Lesson from a Leper

Being a leper was the worse imaginable condition, horribly disfiguring, horribly ugly, pockets worn into your face and your head, clawed limbs worn away, open sores, religiously isolated, socially isolated, economically isolated, no family, no job, no friends, no worship, no hope. Pretty good illustration of sin, isn’t it?

Here are the steps found in this passage to being clean before God.

There must be Brokenness

Hopelessness is Brokenness, no hope of anything getting better. This world is broken because of sin. We must not expect this would to help us, fix us, care for us. Brokenness is not putting faith in this world. This world is not as advertised!

There must be Respectful

Worshiping and honoring God is the bad times, not just the good times. Worship and serve Jesus for who he is not only for what he does.

Humble

There must be Dependance

Only Jesus can make your clean. Your whole life comes down to one person - Jesus Christ. Your Health, your family, your career, your eternity all comes down to one person… Jesus Christ.

There must be Humility

If you are willing.(No name it and claim it here.) The word “IF” does not show a lack of faith, but shows faith in the sovereign God. The “if” statement show humility before God.

Jesus says in the Garden ...

Matthew 26:39 NIV84

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Matt.

“Who am I” Moses before the LORD… David Before the LORD.

WHO AM I

Who am I, that the lord of all the earth Would care to know my name Would care to feel my hurt? Who am I, that the bright and morning star Would choose to light the way For my ever wandering heart?

Not because of who I am But because of what you've done Not because of what I've done But because of who you are

I am a flower quickly fading Here today and gone tomorrow A wave tossed in the ocean A vapor in the wind Still you hear me when I'm calling Lord, you catch me when I'm falling And you've told me who I am I am yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin Would look on me with love And watch me rise again? Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea Would call out through the rain And calm the storm in me?

There must be Faith

(Make me clean) This man comes to Jesus because he was is only hope. The way to deal with hopelessness is to put your faith in Jesus Christ.

There must be Obedience ()

Do what the Word says for you to do. When Jesus cleans you us he expects us to live that way.

Obey the Word of God. ()

Obey the Word’s of Jesus.

There must be a Testimony.

Are people talking about what Jesus has done in your life?

Matt. Seeking after God.

humility (falling before Him)

John MacArthur Sermon Archive A Lesson from a Leper

Contrary to Leviticus 5:3 which says never touch a leper, Jesus stepped right past that law because when He touched him he wasn’t a leper anymore.

Begging him.

Only Jesus can make your clean.

I hear the savior say, thy strength indeed is small Child of weakness, watch and pray, find in me thine all in all

Cause Jesus paid it all, All to him I owe Sin had left a crimson stain, he washed it white as snow

Lord, now indeed I find thy power and thine alone Can change the leper's spots and melt the heart of stone

And when before the throne I stand in him complete "Jesus died my soul to save" my lips shall still repeat

Jesus paid it all, All to him I owe Sin had left a crimson stain, he washed it white as snow