Jesus Legacy/Our Lives: The Exchange

The Exchange

Mark 1:40–45 ESV

40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

The Leper

This leper was pronounced unclean after he was examined by a priest in accordance to and 14. After it was determined he had this terrible skin disease he had to follow these rules.

Wear torn clothes

Let his hair hang down unkept

Cover his mouth with a clothe of some sort

Cry out to those near “unclean, unclean.”

Leprosy robbed the person of their health, identity, occupation, habits, relationships, fellowship and worship. They were considered the walking dead because of the extreme approach they took to protect others from infection. They were forced to live alone outside of the city.

The Leper Exchanged Fear for Faith

He approached the one who he believed could cleanse him.

Mark 1:40–42 ESV

40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

Mark 1:40 ESV

40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”

Mark 1:40-

Jesus was moved with pity, most likely of the how leprosy had effected the mans life, and made him clean.

Noticed he didn’t ask to be healed, but made clean.

A jew diagnosed with leprosy by the priest was pronounced “unclean.” Contagious, can’t be touched! It wasn’t enough to be healed, once they showed signs of improving or being cured the priest had to examine the leper over a period of time before pronouncing him “clean.” Once this was done the leper could be re-introduced to

Clean vs Healed

It was not enough for the skin disease to go away. Once the disease had went away the law required the man to return to a priest and be examined once again. Once the priest followed all the steps in and was satisfied that the skin disease was gone he pronounced the leper clean and the person could return to his life.

Jesus Exchanged Places with Leper

Mark 1:

Mark 1:43–45 ESV

43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

Jesus wasn’t ready for his identity as the messiah to be revealed just yet. He was very clear with the man. Keep quiet and go to a priest to be pronounced clean in accordance with the Jewish law.

The Leper didn’t listen, probably could not contain his joy. He disobeyed and told everyone.

“So Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places...” Jesus traded his ability to go into the towns with lepers isolation.

Awesome Pastor Lloyd, how does this help me? Glad you asked.

Jesus Exchanged His Throne for the Cross

Theres a great illustration in this story of the leper and Jesus.

Leper=sinner/mankind/us

Leprosy=sin/past/regret/guilt

“If you will, you can make me clean.”

Galatians 3:13 ESV

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

Cleansed vs Healed

It was not enough for the skin disease to go away. Once the disease had went away the law required the man to return to a priest and be examined once again. Once the priest followed all the steps in and was satisfied that the skin disease was gone he pronounced the leper clean and the person could return to his life.

Katharismos = Greek for Purification

Jesus exchanged his throne for the cross in order to offer a way of purification for mankind, who is infected by sin. This sin isolates us from God.

Let me ask you this. Would it have been strange if the leper would have continued living in this pathetic existence after Jesus pronounced him clean? Of Course.

Then why do we sometimes still walk around like we haven’t been cleansed of our sin? The leper couldn’t keep his mouth shut about his encounter with Jesus even after he was instructed not to tell anyone. Today the biggest challenge Christians have is sharing their faith, even though we have been commanded to do so. The purpose in that statement is not to condemn anyone. I want to encourage every believer to share their story about their Jesus encounter. We have to learn how to strengthen our faith and share.

2 Peter 1:3–9 ESV

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Virtue=code of conduct () list of virtues

Knowledge = Get into the word

Self control = fruit of the spirit ()

Steadfastness = A steadfast person is one who is reliable, faithful, and true to the end.

A steadfast person is one who is reliable, faithful, and true to the end.

godliness = active obedience to God’s revealed will and a personal devotion that surpasses lip-service, mere trepidation, or bare admiration

brotherly affection

active obedience to his revealed will and a personal devotion that surpasses lip-service, mere trepidation, or bare admiration

love (hesed)

Micah 6:8 ESV

8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah

Underline this

2 Peter 1:9 ESV

9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

2 Peter 1:

If we supplement our faith with these 7 things Peter writes

2 Peter 1:10 ESV

10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

2 Peter 1:10

Like the leper, those who placed their faith in Christ has been pronounced “clean!”

Shake off the torn clothes,

unveil your face,

comb your hair

tell others about the day Jesus changed your life.