The "I Will" of Cleansing

Seven “I Will” Statements of Christ

Luke 5:12–14 ESV

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.”

Luke 5:12

Outline:

I. Background of the Story.

II. The Leper.

III. Jesus’ Response.

IV. The Picture of Leprosy and its Healing.

I. Background

I. Background

Leprosy

Medical condition

Caused by a bacteria

It starts small, “insidious”

It spreads in gradual, subtle ways

patches, sores open sores

damages the nerve endings

facial leprosy, damages the cornea and leads to blindness

The social response to the disease in the time of Jesus

No cure

Declared “unclean”.

Isolated into colonies

Declared unclean

Separated into colonies

Separated into colonies

People yell “unclean”

Rocks thrown at them

II. The Leper

“While Jesus was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy”.

This man has been afflicted with leprosy for a long time.

Had a life, was separated from his family, he may had been a husband, or a father.

Leprosy practically ended his life. He exists but not lives.

How they were provided for..

He missed the touch of his family more than anything

It was probably years that this man has not felt the touch of someone. You have shook hands and hugged more people in an hour this morning than this man has touched for many years.

Somehow He knew about Jesus and he came, risking being thrown rocks at, or insulted..

He didn’t care, in his desperation, he came to Christ,

“and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” (verse 12)

What the leper did:

He worshipped Jesus.

Lesson 1:

In Your Desperation, Worship the Lord.

He came to the right place, at the right time, before the right person. And he said:

“Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

What can we see from the man’s faith?

Mark 9:22–23 ESV

22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

What this father in the story did was doubt Jesus’ ability, compassion and willingness to help..

The leper did not doubt Jesus’ ability to heal him, in fact he declared “You can make me clean!”

He appealed to Jesus’ willingness.

Lesson 2:

Call on God not only on the basis of His power, but also of His love for you.

Do you think that God does not care?

III. Jesus’ Response.

Luke 5:13 ESV

13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Luke 5:13

What did you see happen here?

Jesus demonstrated His power, healed the man, and done the leprosy left him..

Let’s not miss what Jesus did:

He said “I will” - This is the “I will” statement of Jesus in this lesson.

Jesus is willing to heal you of your sickness, of your broken heart.

Lesson 3:

Jesus does not only knows your dire situation, He also wants to come in and do something about it.

Jesus is willing. The question is are you willing?

Then with one command Jesus said “be clean”.

And immediately the leprosy left him.

Luke being a doctor spoke in medical terms, the disease of leprosy immediately left the man.

One thing that is amazing here is that Jesus did something before he healed the man..

“And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him”...

Before he healed the man, Jesus showed amazing love and compassion.

Did Jesus need to touch the man to heal him?

With the sound of His voice, the wind and the waves obey Him.

He could have healed the man from a distance...

Before He healed the man of his broken body, Jesus first healed the man of his broken heart.

Lesson 4:

Jesus is in the business of healing broken hearts.

Oh the love that the man felt at that moment, just to feel the touch from someone and not to be avoided, not to be thrown rocks at called “unclean”..

Before He healed the man, Jesus touched his heart first.

Jesus wants to touch your heart today.

There is another thing that Jesus did here, people knew that leprosy was “unclean” or contagious and they know even from their law that anyone who touches something or someone who is unclean also becomes unclean.

Jesus touched the man. What is another thing that Jesus did here?

He became identified with the leper as unclean.

You see:

Lesson 5:

In our vile, unclean state, Jesus identified Himself with us.

III. The Spiritual Picture of Leprosy.

You see, leprosy is a picture of sin.

It starts insidiously, with a small spot but left untreated it spreads throughout your soul,

Then like leprosy affects your nerve endings, if sin remains in someone’s life then it grows and you lose your sensitivities to yourself and to others.

You become callous. Sin becomes normal,

Wrong becomes right, and right becomes wrong.

The Bible says in Isaiah “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.”

That sin may seem small to you at this time.. it will grow into something out of control… people around you will be hurt and like leprosy, sin will isolate you from people who love you the most.

Here’s The good news:

The good news

Jesus was identified with sinners - His baptism.

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

All you have to do is to recognize your need, you need help come to Jesus just as you are, your broken heart, your broken will, your broken past, come to Jesus with your broken life.

He says, “I am willing, Be Healed!”

Luke 5:14 ESV

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.”

The humility of Christ.

It is easy for us to parade..

The sin of pride.

It starts small. You start humble.. you start to think bigger than yourself...

Go back to Jesus. He will still receive you.

When Jesus said “Be Healed”, it is a strong imperative, a command!

When you come to Jesus humbly, repenting of your sins and giving up your pride. He strongly replies.

“Be Clean!”

“Go and sin no more!”

There is a seriousness and a warning..

In , Jesus told a man whom He healed, do not sin anymore, that nothing worse may happen to you!

Lesson 6:

Jesus cares to make us clean and He cares even more to warn us “stay clean!”

He wanted t

Luke 5:14 ESV

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.”

Leviticus 14

I don’t think this was because Jesus was bound by the law, or he is very religious he needs to follow the law to the letter.

The greatness of the love of Jesus:

- “As proof” - he wants the leper to be received back into his family

“As a Testimony” - He wants others to marvel.

“As proof” - he wants the leper to be received back into his family

Lesson 7:

When Jesus receives you and makes you whole, he wants you to be get your life back and He wants you to be a witness for Him.

Difference with the healing and the Great Commission...

Jesus heals, restores and makes you new.

Jesus says “I will”. Are you willing?