The Lepor is no more

Introduction

Read

Tell Narative

If you have a particular health problem then you want to see a specialist in the particular area you have a problem. If its heart disease then you would want to see a heart specialist. You wouldn’t want to see a chiropodist.

The Lepor in our reading went to the only person who could help him. We learn from his example this morning that we too need to go to the Lord Jesus for help with our greatest problem that only he can solve.

As we read this account of a lepor being healed we learn thre truths about this man.

I. The Lepor knew his need

II. The Lepor went to the right person

III. The Lepor was cleansed

I. The Lepor knew his need

The Lepor knew his need

v.40 imploring him, kneeling down. He was desperate.

He broke every religous and social custom- Lepors had to remain seperate

His leprosy meant that he was cut off from a lot of society. OT laws to prevent the spread of leprosy.

He knew his need.

Do you know your need?

Im not a lepor!! Before you get upset I am not calling you a lepor.

I know you do not have leprosy, but you still have a great need that only Jesus can solve. Our sin has made us unlcean before God. The life we have chosen to lead, apart from God has cut us off from him and we need to be restored.

Your need is greater than this lepor.

He was desperate for Jesus to restore him. Are you?

So we see firstly that the lepor knew his need and because of this he went to the only one who could help him.

He knew his need and he knew that only Jesus could meet his need. He came to Jesus and sais. v.41 “If you are willing you can make me clean.”

The second truth- the Lepor came to the right person.

How did Jesus respond? Our passage says Jesus was moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said Iam willing be cleansed.”

Here we see the Lepor came to the right person because Jesus is a loving and compassionate Saviour. Our reading says that Jesus was moved with compassion. Whats more we read that Jesus touched him. In the laws of the OT if you tocuhed a lepor it would make you unclean for a certain amount of time, no one would have ever dreamed of a famous rabbi, a well know religious teacher ever touching a lepor, but here we see the Lord Jesus loved this lepor so much that he didn’t just say be cleansed be he touched him as he said it.

II. The Lepor came to the right person

The Lepor came to the right person

He knew his need and he knew that only Jesus could meet his need. He came to Jesus and said. v.41 “If you are willing you can make me clean.”

How did Jesus respond? Our passage says Jesus was moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said I am willing be cleansed.”

Here we see the Lepor came to the right person because Jesus is a loving and compassionate Saviour. Our reading says that Jesus was moved with compassion.

Whats more we read that Jesus touched him.

In the laws of the OT if you tocuhed a lepor it would make you unclean for a certain amount of time, no one would have ever dreamed of a famous rabbi, a well know religious teacher ever touching a lepor, but here we see the Lord Jesus loved this lepor so much that he didn’t just say be cleansed be he touched him as he said it.

The lepor came to the right person.

The Lord Jesus is a merciful Saviour.

I wonder have you come to him for your own need.

Jesus said “He that comes to me I will never turn away.”

He not only has power to cleanse lepors but he also has the power ot cleanse from all sin.

The very reason he died upon the cross was to pay for our sin in full, he died to take the punishment that our sin deserves and three days later he rose again from the dead victorious over sin and death.

If you come to him like this lepor did and implore him to cleanse you from your sin, to make you right with God, to forgive you for what you have done wrong.

He will be moved with compassion for you just like he was for this lepor. He will save you from your sin, he will save you from hell and he will prepare a place for you in heaven.

The Bible says believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.

The Lepor knew his need, The Lepor came to the right person and finally the third truth about this man- The Lepor was cleansed.

III. The Lepor was cleansed

The Lepor was cleansed

Jesus touched the Lepor and said I am willing be cleansed and in verse 42 we read of the outcome.

“As soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.”

The Lepor came to Christ in faith, imploring him for help and the merciful Saviour cleansed him immediately.

If you come to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sin, the same immediate response will take place.

You will be instantly forgiven by God, your sin will be taken away. All your guilt before God will be removed.

Instead of fearing death you can be sure of heaven. Instead of being rejected by God you can be accepted by him.

Instead of standing before God guilty you can stand before him forgiven, made righteous by the Lord Jesus Christ.

I wonder have you done that yet? If not then I want to ask you; when will you do it? The Bible says the best time is now.

Conclusion

So in our reading we learn three truths about this man-

The Lepor knew his need, The lepor came to the right person, The lepor was cleansed.

We have referred to him as a lepor. Before he came to Christ thats exactly what he was, but after begging Christ to cleanse him he was no longer a lepor. He was restored, his identity was changed, his life was changed.

When a person believes in Jesus Christ they are never the same again.

Jesus takes away our sin, our guilt before God, he makes us new, he changes our hearts, he gives us a hope and an assurance that we will one day be with him in heaven.

Without Jesus we have none of these things.

Maybe you are wondering how you can ask Jesus to be your Saviour.

ABC

Admit- Admit you have sinned, and you are guilty before God.

Believe- Trust in Jesus Christ. Believe in him as your Saviour.

Confess- Confess him as Lord of your life. Tell people about what you have done.