007-Mark 1:39-45

Jesus Embraces You In Your Mess

INTRODUCTION

Continue in the book of Mark.Last week we saw that people were looking for Jesus while he was away praying. They wanted Him to come back and perform more miracles in their midst. Jesus kept the mission of why He came as the focus of His ministry.

Luke 19:10 CSB

10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

Mark 10:45 CSB

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

That was his purpose that would be accomplished through His death and resurrection.So Jesus didn’t stay in the city but went to all the neighboring towns, preaching, and healing. Today we will actually see the story of a man that was ministered to by the Lord. A man whose life was a mess and was in desperate need of help. 

Emma and I watched a movie this week where one of the characters lost her mom. As she is talking with her friend she tells her how at her moms funeral all her family and friends would come to her and tell her:

IF you need anything we are here for you. If you need something just ask. However, before she couldn’t even say anything they would just walk away.

Her best friend came, however, came with her favorite food, and all the things she enjoyed and came prepared to serve and minister to her in the midst of her mess.

That’s what we see in Jesus today. His mission is to preach, to redeem, to serve and he Jesus actually walks the talk. He comes to this man and he is not put off by his mess, he is not scared of the mess but HE EMBRACES HIM IN HIS MESS.He will do the same for you.Let’s Read.BIBLE VERSEMark 1:39-45 (CSB)

39He went into all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

40Then a man with leprosy came to him and, on his knees, begged him: “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

41Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.”

42Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

43Then he sternly warned him and sent him away at once,

44telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

45Yet he went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news, with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him from everywhere.

1 THE CONDITION OF THE MAN

EXPLANATION

40 Then a man with leprosy, came to him and, on his knees, begged him: “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

We are told that this man, who approached the Lord Jesus was a leper. Of all the diseases and afflictions that devastated the ancient world, none was more feared or more fearsome that leprosy. A brief description of this horrific disease might be in order today.you see, this disease of leprosy just began to totally consume a man until a man’s body became little more than a pool of slime. His body would be covered with these nodules. His eyebrows would begin to fall out, his hair would turn white, and inch by inch this man’s body would begin to rot.One of the most insidious aspects of leprosy is that it attacked the nervous system in such a way that a man would lose all sensation of pain

Now, why am I sharing this? Leprosy is not something that we see or deal with on a day to day basis.

Leprosy is a vivid illustration of what sin does to us:it distances religious life (Lev. 13:1-3),They were not allowed to worship with others,Our sin will cause us to pull away from the church, we will be embarrassed by it, distancing ourselves from other believers.it goes deeper than the surface (Lev. 13:3),someone with leprosy didn’t need a makeover. It needed healing from within.So is sin! The outward manifestations of sin are merely a window into the heart. Our sin problem is much deeper and we don’t need just a fresh coat of paint but we need healing from within.it spreads relentlessly (Lev. 13:5-8),Just as that leper may have seen a tiny white spot on his skin one day, it wasn’t many days until his flesh was consumed by that loathsome disease.Oh, what a picture of sin! Look at David, 2 Sam. 11! A little spot of laziness turned into adultery, an unwanted pregnancy, lies and murder!it makes one unclean (Lev. 13:44-45),When a man was hit with leprosy, he was totally and thoroughly defiled!So it is with sin! Sin has a way of poisoning a person’s entire life. It will poison your family. It will poison your relationships.it isolates from community (Lev. 13:46)The leper was isolated from the camp of the clean. He was forced to dwell alone on the fringes of society.Sin also isolates. It drives a wedge between family members and it separates the sinner from God.it deserves the fire (Lev. 13:52).Everything the leper touched was burned!So it is with sin! It destines those afflicted by it to the fires of eternal torment.

That’s how his story starts. In our sin is how our story starts as well. But look at happens.

APPLICATION

40 Then a man with leprosy, came to him and, on his knees, begged him: “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

The leper’s desperation to reach Jesus caused him to neglect customary procedures.He came to Jesus and approached him the right why, he came beseeching, earnestly implore and cry out for help, notice his wording though He makes his way through the frightened crowd and stops within arm’s length of Jesus. He kneels before the Lord and declared to the Lord his desire. What he said to Jesus is very telling of his condition.His words indicate a desire to be free from his disease.“you can make me clean.”HIS DESIRE IS TO BE MADE CLEAN.What is your desire? When you go to Jesus do you know what you want?His words declare his faith in Christ’s ability.“If you are willing”“Never question if Jesus can do it but only if He will do it.“A lot of us approach Jesus this way:Jesus if you CAN save me, would you?Jesus if you CAN help our finances, would you?How does the leper approaches Jesus? I know you can! I know you have the power! Are you willing?What’s the difference? One demonstrates faith that Jesus can do anything because He is God. The other demonstrates a lack of faith in who Jesus is?His words reveal his own sense of unworthiness before the Lord.“came to him and, on his knees, begged him”I bring nothing into this relationship. Sharing the Gospel with this man in Haiti. Voodoo Worshiper— Before giving his life to Jesus– Put his shirt on- Got on his knees. These three things are a picture of what should be in the heart of a sinner who wants to come to Jesus to be saved from their sins.

2 THE COMPASSION OF THE KING

EXPLANATION

As the crowd watches, this leper falls down before the Lord and asks for a miracle. What will Jesus do? Will he also turn away in disgust? Will he call for the man to be stoned, as many people would have done? No! Jesus does the unthinkable: He shows this man compassion!

41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

Look at the order that things happen because this is important. This is the heart of what I want you to get it today.Moved with compassion– Moved with Mercy!!!!Jesus reached out his hand and touched him.ILLUSTRATIONContextualize to now: He has Corona… everyone knows… He makes his way to Jesus and tells him: If you are willing, heal me.If one is not capable what would they have done? Pray, Be Healed, Come back in 14 days if you are better we can hug it out.Jesus touches him first. He embraces him in his mess before he makes him clean.APPLICATION

Jesus’ compassion has Him embracing our mess before cleansing our mess.

This compassion is the same word we find in Luke 15 in the parable of the Lost Son.

20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.

Maybe you need to hear this today. You don’t have to clean yourself up to come to Jesus. Come to Him with your mess, your brokenness, cry out to Him todayJesus I give my life to you today, I give you my mess and everything with it. Are you willing to make me clean?42 Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.I guarantee you that if you cry that out to him today he will make you clean.1 John 1:6–97 If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.These is his promises to all of us.

Romans 10:13 CSB

13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Joel 2:32 CSB

32 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for there will be an escape for those on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, as the Lord promised, among the survivors the Lord calls.

Acts 2:21 CSB

21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

3 THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHANGED

EXPLANATION

Look what happened.

43 Then he sternly warned him and sent him away at once, 44 telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 

45 Yet he went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news, with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him from everywhere.

This man’s life was completely transformed. He had a life-changing event and he couldn’t stop for celebrating by proclaiming it to everyone who would hear.The way he celebrated was by sharing his testimony with everyone. APPLICATION

People who have been changed by Jesus cannot keep it to themselves.

Everyone who had been set free from the bondage of sin ought to be out there “publishing the matter” and telling a watching world that Jesus sets sinners free and changes lives forever!This is honoring to the Lord and will draw others to Christ as well.If Christ has transformed your life your job is to celebrate it but telling everyone, everywhere about it.Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him from everywhere.The results of one life changed by Christ, the result of one person fully committed to Christ can change an entire community.

CONCLUSION

I saw this message from a pastor: One of the best things you can do for your church is to sit in the front middle of the room, worship passionately, and respond to your pastor’s preaching. 10 people like that can change the atmosphere of a whole room, lift hearts heavenward.

Let me tell you this town had one guy like that and it transformed a entire community. Are you ready to change your community? Are you ready to change your church?

Soon we will be meeting in a building again. How are you going to celebrate?

I hope you will celebrate in the same way this ma did.

Jesus saw him in his mess, He embraced him in his mess and as a result, he celebrated by telling everyone. By being passionate about Jesus.

Will You?