2 Kings 5 1-14 2006

Epiphany 6

2 Kings 5:1-14

February 12, 2006

“Be Clean”

Introduction: After a day of milking the cows, feeding the hogs, spreading manure, plowing and planting fields of mud and dirt, the farmer usually comes home and, without dong anything else, leisurely sits down in his favorite chair, has dinner and goes to bed. Right? No! Most likely they have been trained or trained themselves to clean up, take off their dirty clothes and maybe take a bath, first. That’s more like it.

            After a rousing football or kickball game in the muddy fields of spring, most kids go home, covered from head to foot with mud. Then they are eagerly welcomed into their homes by their parents who invite them to sit down in their favorite chairs to relax for the night. Is that how it goes? No, of course not! More likely, they are ordered to strip down and march right into the bath. After which they are welcomed into the house.

            Cleanliness is important. It is so important that many people are constantly chasing after dirt. It’s like a constant battle that is waged in the homes of people. Almost weekly a battle rages within my own house. My wife in particular dresses up for war, broom and mop in one hand, bucket and rag in the other, as she attacks the dirtiest places in the house. She is always recruiting the rest of the family to help. Sometimes she succeeds. But Americans are plagued by this war on dirt. Think of the wide array of soaps and detergents and cleaning agents that are for sale. Think of the cost of all that cleanliness. It is staggering.

            Of course the word clean has more than one meaning. In our gospel lesson and our Old Testament lesson there are men who have the disease of leprosy. They are contaminated with a terrible skin disease that affects not only their health but every relationship that they have. Lepers were considered unclean. Matter of fact they had to stay away from other people and yell, “Unclean, Unclean” if any body got near them. They were separated from family and friends, they could not work and most of all they could not worship or approach God in the temple. They were like a hard working dirty farmer or a muddy kid – left outside, left alone, until they were made clean.

            Of course a leper couldn’t make himself clean, He had no options and no place to go – except to God. The Jews rightly understood that God alone was the only one that can make anyone truly clean. Thus we have the stories of Naaman and the leper healed by Jesus.

            In the land that is today known as Lebanon, but was known as Aram in Old Testament days, there was an Aramean army general named Naaman who caught leprosy. This meant the end of his family life, his military career, and all that went with this high position. But Naaman had a slave girl whom he had captured in a raid on the nation of Israel. She spoke to Naaman about a man who could heal his disease and make him clean. She told him about the prophet named Elisha. The king of Aram and Naaman were so desperate that the king sent Naaman back to Israel to find the miracle worker. So Naaman went back to Israel to find Elisha. 

            Naaman expected the man of God to tell Naaman to do some great thing. Perhaps he expected to be sent a pilgrimage. Maybe he expected Elisha to perform an elaborate religious ritual. Naaman was willing to do anything it would take within his own reasoning mind. He wanted to be cleansed from the leprosy that made him unclean.

            What Naaman got was a major disappointment. Instead of Elisha, a messenger came out of the house. "Go take a bath in the Jordan River and you will be healed." Naaman responded, “The Jordan! That muddy creek! You’ve got to be kidding. Imagine that you go to the doctor because you have cancer. But instead of getting to see the doctor, the receptionist comes up to you and says, "Take a bath in the duck pond at the city park and you will be cured." Naaman was furious. "I traveled hundreds of miles. I had to bow before an enemy king and risk my neck to come here. And he sends a slave to tell me to take a bath in the Jordan? Besides, aren't the rivers back home better than any water in this country?"

            One of Naaman's slaves finally talked Naaman into taking the bath. His argument was simple. "If the prophet had told you to do some great thing, wouldn't you have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, wash and be cleansed?" Another way of saying that is, "You'd do something great if he told you, so why not do this easy thing?" Naaman did. Down to the Jordan he went -- seven dips in the river. On the seventh dip, the leprosy left.

            Obviously, it wasn't the water that cured Naaman. This wasn't some kind of miracle water. Six dips in the Jordan River only got Naaman wet. It was the seventh dip, according to the word of the prophet that did the healing. It was the water of the Jordan River connected with the Word of God that gave Naaman healing.

            Naaman was the commander of a victorious army. He was in a position of great authority. He was also a man with a terrible problem. He was a leper. Leprosy eats away at the body, consuming it slowly but surely. It is a loathsome disease and a horrible affliction of the body.

            There is something like that disease that consumes all people, body and soul. It is called sin - a condition that is ours even prior to birth into this world. King David declared the truth for each one of Adam's descendants: "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalm 51:5). Sometimes people think that sin is only something we do or fail to do. But our condition goes much deeper than that. As a result, we are in need of spiritual cleansing. Therefore, man petitions the LORD God, "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! ... Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:2&8).
            Naaman was in need of physical cleansing since he was a leper. His condition, if left unchecked and untreated, would result in condemnation and separation and rejection from the people of his community. He would be left to die alone.

            Our spiritual condition, if left unchecked and un-cleansed, would also result in condemnation from the Almighty, rejection by God Himself and eternal death. The Bible declares "therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned" (Romans 5:12) and "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23a). This is what all people have deserved. But God, with grace, gives us what we don't deserve. Consequently the verse which begins with Law, “the wages of death,” ends with the promise of grace, “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
            Jesus Christ is well acquainted with the diseases that afflict us bodily and the disease of sin that brings death to the human soul. In our gospel reading Jesus is approached by another leper in need of cleansing, both physically and spiritually. The man comes with nothing to offer, no bargain to make. He comes to Jesus because he has heard that Jesus can make a person whole. He bows down before Jesus, his hands holding nothing but faith. He says to Jesus, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus has compassion on the leper and says, “Be clean.” Jesus offers more than physical cleanliness and bodily healing. He offers something greater, spiritual healing through the forgiveness of sins. His offer is freely given to all who receive it with empty hands.

            Jesus made the leper clean by his Word and touch. Our Lord cleanses us from sin and guilt through His Word and touch. That is what makes baptism so special to us. In the font we are washed and made clean. In Baptism Jesus touches us.

            So many people disregard and discount the blessings of this special washing. Like Naaman they say how can mere water to such great things as washing away sin, and give the promise of eternal salvation. Surely there should be something more to salvation than that; certainly one must make some decision or make a personal pledge or do something. Many unbelievers in the world and the doubters in the church regard the invitation to repent and be baptized, to hear the Word of the forgiveness and to take and eat and drink the Body and Blood of Christ in the Lord’s Supper as foolishness. There has got to be more to it than this.  All the pastor does is invite me to listen to God’s Word, bathe in a few drops of water, and eat some bread and drink a sip of wine. Certainly there is more to salvation than this! But there isn’t. Salvation is the free gift of God. It is simply given in simple things through faith in Jesus Christ. This promise is given to us in Word, Water, Bread, and Wine.

            We answer those that mock us about being cleanses in Baptism. When asked, How can water do such great things?, the reply is: "It is not the water indeed that does them, but the Word of God which is in and with the water, and faith (the faith that God grants as a gift) which trusts such Word of God in the water. Without the Word of God, the water is simple water and no Baptism. But with the Word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Ghost" (Luther's Small Catechism).
            In Romans 6, we are told that those who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death. His death was necessary to give us life and cleansing from all un-holiness. His death on the cross paid the price for the life of the world. The sins that we have committed, the sins of today and tomorrow have all been atoned or paid for in the death of Christ ... in whose death we have been baptized.

            So Naaman did what seemed ridiculous to him, and so do we. As we do, we receive Christ’s healing touch. When you were baptized, you were cleansed in and by the Presence of the LORD God Almighty. You were restored to God; your soul was healed; your life was regenerated by this gracious washing of water with the Word. God blesses you through water connected to His Word. Sin no longer has dominion over you. You are no longer enslaved to sin. Death no longer has dominion over you. You live in Christ and are united with Christ in a Resurrection like His. You are alive to God in Christ Jesus and walk in newness of life.
            As a result, your Baptism is not just an event that happened once many years ago that is worth nothing today. Today it is just as important. Because you are both saint and sinner the blessings of your Baptism continue with you each day.
            When Naaman was cured of leprosy, it was a cure that lasted not just for that day - it continued with him. If not, then he would have had to wash in the Jordan seven times every day. But he didn't. It continued with him and surely he must have been glad and joyful every morning when he arose from sleep and thanked the LORD for the Word and the water.
            So also the cleansing you have received from your Baptism remains and works for you. Each morning when you awake recall that truth by declaring the truth, "I am baptized." I am made clean by the touch of Jesus. And because you have been made clean you are no longer left outside like a muddy child. The kingdom of Heaven has been opened to you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen