The Cleansing and Healing Hand of God

Luke 5:12–26 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.” 15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. 17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

This morning we are going to look at two aspects of Christ’s miraculous work.

The Cleansing Hand of God

A Man with Leprosy and the will of God.

This man approached Jesus, and what might be even more surprising is that the Lord doesn’t send him away, or avoid him. Instead, what is Jesus’ response? He extends kindness, and reaches out to touch the man. That in and of itself would have been excessive kindness to someone with leprosy. Men and women who were leprous would have been socially isolated, physically, emotionally, in every sense. They lived a life of solitude, once it was determined that they indeed were leprous. So Christ not only talks with him and touches him but the Lord goes a step further by healing the man.

Jesus exhibited no fear, no pride, no anxiety. He shows his empathy, care, concern, grace and love toward this “unclean man.

Notice the man’s initial comment as he approaches Christ. Lk 5:12b-

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

We saw just a few weeks ago in our study of Luke, that Simon had a similar response to Jesus, after He performed a miracle. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and said, “depart from me for I am a sinful man.”

This man was not simply suspected to have leprosy, this man had leprosy. It was a disease of the skin and body tissue that would eventually in essence cause a person’s flesh to rot away. It is spoken of in the Old Testament. Particularly in Lev 13 and 14, with very specific regulations, procedures to determine a person’s cleanness or uncleanness. Leviticus also gives guidance on the various sacrifices necessary to pronounce a person clean.

It was a disease that was seen as the result of a judgement of God upon one’s sin, which is why Leviticus speaks extensively about the necessity of sacrificing multiple animals on behalf of someone with Leprosy, who desires to be pronounced clean.

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.”

What is the significance of this? Jesus wanted the priest to see proof that Jesus had the power to heal and incurable disease. In sending this man to the temple to offer sacrifices, Jesus was sending a message to the priests, that He was the Messiah, the one who would save the people from their sins, the Chosen One of God.

Luke 5:15 ESV

15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities.

Word began to spread about Jesus. People began to take note of what was happening, as He traveled around to the different cities, as He taught and ministered to the people.

I’m not going to address verse 16 this morning. We are going to look at that verse and other instances of Christ’s practice of going out to a desolate place to pray, next Sunday. But it is worth mentioning just briefly

Luke 5:16 ESV

16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

We’ve seen this before and we will see it again in the Gospel of Luke. Again, I will address it further, next week, but some of you won’t be here next week, so I didn’t want to completely skip over it. I believe this short verse has powerful ramifications for our lives.

For now, let’s move on to the Second main point of the message this morning.

The Healing Hand of God

Jesus continued to draw attention to His abilities as a teacher and a miracle worker. Now the religious leaders from every village had come to see this man for themselves.

The lame and the leaders

Luke 5:17–19 ESV

17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.

The lame and the leaders

I like how Luke identifies the audience. Pharisees and teachers of the law. The teachers of the law and those who sought to live by the law, were closely watching Jesus. They had travelled from every village of Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem. He was drawing quite an audience. He was beginning to make a bit of a stir in the land.

A man has four friends who are committed to seeing their friend healed, so much that they pull off part of the roof of the house and lower this man down to see Jesus.

I wonder of these were possibly some of the disciples that we know by name. That’s just something I’ve wondered as I studied this. Simon, Andrew, James and John had all responded to Christ’s invitation to follow Him and the house we are told was full of Pharisees and teachers of the law, so maybe they had gone to bring one of their friends to Jesus.

But watch what Jesus does in this situation.

Luke 5:19–20 ESV

19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

Jesus says, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

Jesus, does not settle for allowing simply ministering to this man’s physical needs. Instead He gives addresses His spiritual needs. Jesus pronounces this man forgiven. He pronounces Him spiritually healed, spiritually clean. He offers this man eternal life.

And what is the response of the crowd?

Luke 5:21 ESV

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

There was no doubt in their mind. Jesus was behaving and speaking as if He was GOD! His words were blasphemous!

They spoke these things in their hearts. They may have been shocked at these words, which Jesus had just spoken.

Jesus, The Lord God

Jesus was in fact, professing to be God. He was pronouncing this man forgiven of his sins. That is something that only God is able to do.

This is vitally important. Jesus was either fully God and fully man, or He was a liar, or a lunatic or worse. He knew that there would be a reaction to His proclamation.

Luke 5:22–25 ESV

22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.

Jesus was able to forgive this man’s sin, because He was God, and He proved it by healing His broken body.

What is the result?

Luke 5:26 ESV

26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

“We have seen extraordinary things today.”

We’ve seen some significant things happen in this section of the Gospel of Luke today.

Christ is able to cleanse us. The cleansing hand of God. We who are defiled, unclean, outcasts are able to be made clean and acceptable, brought into fellowship. He does this by His will.

Christ is able to heal us of our brokenness. The healing hand of God. When we have broken the law, when we have fallen short, when we have severed our relationship with Him, we can have healing in Jesus.

The Cleansing and Healing Hand of God

Let me ask you this: Which of the characters we read about this morning are you most like?

Are you most like the leper or the lame man?

Are you diseased and defiled? Are you unclean? Are you in need of cleansing? Do you believe, that Christ is able to cleanse you, if He so desires? Then, be clean! Go and tell others that Jesus has made you whole again. Enjoy the blessing of your cleanliness.

Are you most like the priest or the Pharisees, or the teachers of the law?

Have you had someone come to you to profess that they are clean but you doubt? Have you heard the testimony of someone who God has made new, but now you have to see for yourself? Are you the skeptic that has doubts about the claims of Jesus? Do you hold yourself up, and believe you are better than others, because you “keep the law”. Caution, Jesus called these non-believers, “white washed tombs”.

We all need to recognize our uncleanness, brokenness, need for healing. We all need to admit, that Christ is the one and the only One who is able to forgive our sins and that if He desires, you will be saved by His grace. Which is His will! He does not will that any should perish, but that all will have eternal life.

2 Peter 3:8–10 ESV

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Ezekiel 18:32 ESV

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”

Are you most like the friends?

Are you acting by faith, endeavoring to bring others to the healing hand of God? Are you willing to invest your time and energy, so that someone you know, who is still broken and unforgiven can be laid at the foot of the Savior? Are you trusting that He will make them new? Maybe it is a loved one that you are carrying to Jesus. Maybe it is a coworker, or a neighbor, or a friend or an enemy, but don’t give up. You can’t always simply walk in the door, sometimes you have to get up on the roof and pull away some of the roofing and lower them down.

How Deep The Father’s Love

How deep the Father's love for us How vast beyond all measure That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure How great the pain of searing loss The Father turns His face away As wounds which mar the Chosen One Bring many sons to glory Behold the man upon a cross My sin upon His shoulders Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice Call out among the scoffers It was my sin that held Him there Until it was accomplished His dying breath has brought me life I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything No gifts, no power, no wisdom But I will boast in Jesus Christ His death and resurrection Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer But this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer But this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom

The Cleansing and Healing Hand of God

Video to watch before the Worship team comes and leads us in a closing song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzfs9B01Qq8