Unexpected - (W. 1 - Matthew 8:1-4)

“Unexpected Action”

Tonight we are starting a brand new series, as you just saw, called: “Unexpected.”

Over the next 2 weeks, we are going to talk about “Unexpected Actions, Unexpected Faith, and Unexpected Invitations.”

Jesus is always in the business of doing the unexpected. Always!

there are things we can expect. But we also did not expect to be in quarantine and away from church for months.

Here’s the cool thing: when Jesus shows up, it may be unexpected the way He works, but it always works for our good!

Matthew 8:1–4 KJV 1900

When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

What was unexpected in this?

1. An Unexpected Encounter

I attract strange people.

I’m not sure why, but I do.

Weird things happen to me… now, just to be clear, I don’t consider you guys to be strange.

the leper was supposed to cry out: “Unclean, Unclean!” to indicate that he had a deadly disease. It was also contagious.

Notice something about the Leper’s announcement:

a) His Problem

Leprosy was a deadly disease.

Leprosy is also a picture of sin:

Leviticus 13:3, 7, 44-45, 46

it’s deeper than the skin (v. 3)

it’s spreads

it defiles

it isolates

b) His Posture

He came to Jesus with a heart of worship.

That should say something to us.

His skin was oozing.

He was in pain.

He was

Our response to hardships should always be worship!!

c) His Prayer

He started with “Lord.”

This man knew that Jesus was capable of healing him… he knew it!

But this man also was more interested in praying for God’s will to be done.

Wow.

2. An Unexpected Action

The fact that Jesus healed this man should not surprise us. He is the Miracle-worker!

It’s how Jesus did it that should take us by surprise.

Notice what Jesus did unexpectedly:

a) Jesus Healed the Man

how?

Through Touch

Through a Word

b) Jesus Healed Us

The Priest goes to the Leper

Leviticus 14:3 KJV 1900

And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;

Hebrews 13:10–13 KJV 1900

We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

The priest offers a sacrifice

Leviticus 14:4–7 KJV 1900

Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.