A Leper, A Paralytic, & a Publican: What Happens When You Come into the Jesus' Circle
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As Mark introduces us to Jesus and His mission, as we have seen His authority not just over nature, Satan, and unclean spirits, but His authority to Call you and me into the kingdom of God, we get a threefold picture of how we are to respond to enter the Jesus-circle, and a threefold picture of the benefits you’ll experience in coming into the Jesus’ circle. Before beginning the stories of the conflicts with Scribes and Pharisees, before putting his finger on how the crowd misunderstood Jesus and His Kingdom, Mark wants you and I to turn to Jesus, to enter His circle with the same responses of the Leper, the Paralytic, and the Publican. He wants us even coming to this table to experience the same blessings: The Cleansing compassionate Touch, the Forgiving Declaration, & the Messianic Meal in Jesus' Circle
A. Jesus-followers are Leper’s Touched by Jesus & Made Clean
A. Jesus-followers are Leper’s Touched by Jesus & Made Clean
It had been days or weeks, since that remarkable Sabbath day and the evening that followed in Capernaum. It was like the whole town crowded the house and the moment three stars could be seen, they had come and Jesus healed and he cast out demons, like in the synagogue preached God’s Word with authority - not delegated, but He preached the Gospel of God - because authority of that word was His own. Now weeks, and maybe even a month later, after he left because it was not to be a magical faith-healer that he came, not temporal physical healing first of all came for, but he went into the towns, - preached the gospel in synagogues. As he is entering yet another town, a leper comes up to him, with pure and raw belief - probably wouldn’t have taken hold of Jesus as a leper, presumed not malignant but contagious. Judge by family community, priest - according to OT law - to be not just unhealthy, but this important - look at how he describes himself: Mark 1:40
And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”
He understands himself to be unclean. Robert Trench, NT scholar explains what this means: Though the leper was not worse or guiltier than his fellow-countrymen, he was nevertheless a parable of sin —an "outward visible sign of innermost spiritual corruption."
The nature of leprosy, with its insidious beginnings, its slow progress, its destructive power, and the ultimate ruin it brings, makes it a powerful symbol of moral depravity. If we see ourselves with spiritual eyes, we see that apart from the work of Christ we would be decaying forms of walking death. Keeping this deeper meaning of leprosy before us, Mark 1:40
Very practically being unclean meant two things: First it meant you were cut off from human society of touch - sure could still live in town, but outcast, could still come to synagogue (interestingly like the demon possessed man), but had to be isolated big screen around. Cut off from dwelling quarters, move out of family home - If had a wife years since held her hand, felt little kiss on check. If kids no hug no hand on the shoulder. Heard of a lonely man in a church, went to get a haircut just to have human touch. This lepers experience a picture of your experience with sin too - it cuts you ff from real human fellowship its separates, you hide in shame or in cover-up, no deep desire to really connect to know and be known.
But the other really practical affect of having leprosy was one place you could not go because you were ceremonially unclean. Well what was the ceremony - centred in the temple, with sacrifice, and fellowship - cut off from fellowship with God. One of the three great feasts at least to come in to courts of God - couldn’t because ritually unclean!
But listen this leper knows he’s unclean he cries out make me clean. I wonder if you and I realize - in our sin we are spiritual lepers, without Christ we can have no real deep and lasting fellowship with God and not really with each other the way its meant to be! Would you dare to say to Jesus tonight, even as we sing - I long to be perfectly whole, wash me - Not just confessing sin, but believing He is the sin-bearer, he is the spiritual leprosy healer, he is the great priest - who not only can declare you clean, -but in a miracle as miraculous as curing physical leprosy, you can call out in faith and he can an instant - immediately take your leprosy while granting you his life!
I can’t imagine how that leper thought of his future, must have thought my life is done. And maybe that’s how you think of your life too, just stuck broken, nothing changes. But the gospel begins with Jesus taking people at dad-ends -and beyond what ever could imagine opening new road before them to eternal life - changes everything. Answer this honestly - when Jesus the Son of God looks at your life - do you think he could look at the rest of your life the way he looked at the rest of the Lepers life? Would you turn to Jesus now for that future?
Centuries ago a number of workmen were seen dragging a great marble block into the city of Florence, Italy. It had come from the famous marble quarries of Carrara, and was intended to be made into a statue of a great Old Testament prophet. But it contained imperfections, and when the great sculptor Donatello saw it, he refused it at once. So there it lay in the cathedral yard, a useless block. One day another sculptor caught sight of the flawed block. But as he examined it, there rose in his mind something of immense beauty, and he resolved to sculpt it. For two years the artist worked feverishly on the work of art. Finally, on January 25, 1504, the greatest artists of the day assembled to see what he had made of the despised and rejected block. Among them were Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Pietro Perugino, the teacher of Raphael. As the veil dropped to the floor, the statue was met with a chorus of praise. It was a masterpiece! The succeeding centuries have confirmed that judgment. Michelangelo's David is one of the greatest works of art the world has ever known.
Christ saw the broken life deadend life of the Leper, but also of the Paralytic, and of Levi, and I believe of you and me. And this Jesus still sees men and women with his consummate artist's eye today. The Scripture says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works" (Ephesians 2:10). He sees in us what no one else sees. Mark 2:13
Imagine the miracle. Little nubs of fingers left, spontaneously grow back, rotted flesh becomes rosy and vibrant. Legs that held you up but could no longer really feel - NO one touched a leper, but Jesus says I am willing to touch your uncleanness to take upon myself to bear it, and instead of the contagion spreading to Jesus, Jesus life is communicated by faith to this leper. Mark 1:41
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”
Do you get this deep and poignant truth. This is the incarnation - 8x Jesus is described moved by compassion as reaching out and touching someone, touch by our brokenness, expects us to turn like this leper to him but look a the blessing. And Jesus says, the biggest deal is not your healing, don’t want your advertisement as a faith healer. No what does Jesus tell him? Mark 1:44
and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”
That’s the word martyr. Be witnesses summoned against Jesus, bad witness. But in the gospel of Mark there are good witnesses. In the life of Mark’s readers Peter just died a witness, and each one of them maybe not called to give their life for Jesus sake, but to make the good witness, testimony to others this is how Jesus cleanses, this is how access to God comes! Is that the simple testimony you come with to each other as approach this table - I once was lost a leper cut off, but now am found. That this cleansing has opened to you the temple fellowship, that you have access to God -veil ripped away.
But the next response and blessing goes even deeper.
B. Jesus-followers are Paralytics who receive the Forgiving Declaration,
B. Jesus-followers are Paralytics who receive the Forgiving Declaration,
Jesus can no longer go freely through the towns. So he returns to home base of Simon Peter and Andrew’s home. And from that home he is preaching the word to a packed house. And here come four men, carrying a poor man’s bed, easily transportable. And their on the bed a little jostled from the journey is one like my cousin - unable to walk for years. But like my cousin, who could only smile on one side of her face, this paralytic is smiling - truly believers Jesus can help him. But they reach the destination, and its like you’ve tickets to first post-covid concert, can hardly wait, paid good money travelled far - get there and realize its been a trick; place is already packed and no way in . Can’t get near.
But look at these four friends or maybe family members You’ve got to see this Jesus. One-storey homes with timbers and then branches then mud. They remove and the word is even excavate. And imagine the ruckus and the little bits of debris falling maybe on nice clean robes of a scribe with a seat of honour near the travelling rabbi. And jesus perhaps with an amused eye, knowingly just nods and continues, can’t you stop them Jesus. And then down down down come a man on a mat right before the teaching rabbi. And we know what the scribes are thinking - about decorum and interruption, But what is Jesus thinking. He looks at all 5 of them and look what Mark records: Mark 2:5a
And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
I wonder if you have ever been a friend like that. Whether Jesus looks at you as you reach out, even as he did and touch people in your life who have physical problems, sickness, who have serious problems that mes sup their plans for work and life - and whether in your heart of heart you believe Jesus can do something with this!
There is tension so thick you could cut with a knife, will Jesu heal him or not Are the Scribes going to break out in open defiance or not.
And you can almost see the surprise on the faces, screwed up with a big collective, Huh? with the words that come from the Sovereign Saviour’s mouth:
Not be healed, not teaching, not reach forward and touch,. But Son, your sins are forgiven!” Well that’s not what we came here for, thanks, that’s all spiritual and everything, but can you just get to the healing part? But the scribes get it - Only God has the authority to forgive sins, and this one is claiming to be God or so closely identified with God He’s doing God’s business.
They perceive there is an issue in our lives much deeper than temporal healing or temporal disease. Jesus attends to that motion in their heart, that scribes saying - Jesus you can’t forgive sins, and God’s forgiveness is up for grabs around here through your ministry. And Jesus with his x-ray questions asks:
Mark 2:9
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?
How would you answer that question this morning? Well easier to say Forgiven. Actually would be easy and they couldn't tell whether God had forgiven that sins in that moment, whether Jesus had authority to remit all sin and the sinful nature , whether mans’ name written in Lambs Book of Life.
And here is the question in this morning and this evenings sermon - who is Jesus - he and he alone one who comes to you, speaks to yo, even touches us in our place of need - faith in him like that leper, like these friends and the paralytic - I have authority - I am owner of creation , made, authority over it even unclean spirits, but of your life and record of guilt, - granted authority to seek and save -
But you wouldn’t know without faith if I forgave this mans’ sins - so give you tangible sign - . And immediately - now do you believe that about Jesus authority to forgive your sin and mine? Oh look at the connection between physical visible sign and the teaching of the gospel - you have that here at the table - took on our sickness, our sin, crucified ain the flesh, bore the full affects of sins curse, disease, death, - raised to life
And that is what brings us to the most personal response of Levi, and the deepest blessing of the Meal with the Messiah!
C. Jesus-Followers are Publicans who eat the Messianic Meal in Jesus' Circle
C. Jesus-Followers are Publicans who eat the Messianic Meal in Jesus' Circle
Now think of the three great words Jesus has spoken that are strung together in these three snapshots: Jesus says to the Leper: Be CLEAN. And immediately and miraculously he is cleansed and made whole. He says to the Rise, pick up your mat, and walk”. And now what will his words of authority be: Follow me. Do you get why the people sensing when He proclaim the Good News of God - not as other teachers, but with authority. This is the commanding Christ, the Son of the Living God, The demons recognize him before people do - you are the one bringing the Final Judgment, you are the Holy One of God. But in this last of the three snap shots, Mark has focused his point even all the more by recording Jesus one line parable about coming for sick not the the wealthy and listen to the punch line: Mark 2:17b
And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
That last bit is so tied to this word of authority - follow me. What is Jesus up to in his ministry, what’ his mission? How will it be accomplished? You need to understand that word call - God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldeans - make him a community blessed and blessing. Lord God called Israel. jesus calls his disciples, and now Jesus says, all who know themselves to be sin-sick sinners - un-whole because of sin and also the consequences of sin, God has sent me to call sinners like that unto salvation. General Call goes out to the whole world, and an inner irresistible call by the Holy Spirit on all who respond in faith.
Now the earth shattering part of this call, who? Levi, or Matthew as we know him by a name it would seem Jesus gave him, was a publican or tax collector. Capernaum central town right on the border between two little kingdoms allowed to operate independent of Rome, but tariffs collected, and tax put on income, and in this case perhaps especially on fish in the marketplace. But tax-collectors hired by government, also served as loan sharks. Perhaps that hardest thing to swallow, was not just that government has taxes, but it would be like a Palestinian hiring himself out to an Israeli to collect from his own Palestinian neighbours. Easily the lowest class. When someone took this job, kicked out of their synagogue, no longer credible enough to give testimony, most despised of Jewish society. And Jesus who was well known enough in the area by his teaching, by miracle,s, by his claim to be able to forgive, Levi is like me - yes you. And there is no question what the Rabbi Messiah is asking - like with those brothers S & A, J &J who are with him traveling as Jesus circle, to whom Jesus said follow after me, Levi understands leave behind not fishing nets and business, but his tax-collecting and conniving thievery. But I’m not religious, I m]’m not good enough, only good at making money.
Jesus says I am authoritatively calling you become my disciple! And this is the first recorded passage in which Jesus’ circle , through whom He will work his salvation, they are called disciples. And understand that the call salvation to be healed and made whole first spiritual and one day in every way by Jesus it goes hand and hand with joining the Jesus’ circle and becoming a disciple - salvation and discipleship happen together.
And now we have a scene again, like in S &A house that wouldn’t happen in pandemic restriction days. House is packed to the hilt, bursting out into the yard. Their are Jesus and disciples and many who are following after him, and whose house is it? Well Levi doesn’t work by himself, maybe doesn’t even life by himself, and as he as it were burns his tax collector table, like Elisha did his yoke for oxen, he kisses his old calling behind, we ahve the first of many symbolic meals. The sinners and tax-collectors are there for Levi’s send off, and Jesus the great Rabbi, and the very Son of God - bends his head to go where no respectable religious Jew would step foot - he goes leading his disciples into these risque quarters.
And there is application there for all of us too. Longer we’re Christians the more just spend time with Christians. Can be a good desire to have godly friendship and fellowship. But we find Jesus rubbing shoulders with sinners and tax-collectors, those not particularly religious, those outcasts of society … and not only giving granola bar to the guy at our off ramp. But sitting down to have table fellowship.
We can’t become practical Pharisees with all Xn interaction not influence with unbelievers in the world. There are some who are Pharisees in principle and belief, but there are others of us who become Pharisees in practice and we only have space in our lives for people who think and acts like us. We are a people of only one tribe. But Here Jesus teaches that we are to be in the world, like salt! The Messiah and His people live in contact with people very different than themselves do you? Are you in circulation in your neighbourhood, at work, in a league, in your family?
Oliver Cromwell ruled England, the nation experienced a crisis: They ran out of silver and could not mint any coins. Cromwell sent his soldiers to the Cathedral to see if any silver was available. They reported back that the only silver was the statues of the saints, to which Cromwell replied, "Melt down the saints and get them back into circulation." Sometimes God must do that with us. We must be melted down so that we will get into circulation in the world for Him. place A NEED A FRIENDSHIP A CRISIS WHERE HEART MELTS FOR THOSE AROUND YOU!
Just look at how its described how Jesus spends time with Levi! Mark 2:15
And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.
Mark writing to Roman Christians uses what eventually supplanted typical Jewish meal were sit down.they might of, but Mark uses word for Roman feast, reclined, lying on side. Killed that fatted calf, like wedding banquet. And who were they all reclining with - Jesus has become the master and host of this meal. IT’s not the Lord’s Supper, but it like the Lord’s Supper - is picture of the great Messianic banquet at the end of time - And Jesus says, Levi come come into this Jesus Circle join us, follow after me - in this community of salvation, discipleship and mission - Like Babette Feast - like prodigal come home. Place for you at the table with new robes, and sandals and a ring. And it s this table fellowship which is the clincher tonight - yes Lord cleanse me as a the leper, touch me at my greatest point of need, I need your cleansing and you ushering me into God’s presence, yes Lord I am paralyzed but more by my sin then any physical infirmity - forgive me, let me walk and dance with you, yes Lord - I am too used to slinking around the corners of society and of your people, I know I am sinner and publican, but I dare believe You call me by name, you have made a place for me to recline totally accepted by you and your people at your table.
There is so much for us to learn about discipleship, as we commit to being-in-person followers of Jesus. But do you see how it all begins, Jesus authoritative call and invitation, and your simple response - yes I believe, I have faith, I will follow turning my life in your direction Jesus.