Mr. Clean: How the King Helps Those Who Can’t Help Themselves

Rescuer

Welcome (Cameron Harris)

Scripture Reading (Matthew 7:28-8:17)

Prayer of Praise (God is patient), Sandra Lindell

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Ancient of Days

Prayer of Confession (Hypocrisy), Joel Whitcomb

Lord, From Sorrows Deep I Call

PBC Catechism #26

What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?

We believe the Holy Spirit is the supernatural agent who applies salvation to sinful people. He is the third person of the Trinity, truly God, eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.

Pastoral Prayer (Mike Lindell)

SERMON

Grateful to be back in the pulpit this morning...

Thank you to those who have preached as I rested my voice

Thank you to all who have prayed for and encouraged me

Turn to Matthew 7:28

If someone wrote you an email encouraging you to leave everything behind to follow some teacher, wouldn’t you want to know why?

Matthew’s writing a book to encourage his readers to follow a teacher named Jesus.

Why? Matthew insists He’s more than a teacher. He’s the King of Kings...

Look at His preaching! (ch. 5-7)

“And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” (7:28-29)

Look at His power! (ch. 8-9)

Three sets of three miracle stories

In these stories, Jesus reveals power over disease, nature, demons, and death

This morning we’ll examine the first set of three miracle stories, where we’ll learn a simple, counterintuitive truth.

It’s been said, “God helps those who help themselves.”

But that old saying is not in the Bible, and in fact the Bible often teaches the opposite.

Our text teaches us that Jesus helps those who CAN’T help themselves.

Some of you feel like you can’t come to Jesus.

If God only helps those who help themselves, you’re out of luck.

You’ve messed your life up far to miserably to come to Jesus now.

I pray this passage reminds you that your helplessness is what qualifies you to come.

Others feel like you can’t take Jesus’ love to others.

If God only helps those who help themselves, they’re out of luck.

If the sinner has made his bed, let him lie in it!

I pray this passage reminds you that if Jesus helps those who can’t help themselves, we should too.

Three Examples of the simple truth that Jesus helps those who can’t help themselves:

1) No One is Too DIRTY for Jesus to Touch

vv.1-2a—When [Jesus] came down from the mountain, great crowds followed Him. And behold, a leper came to Him

Leprosy is a generic term for various skin diseases that plagued the ancient world.

In extreme cases, leprosy would not only destroy the skin but could cause fingers, toes, hands, feet, or parts of the face to literally rot off the body [1]

Leprosy was almost impossible to cure, and even if cured it almost always left the individual scarred for a lifetime [2]

For this reason, it was “the most feared disease of the ancient world.” [3]

The physical effects of leprosy were bad, but the social effects were much worse.

Since leprosy was extremely contagious, lepers were isolated from the community.

Leviticus 13:45-46—The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.

By his clothes, his hygiene, his “face mask,” and even with his shouting he makes it known that he’s a leper. And he lives alone away from everybody else.

But why does he cry out “unclean?”

When the OT talks about a person being “unclean,” it’s not about physical dirtiness. It’s a ritual uncleanness.

The unclean person is cut off from worship in the temple or synagogue

And if he gets too close to a clean person, the clean person becomes unclean too.

Jewish tradition forbade a Jew from coming closer than six feet to a leper, and if the wind was blowing the limit was 150 feet. [4]

God’s people were social-distancing long before it went mainstream

“One ancient rabbi said, ‘When I see lepers I throw stones at them lest they come near me.’ Another said, ‘I would not so much as eat an egg that was purchased on a street where a leper had walked.” [5]

With all that background, let’s go back to verse 2...

v. 2a—“...behold, a leper came to Him and knelt before Him...”

Imagine the gasps and screams and whispers as this leper walks right up to Jesus.

Why is this leper approaching Jesus?

v. 2b—“...saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

This leper knows he has a need. And he knows that Jesus has the power to cleanse him.

If you think people were gasping and screaming when the leper approached Jesus, imagine what they did when Jesus responded...

v. 3—And Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Jesus could have healed with a word, but He chose to heal by touching the leper. Why?

Leviticus 5:3 makes it clear that if you touch an unclean person, you become unclean.

But not with Jesus!!! When Jesus touches an unclean person, Jesus doesn’t become unclean. The unclean person becomes clean!!!

Why? Because no one is too dirty for Jesus to touch!!!

Unbeliever: no matter how dirty you are, you aren’t too dirty for Jesus to touch you and clean you up.

The gospel isn’t about cleaning yourself up and coming to Jesus. It’s about recognizing your filthiness, admitting that you’re unable to clean yourself up, and crying out to Jesus in faith. It’s believing that He died to pay the penalty for your sin and He rose from the dead to give new life to whoever trusts Him.

Christian: if Jesus didn’t flinch at your filth when you were His enemy, why would He distance Himself from you now that you’re His friend?

About a month ago we were eating lunch with friends at 185. The adults were sitting at one table and the kids were sitting at another. As the adults were talking after lunch, one of my kids walked over to our table with a crumpled-up napkin. I watched as she placed it in front of my plate with a smile on her face. I asked her what she was doing and she said, “it’s my trash. I don’t want it near me anymore.” And then she walked back to her chair, just as boldly as she had walked towards mine.

Christian, you can bring your trash to Jesus. He’s not surprised by it. He’s not grossed out by you. He loves you, and He wants you to be clean.

v. 4—And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

“Don’t stop, ‘don’t pass go,’ go immediately to the priest and offer the sacrifices required in Leviticus 14 so you can be declared clean and be restored to the community.”

Jesus isn’t interested in halfway healing.

Christian: in your case, that means Jesus wants to do more than clean you up so you can be in a right relationship with God. He also wants you to show His love to others.

If Jesus loved you when you were dirty and unclean, you should love the dirty and unclean too!

As “Pride Month” comes to an end, Christians need to think long and hard about how we’re going to love those in this community.

If the Lord tarries, I believe many will be disillusioned by the lies about pride. When that happens, where will they turn for help and hope?

If we’ve joined the world in affirming them, they won’t come to us because we won’t have anything unique to offer them.

If we’ve hated and scorned them, they won’t come to us either.

Jesus helps those who can’t help themselves. Even if you’re unclean. You’re not too dirty for Jesus to touch.

There’s a second example...

2) No One is Too DISTANT for Jesus to Reach

vv. 5-6—When [Jesus] had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to Him, appealing to Him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.”

Capernaum was a little fishing village on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, the hometown of Peter and Andrew, and Matthew.

SHOW CAPERNAUM IMAGE

Remember, this part of the world was controlled by the Roman empire in those days. And a centurion was a captain of about 100 men. Most likely this centurion was was responsible for law and order in Capernaum.

But don’t think of these Roman officers like you think of law enforcement officers in your town. Our police officers come from among us. Some of them live and worship with us. They’re a part of our communities.

Most of us respect them . . . even when they pull us over and give us a ticket for being on our phones while driving to pick up a friend for dinner on Thursday night.

Centurions were more like a Russian soldier occupying Mariupol. The locals saw them as unwelcome invaders.

Once again, the person approaching Jesus is not truly welcome in polite Jewish society. This time it’s not an unclean leper but a Gentile centurion.

The centurion comes on behalf of his servant.

The word used for servant literally means “young boy,” so this is probably a young slave boy born into the centurion’s household.

What will Jesus do? Surely He won’t help an enemy of the people of God? Will He?

v. 7—And [Jesus] said to [the centurion], “I will come and heal him.”

Again, this would have likely shocked Jesus’ disciples because Jewish tradition forbade a Jew from entering the house of a Gentile. [6]

But what happens next is even more shocking...

vv. 8-10—But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who followed Him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.”

Why is Jesus so impressed with this centurion?

Reason 1: “not worthy”

Luke’s gospel: “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” (Luke 7:4-5)

The centurion says nothing like that! He says “I am not worthy!”

Reason 2: faith without sight

D. A. Carson — “we have no recorded evidence that up to this point Jesus had performed a healing miracle at a distance and by word alone.” [7]

The centurion believe that Jesus is able to heal long-distance!

But that’s not the only reason why Jesus is impressed with this centurion’s faith...

Reason 3: Jesus’ identity

The centurion says "I’m under authority too.”

He’s under the authority of the Roman emperor.

But he’s also a representative of the Emperor’s authority, so if he says “go here” or “do that” he is speaking with the emperor’s authority.

To disobey the centurion is to disobey the emperor!

The centurion believes Jesus has authority in the same way.

He is under the Father’s authority.

But He’s also a representative of the Father’s authority, so what Jesus says, God says. Where the Father has authority, Jesus has authority.

Jesus doesn’t have to be physically present to heal the centurion’s servant because Jesus has authority everywhere because Jesus is God!

No one is too distant for Jesus to reach!!!

That’s the point Jesus reinforces in...

vv 11-12—“I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Every self-respecting Jew believed one day God’s people would sit at a table with their ancestors and enjoy a heavenly feast where they would have all the food they could ever want or imagine. But for many Jews, the best part was that no Gentiles would be there. [8]

If you’re a Gentile living in those days, you would feel cut off, distant, unable to reach God or His people.

But Jesus says, no! You’re not too distant for me to reach! I’m going to gather people from every corner of the globe at my table. And some of those who think they’re fine because of their Jewish upbringing will be separated from me forever!

Where is your faith?

If it’s in Jesus, you will be welcomed at His table in the heavenly kingdom.

If your faith is in your good works, your family, your church membership, your giving record, etc. you will be cut off in darkness forever.

“Well I can’t have faith like that centurion!”

You don’t have to.

Matthew 17:20b—“Truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

It is not the size of your faith that is most important, but the object of your faith!

Weak faith in Jesus is infinitely better than strong faith in anything else!

Still struggling to believe? When Jesus says something you can take it to the bank...

v. 13—And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

Unbeliever: you are not too distant for Jesus to reach. Trust Him!

Christian: don’t misunderstand this beautiful truth. Jesus’ power to reach those far away doesn’t mean we don’t have work to do.

About 250 years ago, a young English Baptist pastor named William Carey was burdened for those who were distant from God.

Today we call them unreached people groups, referring not to those who are merely lost but to those who are lost and have little or no access to the Gospel.

Carey was trying to convince fellow pastors in his local Baptist association to send missionaries to the unreached when a fellow pastor reportedly said, “Young man, sit down!... When God pleases to convert the heathen, He'll do it without consulting you or me." [9]

Yes, it’s true God doesn’t need to consult us to reach those who are distant from God. But He already told us that He will reach them when we are faithful to pursue them.

Who in my life is distant from God, and what should I be doing to reach them?

Why shouldn’t I go to those who are most distant from God?

How can we be more strategic in our sending?

Do something simple, like leaning towards those distant from you in this worship gathering

Jesus helps those who can’t help themselves. Even if you feel far away from God. You’re not too distant for Jesus to reach.

There’s a final example...

3) Nothing is Too DIFFICULT for Jesus to Carry

In Jesus’ day there was a popular prayer that many male Jews prayed every morning: “Lord, I thank You that I was not born a slave, a Gentile, or a woman.” [10]

That prayer is not found in Scripture, and it doesn’t reflect the heart of Jesus.

In the first two miracles, we’ve seen Jesus heal an outcast leper, and a Gentile’s slave. Now He shows mercy and compassion to a woman...

vv. 14-15—And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve Him.

In Jesus’ day people didn’t have the luxury of lying in bed if they had a little sniffle or a slight temperature. The fact that this woman is lying in bed suggests she was very sick, quite possibly on her deathbed.

Jewish tradition forbade touching people with a fever. [11]

But Jesus simply touches her and she gets up and starts fixing dinner. In other words, she’s completely and instantly healed.

By this time, word has spread about Jesus’ healing power...

v. 16—That evening they brought to Him many who were oppressed by demons, and He cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.

Jesus shows His authority over demons and disease by healing all of them

Notice how Matthew interprets what’s happening...

v. 17—This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

Some have concluded from this passage that it’s God’s will for you to be healthy, as long as you have enough faith.

Joel Osteen—“Maybe Alzheimer’s disease runs in your family genes, but don’t succumb to it. Instead, say every day, ‘My mind is alert. I have clarity of thought. I have a good memory. Every cell in my body is increasing and getting healthier.’ If you’ll rise up in your authority, you can be the one to put a stop to the negative things in your family line.... Start boldly declaring, ‘God is restoring health unto me. I am getting better every day in every way.’” [12]

Yes, Jesus has the power to heal your sickness. It’s not too difficult for Him. “Then why isn’t He healing me?”

Because when Matthew talks about Jesus carrying our illness and disease, He’s pointing to something even greater...

Interpretation principle: when the NT quotes the OT, the larger passage is in view. [13]

Matthew quotes one line from Isaiah 53:4, but let’s look at in context...

Isaiah 53:3-6—He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to His own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Jesus successfully carried something even heavier than your sickness. He carried your sin to the cross.

Unbeliever: repent and believe!

If you trust Him, you will one day enter a world without sickness, suffering, and sin.

Christian: lift high the cross!

J.C. Ryle— “Let others hold for the terrors of hell and the joys of heaven . . . Give me the cross of Christ. This is the only lever, which has ever turned the world upside down and made people forsake their sins. And if this will not, nothing will. A man … will do little or no good among his hearers unless he knows something of the cross.” [14]

Jesus helps those who can’t help themselves. If Jesus was willing to carry our sin to the cross, there’s nothing too difficult for Him to carry.

Go to the white flag

Let not conscience make you linger, Nor of fitness fondly dream; All the fitness He requires Is to feel your need of Him.

Come Ye Sinners, Poor & Needy

Benediction (Hebrews 13:13-14)