Luke 5:12-13--The Healing Heart of Jesus

Introduction

Silas was born as the pandemic was breaking up

One guest was now allowed in the hospital room

Going in to be induced January 8, 2021

We learned that Hilary had Covid on Christmas Eve in 2020. Merry Christmas! We spent our Christmas in opposite rooms for at least 6 hours.

Her last day of the 14 day quarantine was January 7th, 2021

We went into the hospital

The Covid Guard was standing watch to take our temperature and ask us if we experienced any of the symptoms that everyone denies

We got to the one where it said, “Have you come into contact with anyone who tested positive for Covid within the last 2 weeks?”

Yes… me.

The ladies took a step back

Early on in the pandemic, to have Covid was to sort of have a mark of shame

“Do we tell people?”

You have to quarantine, even away from the people in your home.

When we know someone with Covid, we now have a natural draw to take a step back

Luke 5:12–13 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.

Physical Leprosy

In the Bible, another disease that cause people to take a step back was Leprosy

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Leprosy, Leper)

Chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a bacterium similar to the tuberculosis bacillus. The disease is manifested by changes in the skin, mucous membranes, and peripheral nerves

The skin would become dispigmented and a pale patch of skin

The skin would thicken and and break, with infections growing

In extreme ravages, the peripheral nerve damage would involve paralysis in the hands, feet, and face

It brings sores and decay into the skin

Corruption into the blood

The eyes, ears, and nose would give discharge

Rottenness into the bones

These people would be deemed unclean—leaving them utterly deplorable and considered disgusting.

A Walk with God: Luke (20. Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy (Luke 5:12–16))

In biblical times, to contract leprosy was not merely to suffer the ravages of a debilitating disease that affected one’s body and brought disfiguration of its members, but perhaps even more important was what it meant to a person socially, emotionally and personally. Once a person was pronounced to be leprous, he was forced by law to remove himself from all contact with healthy individuals in his community. It meant a life of banishment, a life in abject exile, removed from family and employment. It was a truly miserable existence.

Numbers 5:1–4 ESV

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the people of Israel that they put out of the camp everyone who is leprous or has a discharge and everyone who is unclean through contact with the dead. 3 You shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell.” 4 And the people of Israel did so, and put them outside the camp; as the Lord said to Moses, so the people of Israel did.

Leviticus 13:45–46 ESV

45 “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.’ 46 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.

In Leviticus 13 and 14, we get an account of the appearances and law regarding leprosy

Jewish law required seclusion of the infected person and examination by a priest from time to time

After isolation, if the infected person was cured, they were required to ceremonial cleansing, even to the point of removing all their hair, in order to take away the danger of the disease to others.

These people were viewed as outcasts, judged by God.

They were treated as if they were dead men.

It is a living death

Think about the shame shouting “Unclean” in the grocery store or Wal Mart

Covid Mask

Even the pro-mask people look suspiciously at you if you wear it

Now in Luke 5, a man “full of leprosy” comes to Jesus.

Old Testament law prohibited any leper from entering the city based on Numbers 5.

Luke was a physician, so he notes this guy’s physical health

This leprosy was more than just the tips of his fingers or the edges of his ears

But was all over his body

The disciples treated this man with disgust

Hurling insults

“Get away!”

Some might have vommitted

Spiritual Leprosy

This man is a picture of our spiritual state

Each of us have spiritual leprosy

We each have sin in our lives that makes someone else puke

It’s easy for us to react as the disciples, but the problem is that we are the leper

Sin is more than skin deep

It is more than any doctor, positive thinking, or moral choices could cure us of.

Sin has so corrupted us and it is separating us from God.

It has eaten away at our hearts

Corrupted our minds

Tainted our souls.

When we see it in the lives of others, we act as though the person is incurable of their sin

But this man comes to Jesus

He is fully aware of his condition

Which makes him the perfect example of people Jesus wants

Not only has he said he was unclean, he knew he was unclean

There was nothing he could do to make himself better

And everyone else had probably given up on him too.

Years of this illness probably meant that some of his family had stopped praying for Him.

Being an outcast and a beggar, he knew there was nothing in him that would make him commendable to Jesus

But that’s what puts him in a perfect posture of grace

Humility is the posture of grace

Coming to Jesus, “he fell on his face” (v. 12)

This was a posture of worship

Look at the title: “Lord”

He knew that this was the Messiah that the Jews had been praying for!

He knew He was the only Son of God

If anyone can heal me, it’s Him!

Complete desperation

“Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

No one could cure him. No time could cure him.

This would take an act of God to make him clean.

What amazing words!

What an amazing prayer!

“If you will, you can clean me!”

He doesn’t try to negotiate or trade with Jesus!

There’s no question in his mind of the power of Jesus!

He bowed to His sovereignty!

“I know only you can make me clean! Jesus, will you?”

“I know that you are able, but are you willing?!”

This posture of humility reveals that this man recognizes the power an authority of the One who transcends far more than anyone had ever encountered or imagine!

Jesus reaches out in compassion, and touches this man (v. 13)

This is something no natural rabbi would do

But sovereign love responded with sovereign compassion and power

Mark’s gospels recounts that Jesus was moved with pity (1:41)

Jesus demonstrates a compassion for him, when everyone else met him with distaste and disgust

Jesus gives him mercy, when everyone else vomits at his sight

Jesus moves toward him, when everyone else moves away.

Jesus’s heart toward the unclean

His righteousness and purity is infinite

He cannot be made unclean!

This means that there is no other who can save us than Jesus! There is no other Healer than Jesus! There is no other King!

This man came to Jesus in desperation, seeking the redemptive grace and mercy of God!

Jesus meets this man with compassion!

It wasn’t that Jesus just stopped the spread of the leprosy

He healed him entirely! (v. 13)

Some believe that Jesus could never forgive them of their sin

“I’m too rotten”

If this passage teaches us anything

It’s Jesus’s willingness to help those that need grace!

This shows the heart of Jesus toward sinners!

Jesus went to the cross so that you’re sin could be forgiven

The cross of Jesus was so much more humiliating than leprosy

Crucifixion was a punishment held for the worst of society.

According to the law, a man who hanged on the cross was considered cursed by God

Jesus became our curse

July memory verse

Proverbs 17:15 ESV

He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

God looked at Jesus as cursed so that He could forgive us fully!

The Cross of Christ is the Cure for your Soul

Jesus charges him to keep his identity a secret (v. 14)

Theologians refer to this as the Messianic secret

Jesus kept His identity hidden, so that the people’s preconceived ideas of Him would not be spread

But every time Jesus charges someone not to tell, everyone heard about Him!

Conclusion

As those who have been healed by Jesus, we are to go and show everyone of what Jesus has healed us of!

Jesus has cleansed us and commissioned us for His service in His kingdom!

Perhaps you’re here and you’re exhausted under the weight of your sin leprosy

Perhaps your prayer is similar to the Leper

“Lord, I know you can.

Please heal me

Please forgive me

If you will, you can make me clean of all my sin”

I want to offer you more than just forgiveness for your sin

I want to offer you more than healing for your soul

I want to offer you the Forgiver of your sin

I want to offer you the Justifier of your life

I want to offer you the Healer of your soul

You can have Jesus Himself!

Union with Christ is the biggest blessing you can experience

Not just the blessing Jesus offers

Not just the healing His death and resurrection bring

But the true life He gives by simply having Jesus Himself!

If you’ve never received the forgiving, healing, and adopting love of Jesus

If you’re here and you’ve been a Christian following Jesus, but can’t seem to be free of this spiritual leprosy

Would you come pray with me?