"I Will, Be Clean!"

Luke 5:12 ESV

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.”

What Is Leprosy?

Skin Disease

color

nerve damage

injure self

open wounds

smell

Incurable

Contagious

Removed from Society

King

Family

leper camps

Greatly Feared

Viewed as

Consequence of Sin

Had to say

“unclean”

“unclean”

The Realization

This leper

Heard of Jesus

Glimmer of hope.

But remembers

leprosy = punishment

Jesus will reject me...

The Struggle

Jesus is in

one of the cities.

Lepers not allowed

Large group

Lepers not allowed

Hear Jesus

Lepers not allowed

Sees Jesus Healing

Stand back

watching

Lepers not allowed

Something Gives Hope

decides to go.

The Attempt

Remember,

large crowds

not allowed.

He moves toward crowd

People see him.

year of leprosy

spread everywhere

damaged skin

rotting wounds

People scream

get back

run away.

Others see

going to Jesus

try to stop him.

Unable.

Only sees Jesus.

crowd parts

like red sea.

Falls at feet

Words:

“Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

Jesus Response

Everyone

Runs

screams

mad faces

terror

Jesus

calm

waits

silent

smiles

What he does next....

unbelievable.

Matthew 8:3 (ESV)

And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him...

Cannot touch them.

They are unclean

those who touch

become unclean!

Jesus was not

infected by leper...

Why touch Him???

His words healed him.

Why not just say.

Don’t touch!!!!

It had been years

since this man

hug family

shake a hand

accidental bump shoulder

Jesus gave him

humanity.

Treated like

normal person.

human being

valued.

He could have

spoken only

But Jesus teaching

love for people

nature of Christ.

Jesus is not infected by

me or

you.

Some think.

I can’t come to God.

I’m not worthy.

I’m not good enough.

He is too holy.

Don’t want to infect Him.

Truly

you cannot.

He is immune!

Then Jesus says the words,

the words that

changed his life:

Matthew 8:3 (ESV)

“I will; be clean.”

I Will...

profound.

Jesus wants to.

desire to

longs

craves

heal.

Others thought

his sin

his problems

his choices

brought this.

More importantly:

he deserved it.

They did not “will”

to see him healed...

This meant

not too bad.

not too ugly.

not too smelly.

not too sinful.

not too broken.

You and I

not too messed up.

to come to Jesus!!!

“I Will”

“I want.”

“I want you.”

The Change

Jesus didn’t stop there

He said,

Matthew 8:3 (ESV)

“I will; be clean.”

Others may

care

want what is best

love you.

But others often

can’t heal you.

Only the words of Christ

transform the soul!

Matthew 8:3 (ESV)

“I will; be clean.”

Immediately,

skin changes

wounds healed

bacteria gone

smell gone.

Life Changed,

family back

job back

society back

health back

church back

County Song in Reverse

Man’s life changes...

hopelessness ->

joy and future.

sadness ->

joy

Fear ->

peace

The Charge

Jesus next words:

Mark 1:43–44 ESV

And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 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.”

Very stern command.

Don’t go

home

wife

kids

mom

work

celebrate

party

Go

priest

inspected

proclaimed clean

Why?

many priests

prejudiced against Jesus.

Before story

reaches them.

2. Reach the Priests.

3. Hinder Jesus Work

too many lepers

The Result

Goes to Priest

proclaimed clean

Gets life back.

family

friends.

People ask...

How?

Jesus said,

tell no body.

He thought,

Jesus is humble.

Told everyone

Mark 1:45 ESV

But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

The Application

Nobody is too sinful

to come to Christ.

Christ turns away none

who sincerely come.

The Appeal

Come to Christ

Be Healed