The Touch Of Jesus Series

Title: The Touch of Jesus

Theme: To show the compassion of Jesus

Text: Mark 1:40-44

Note: This message was done about much research on the topic. I am not sure where I got some of the notes but I I know not all of this message is original. I wanted to share.

Mark 1:40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

Introduction

Matthew tells us that Jesus had just came out of the mountain and the multitudes followed him. This is right after the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus had begun to “fulfill the law”. Not making the law void but making it with purpose. Seeing the purpose of the Law and how it had been replaced with Christ.

As he is walking here comes this leper. Now this is strange to the crowd because lepers were not supposed to associate with other people. They were not supposed to be around in crowds. But this one was so desperate that he ran to Jesus. He ran to his feet and he knelt in worship. The leper

When you have been touched by Jesus you know the difference. You know the master’s hand you know the masters touch.

Condition of the leper

1. Physically – his body was rotting away. He would develop these white spots on his body. From there it would seep to his bones. Until finally his fingers and toes would fall off. Often it would affect the face. In bible times there was no cure. His skin would turn leathery

2. Socially – he was an out cast. He would have to yell as he went into the crowd, “unclean, unclean”. He had no friends he was alone. People would not touch him.

3. Spiritually – he was barred from the temple. He could not go into worship. He could not be around other people. He was unclean. There were strict laws against his kind.

4. Emotionally – he had to be devasted. He could not enjoy the freedom of others. This was not his fault. It was a disease he contracted not created.

Since Miriam, Gehazi (servant of Elijah), and King Uzziah were struck by God himself with leprosy for their sin, leprosy, out of all the varied diseases these people faced, came to be seen especially as the sign of God’s disfavor and curse for sin. How’d you like to live with that sort of visible, unavoidable stigma?

So it was a dreaded disease.

What was amazing was that despite his condition he worshiped him. This is important and I believe a biblical principle. True worship is not affected by our condition. True worship is when we see Christ as who He is despite our condition. We will talk more about this more as we continue to explore other miracles.

From here the leper cries out “If You will, You can make me clean.” Not can you do it. Not do you have the power. But Lord it is up to you it is your choice. What faith! God, I believe in your power and I know you can it is up to you.

Listen to the next words. “41 And Jesus, moved with compassion,”

It touched Jesus heart

1. To see the condition of this man.

Leprosy is not only a dreaded disease, but it is often compared to sin. The dreaded disease that infests the soul. Jesus saw this man. Not only in his physical condition but also his spiritual condition. And had compassion. He did not have pride. He cared. He showed us a lesson of caring for the outcast.

2. To hear his worship in spite of his condition

Then the Bible says that Jesus, “put out His hand and touched him”,

Do not miss this because it is so important. He did not just speak a word or a blessing, but he did the unthinkable. He touched him. He touched a man who probably had not felt a human touch in years. He touched a man who was religiously unclean and an outcast. There is something about human touch. Studies who that a baby cannot survive without a human touch.

Oh there is nothing like the touch of the master to heal all our diseases. You don’t know until you have had His touch but boy when he touches you know. You know his touch. You feel his heart.