Sermon Central
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If You Are Willing... Series
Contributed by Carl Willis on May 13, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: The leper knew the power to heal was available, the only question was His willingness. Jesus did more than heal skin that day...He touched the heart.
If You are Willing…
Mark 1:40-45
Mark 1:40 (HCSB)
Then a man with a serious skin disease came to Him and, on his knees, begged Him: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
The Life of a Leper
* Ostracized
* Leviticus – 13:45
Leviticus 13:45 (HCSB)
“The person afflicted with an infectious skin disease is to have his clothes torn and his hair hanging loose, and he must cover his mouth and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’
The Life of a Leper
* Ostracized
* Leviticus – 13:45
* The pronouncement of “unclean”
* Clothing torn
* Hair hanging loose
* Mouth covered – crying out unclean, unclean
* Alone
* Leviticus 13:46
Leviticus 13:46 (HCSB)
He will remain unclean as long as he has the infection; he is unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.
The Life of a Leper
* Ostracized
* Leviticus – 13:45
* The pronouncement of “unclean”
* Clothing torn
* Hair hanging loose
* Mouth covered – crying out unclean, unclean
* Alone
* Leviticus 13:46
* No social gatherings
* No corporate worship
* No human touch
* More than damaged skin
* Broken heart
The Cry of Desperation
* A glimmer of hope
* Jesus was a miracle worker
* He has healed others…
* Desperate measures
* He bowed before Jesus
* He begged Jesus
* He acknowledged Jesus’ authority
* The determining factor
* Is Jesus willing?
Mark 1:41a (HCSB)
Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched him.
The Power of a Touch
* Jesus touched him
* A forbidden act
* The risk of being “contaminated”
* A healing act
* Healing the pain of rejection
* Healing the pain of isolation
* Healing the pain of life lost
* Jesus’ motivation
* Compassion
* Moved by the cry of a broken heart
Mark 1:41b-42 (HCSB)
“I am willing,” He told him. “Be made clean.” Immediately the disease left him, and he was healed.
Healing Authority
* Jesus was willing
* The request was in harmony with God’s will
* Jesus spoke to the disease
* Authority displayed by verbal command
* Immediate results
* Healing was complete
* Within and without
Mark 1:43-44 (HCSB)
Then He sternly warned him and sent him away at once, telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
In Accordance to the Law
* Priestly verification
* Confirming the miracle of God
* Providing a formal declaration of cleansing
* Done in obedience to Old Testament law
* Giving thanks
* Making the appropriate offerings to the Lord
* Ensuring that proper credit for the miracle was
given
Mark 1:45 (HCSB)
Yet he went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news, with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But He was out in deserted places, and they would come to Him from everywhere.
Unable to Contain It
* Compelled to testify
* The miracle was too great to keep quiet
* The excitement was overwhelming
* Compelled to go and see
* What could Jesus do with my…?
* Driven by deep needs longing to be met
Do You Need His Touch???
**Powerpoint available on request
