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.
This morning some of you need a touch of the master’s hand. Some of you need to feel the heart of God as he touches your life.
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
No greater change can be made in a person than when Jesus touches him. The leper, "If thou wilt." Note Jesus’ reply. (See also vs. 14-15)
Ask the:
1. The maniac of Gadara - lived in the tombs until Jesus came his way, touched him and left him clothed and in his right mind.
2. A cripple met Jesus, was touched and went on his way leaping and praising God.
3. The widow of Nain wept as she followed the coffin of her only son to the graveyard. The passed Jesus who touched the boy’s hand and restored his life.
This reminded me of Hebrews 4:14 – 16 KJV
Heb 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Jesus healed the leper
and said to him, I will; be clean!
"I Will", one of most powerful statements ever made by our Lord Jesus Christ.
We long to hear those words spoken into our lives, especially in our hour of desperation.
Some of us hear this morning may discover that we fit the profile of the leprous man in the book of Matthew. While you may not be terminally ill with some dreadful disease such as leprosy, you still need a move of God in your life as much as any. You do not doubt that God is able to work mightily in your life. You know he can, but you may question if He will.
Jesus wants you to know ’this morning, that he is not only God "Who can" He is God "Who will."
He neither lacks the desire or the ability to perform a mighty work in your life. "If Jesus Can, Then He Will."
Jesus said It is my will now be clean. And immediately this man was cleansed.
Jesus gave him a command to go to the priests as a fulfillment of the law and show them. But he told him not to tell anyone. This ministry was early, and it would change his direction.
The healed leper told everyone.
(Luke 5:14) And He charged him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded."
Conclusion
Do you need a touch from the master today? Has leprosy affected your life. Sin infested your life. Does it seem that things are going on that are incurable? Finances
\, hurts, pain, lost loved ones, sickness. I want to invite you hear into these altars to experience the touch of the master.
Come and kneel before the Lord and worship him and allow him to touch you.
