Jesus Heals A Man Who Had Leprosy Mark 1:40-45
INTRO.: I was once acquainted with a man who had AIDS. I don’t call him my friend because I was never able to be his friend. Like most folk, I feared his disease even though I knew on an intellectual level I shouldn’t. Moreover, he seemed bent on being obnoxious. He claimed to be a Christian but, in Sunday School class, flaunted his homosexuality. He tried to indoctrinate us as to all the fine artists and scientists whom he claimed were gay. He boasted about his pierced nipples. He walked with a shuffle and let his wrists hang limp, as though imitating all the stereotypes. I considered him a phony and wondered how he could face death without “getting real.” Henry was hard to love!
I think AIDS victims are like modern day lepers. Outcasts of society, they face certain and painful death. They tend to congregate with those who share their malady or remain isolated. Some become bitter and angry. Others are drawn to our Lord like the leper in this story.
I can easily understand how the people of Jesus’ day felt about lepers. (Notice Mark doesn’t call him a leper, but a “man who had leprosy. Much kinder!) Victims of leprosy were social and religious outcasts. In its later stages, the disease was horribly disfiguring. There was no cure for it and it inevitably led to a lonely and painful death. No one wanted to risk contact with such a person.
But, we want to see Jesus, not the diseased man. What does this contact tell us about the Master?
I. Notice the man’s approach to Jesus: he says, “If you are willing:” Literally, “if you will. you can make me clean”
A. There are those who say God promises healing for all believers who claim it. They tell us the expression, “if it be God’s will,” is destructive to our faith and hinders prayer.
1. This man did not doubt. He said “you can make me clean.” No hesitation is evident in what he said.
2. He simply believed Jesus may not be willing to heal him and seems willing to accept that if it be the case.
3. Perhaps he recognized God may have a purpose for his illness beyond his understanding.
B. There were others whom God did not heal because of a greater purpose:
1. Lazarus became ill and died. Jesus said “it is for God’s glory.” John 11:4. Later, He also told His apostles it was for their benefit so that they may believe. John 11:15
2. One man endured a lifetime of blindness “so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” John 9:3
3. The apostle Paul was not relieved of his “thorn in the flesh.” He said it was “to keep me from becoming conceited” II Cor. 12:7
C. The point is; God is sovereign. He gets to decide who is healed and who is not, who lives and who dies, who is exalted and who is abased. And, Jesus is acting in the Father’s behalf.
1. We must accept by faith the idea God knows what our needs are better than we know.
2. Jesus doesn’t rebuke the man for uttering the qualifying phrase. In fact, He affirms him when He says “I am willing.”
3. Jesus confidently accepts the man’s affirmation that Jesus is in charge. He is in charge. He constantly conducted Himself in a manner showing He was aware of being in charge. Here is our first clue as to what Jesus is like. He is in control.
II. What does Jesus do in response to the suffering man’s plea? He reaches out and touches the man:
A. We are told His motive is compassion. He was “filled with compassion.” Our Lord was always filled with compassion toward the suffering and oppressed he met.
1. Luke tells us the man was “covered with leprosy.” 5:12. This might have repulsed most men but the same sight moved the Master to compassion.
2. The touch was demonstration of His compassion. I suspect it was something done compulsively, without thought. It revealed the overwhelming pity Jesus felt
3. You have to wonder when was the last time anyone without leprosy dared touch this man? The touch must have been a precious surprise to him.
B. Jesus did not fear to touch the infected man:
1. He never feared His critics but even if He had, His fear would have been eclipsed by His compassion for the sufferer.
2. He had no fear of infection because He knew He was in charge. He had absolute confidence in the protection of the Father.
C. As tender and meaningful as the touch must have been, I do not believe it was the touch of Jesus that healed the man.
1. I know there were times when He healed with a touch and one time when a woman was healed by merely touching His garment.
2. But there were other times when He healed those who suffered without even being present with them.
3. The power that cleansed this suffering man was in the words of Jesus; “be clean!” God’s power constantly resides in His Word.
4. When God (or His Son) speaks, things happen. I.e.: “Let there be light”, “Lazarus, come forth”, etc
5. As a preacher, this gives me pause for reflection and makes me very humble when I handle His written word. It has within it the power to save souls.
III. The life of Jesus is characterized by calm assurance His is in control, by the compassionate exercise of divine power, and by wise discretion:
A. He instructed the healed man to tell no one, but to go directly to the priests and make the necessary sacrifices
1. This may have been the reason for his illness. God may have put him in this place for just the purpose of testifying to the priests about Jesus.
2. When he failed to go to the priests, he thwarted God’s plan for him. Jesus’ work was made harder as well.
3. We can understand his excitement about being healed of his leprosy, He would not only live, but he would be reunited with his family and friends.
4. Yet, the stern warning of Jesus remains; “see you tell no one about this. Go to the synagogue and show yourself to the priest.
B. Not just a request, it was a strong warning. The man was just too excited to obey. Who knows if, in his excitement, he even heard the Lord?
1. Subsequent events proved this to be a very wise warning. Jesus could no longer enter into any of the towns in the area.
2. Most folk wanted nothing to do with anyone who had touched a leper and might have become contaminated. They wouldn’t want him on the crowded streets of their town, possible spreading the disease.
C. How many times have we seen the work of God hampered and the people of God embarrassed by well meaning folk who wilfully try to do things their own way instead of seeking God’s will?
1. We become so convinced our way is God’s way and insist so strongly on our way that God is unable to work.
2. I once preached for a congregation where a visitor said to me, “I was here 20 years ago when this congregation was first getting started. Do these people still fight all the time?” Sadly, I couldn’t say no.
3. Jesus has all wisdom, We need to set about finding His will, not asserting our own. We need to work together in a spirit of love. That’s God’s way.
Conc.: Summary: What have we seen of the Servant of God in this passage? We have seen His sovereign control of every situation. We have seen Him exercise Divine power with deep compassion and we have witnessed His wisdom and discretion.
Is it not a joy to serve such a Savior? He is filled with compassion for us in every troubled time. He has the power and love to help us and He knows what is best for us.
Surrender your life in humble obedience to Him.
