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CLEANSED
AND CURED Introduction: Leprosy separated people physically, but there is also a spiritual lesson taught. In the Bible, leprosy is a picture of sin. The leper dressed in black; separated from the crowd; crying “unclean” was a living parable of what sin does to your soul – it pollutes; and what God does to sin – He punishes. When the Lord Jesus Christ delivered this leper there was more than a physical miracle taking place, there is a spiritual lesson. This message is pure Gospel! Consider this leprous man’s life: I. HIS DOOM (V.12) “A man” = (Amazing in itself) Jesus had time for just one man. (Illus: his name is not known; it was not posted (expound); but after he met Jesus it was written in the Lambs Book of Life!) It doesn’t matter if man knows my name or if my name is recognized by the world, as long as Jesus knows my name! “Full of leprosy” = Full-blown leprosy that was undeniable – that was his doom. From Lev. 13 we learn they were to be examined by the priest. · Is it deeper than the skin? - Sin is not just a surface problem it is a soul problem and a matter of the heart. People are not lost from the outside in; they are lost from the inside out! · Has it spread? – Leprosy is highly contagious. That’s why their clothes had to be burned and all that they had come into contact with. Leprosy dooms you! It is incurable and spreads rapidly. Every person born into the human race is infected by the disease of sin. (Expound on baby dedication…age of accountability) sin affects everybody in the human race! · They were separated. – Put them outside the camp – burn their clothes – put something over their mouth – make them cry “unclean!” A picture of what sin does to a person. Sin separates you from the family of God. If you have never invited Jesus to be your personal Savior you are outside the camp of God’s family; outside the Kingdom of God; outside the gates of heaven; outside the grace and mercy of God. Your soul is unclean (reformation will not work) and apart from Jesus Christ there is no hope and like the leper’s clothes were burned with fire you will be cast body and soul into the fires of hell. The leper was doomed, but there is hope in Jesus! You can be saved and changed forever if you’ll respond! II. HIS DESPERATION (V.12) · He got to Jesus – “seeing Jesus” = that made the difference (the first step) his problem didn’t seem so big. Some will not be set free today – be cured and cleansed today because they aren’t looking in the right place for help. You may be desperate, but for the wrong things. You’ll hear the words, you’ll listen to the message, but you won’t see Jesus and trust Him as your Savior. And yet Jesus is all you need! He is what you need today (at the invitation this morning come to a counselor and let them help you confirm your decision). Desperate people came to hear Jesus. When somebody comes hopeless and desperate and says Lord I have nowhere else to turn…Jesus will save you! · He gave up – “fell on his face” brought to this place by the Holy Spirit (without which whose ministry none are saved). The Holy Spirit revealed that: o Jesus was God – when we recognize Jesus for who He is we will fall on our face in humble submission as a sinner before a sovereign God. o Jesus is Lord – not rabbi, prophet, or preacher, he called Him Lord. He has tried everything and there is nowhere else to turn but to God. In this admission he knows Jesus is Lord of all! o Jesus is sovereign with a plan and purpose – He asked to be made clean assured that it was God’s will to cleanse lepers and was made clean because he was willing to trust Jesus by faith! III. HIS DELIVERANCE
(VV.13-15) A. A Saving Touch Here we see two special things: · The Love Of Jesus o The first touch that man had felt in years – Jesus will touch people that no one else will have anything to do with. That same touch is here for you today. · The Identification Of Jesus o To touch a leper was to become a leper. In other words to cure this leper He had to identify with this leper. o
To save a sinner, He became sin for us; He bore in His body
our curse, our damnation and judgment. He took our place, He’s our
substitute. B. A Specific Answer “I will” C. A Sudden Miracle “Be thou clean” Complete salvation – right now – and everlasting! D. A Solemn Command (v.14) There was a prescribed way for him to confess his deliverance. There is a prescribed way for you to confess your deliverance – publically! (Illus: he may have run to the priest crying, “I’m clean I’m clean!”) Conclusion: You can be cured and cleansed today. The leper was doomed and desperate, but there is deliverance in Jesus! You can be saved and changed forever if you’ll respond!
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