The Healing of the Leper

Mark 1:38-45  And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. 39  And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. 40  And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 41  And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42  And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. 43  And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 44  And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 45  But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

1. Verse 38 – Jesus came especially to the place where the leper was.
   1. There was a lot of people seeking for Jesus where He had been, but Jesus said He must go and preach in other places, because that is why He came.
   2. Jesus was casting out devils throughout Galilee, but the leper believed Jesus could make him whole, even if he didn’t have a devil.
2. The curse that is upon the leper.

a.       Lev. 13:45,46 – He shall dress in a certain way so all will know he has leprosy.

2. He is to live alone, not associating with those that are healthy.
3. Lost people may live among the saved, but they are still alone because God isn’t with them in salvation.
2. The leper had to realize he was doomed to a slow agonizing death because of leprosy.

a.       The sinner has to realize there is no hope for him.

b.       He is doomed to eternal hell.

c.       There will be no exceptions to this law.

4. The leper had to realize there was no other place to go.

a.       Doctors could not help him.

b.       The best this world has to offer would do him no good.

c.       Even if he had all this worlds riches, he would still have leprosy.

d.       He came to the place where he would rather have Jesus and be cleansed of leprosy than to have everything else.

5.       The leper must humble himself.

a.       He must realize the terrible condition he is in.

b.       He must realize he is without hope.

c.       He must realize he can’t fix himself, by himself.

d.       He must realize there is only one way to be saved (healed).

6. The leper came to him.
   1. Beseeching him – to invoke, to pray to, to desire, to intreat.
   2. Kneeling to him – A realization that Jesus could help him.  He was humble, not proud when he came.

1)      Phil. 2:10 - Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess.

2)      Matthew 10;17 – The rich young ruler kneeled before Christ, but he wasn’t willing to admit he didn’t have anything, therefore he didn’t get anything from Christ.

7. The leper committed himself to the will of Jesus.
   1. Of course, it was the will of Jesus that he be made whole.
   2. Of course, it is the will of Jesus that you be saved.
8. Jesus was moved with compassion.

a.       You don’t have to worry about Jesus looking on you and your sinfulness with anger, hatred, or wrath.

2. He will be very compassionate toward you when you realize you don’t have anywhere else to turn.
8. Jesus touched the leper.

a.       It was unlawful for the leper to come to Jesus as he was supposed to be crying “unclean, unclean” everywhere he went.

2. Nobody wanted to touch a leper because the law said they should be touched, because the disease would be carried from person to person like that.
3. Jesus touched our sins, and made them whole.
9. Was the man saved?
   1. I believe the man was saved when Jesus healed him.
   2. It was just as easy for Christ to say, “Thy sins be forgiven thee,” as to say, “Rise, take thy bed and walk.”
10. How long did it take the man to be healed?
    1. He was healed immediately.
    2. We are saved immediately when we come to Christ, knowing we don’t have any where else to turn.
11. Jesus gave the man a job to do.
    1. He was to do according to the law.

1)      Lev. 1:1-20 – The normal sacrifice for a person who is financially able.

2)      Lev. 1:21-32 – The procedure for a poor person.

2. The law didn’t cleanse him, but he obeyed the law because he was cleansed.
3. He would show himself to the priest as a witness.
4. Baptism is a witness of salvation.
12. The man didn’t obey, but told the story of his cleansing all over the area.
    1. As a result, many came to Christ from all over to be healed.
    2. We should also tell the gospel story, what Christ has done for us, so others will come to Christ.