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Sunday Message for the Bilingual Brethren - 14 June 2020 : The faith of the leper

Text: Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16
14 June 2020

BILINGUAL WORSHIP 14 June 2020

Title: The Faith of the Leper
Text: Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16

A DISEASE CALLED LEPROSY

1. Leprosy was a dreaded disease in ancient days

2. Nobody knew how to treat the disease

3. The effects of Leprosy were terrible

a) You lose the nerves
b) You lose the ability to use your hands and feet
c) Leprosy can be disfiguring
d) Parts of the body slowly decay
e) Decaying flesh has a bad stench

4. The following measures were adopted in Israel

a) Lepers were put into a Lepers’ Colony
b) They were isolated from family and from society
c) You wait for the day of your death… and that may take years
d) On the way to the Lepers’ Colony, you have to shout, “Unclean, Unclean”
e) If you do not, you might be stoned to death

A LEPER’S FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

1. The name and fame of the Lord Jesus had spread far and wide

a) People were healed
b) Demons were cast out
c) The lame walked
d) The blind saw

2. A leper had heard of Jesus and the Power He had

a) Could Jesus heal a leper?
b) No one knew

3. The Faith of the Leper

a) He was described as “full of leprosy” (Luke 5:12)
b) He came to Jesus
i) He risked being stoned
ii) People feared them
c) He worshipped Jesus (Matthew 8:2)
i) He knelt at the feet of Jesus (Mark 1:40)
ii) He fell on his face (Luke 5:12)
ii) He begged the Lord (Mark 1:40)
d) He said to Jesus
i) “If you are willing”
ii) “You can make me clean” (Mark 1:40; Matthew 8:2; Luke 5:12)

THE RESPONSE OF THE LORD JESUS

1. Jesus was moved with compassion (Mark 1:41)

a) Jesus felt deeply for the leper
b) He cared for the poor man

2. He touched the leper

a) This was something not expected
b) Whoever touched a leper was considered unclean
c) The fear was that you might catch leprosy too
d) The touching of a leper was very meaningful/ significant to the leper

3. The words of the Lord Jesus to the Leper

a) “I am willing” (Mark 1:41; Matthew 8:3)
b) “Be cleansed” (Mark 1:41; Matthew 8:3)

4. Immediate effect

a) The leper was cured completely
b) This was immediate
c) He was now clean

5. The task of the Leper

a) He must show himself to a priest
b) He was like a doctor
c) He will check and then pronounce him clean
d) He will be allowed to return to his family and society
e) He is to offer a thanksgiving gift to God
(Matthew 8:4; Mark 1:44; Luke 5:14)

A WORD TO THE LEPER

1. Do not tell others

2. Jesus did not want to be known simply as a Healer

3. He had come to be our Saviour

4. He had also come to be our Teacher

THE LEPER DID NOT HAVE THE WISDOM TO OBEY FULLY

1. He went around telling people that Jesus had healed him (Mark 1:45)

2. He was happy to share what he had experienced

THIS CREATED A PROBLEM FOR THE LORD JESUS

1. Jesus could not enter into the city easily (Mark 1:45)

2. He had to be out in deserted places (Mark 1:45)

3. Multitudes came to Him to be healed (Luke 5:15)

4. Jesus healed all who came to Him (Luke 5:15)