Made Clean!

9.30am Sunday 18 November 2007

Readings: Jeremiah 29:4-14; Mark 1:40-45;

What we have in the Gospels is only a small sample of the healings Jesus did during his three years of public ministry in Palestine. The healings the Gospel writers chose are included for a specific reason. For example, Mark's Gospel is widely acclaimed to be Peter's account of the life of Jesus as he related it to John Mark. This is the only account of the cleansing of a person with leprosy in this Gospel. There is only one other mention of leprosy in Mark, that is of Simon the leper whom presumably Jesus healed. It was in Simon's home where a woman anointed Jesus with expensive perfume shortly before the Last Supper. The other Gospels make general references to lepers being cleansed, such as when Jesus sent out the twelve with the following instructions, "As you go, proclaim the message: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."[1] When John the Baptist sent some of his followers to Jesus to ask if he really was the Messiah, Jesus said to them, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor."[2] Luke also includes the healing of ten lepers, only one of which returned to thank Jesus.[3] So this passage in Mark is not without significance in recording this story.

We know from Mark 1:39 that Jesus had left Capernaum to proclaim the message throughout Galilee, and in all probability this healing took place as he went from village to village before returning to Capernaum, as we learn in the next chapter. The first thing we need to note about this story is the sorry plight of lepers in Jesus' day. The Jewish Law laid down explicit instructions regarding the treatment of such people. It said, "Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, 'Unlcean! Unclean!' As long as they have the disease they must remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp."[4] This man with leprosy would therefore have been ostracised from his village, forbidden to worship at the temple, and destined to live out his days separated from family and friends. No one would touch a leper for fear of being contaminated or of contracting the disease him or herself, let alone to even go near one. It was believed to be highly contagious, and was viewed at that time as the classic punishment for sin. It was, particularly, the telltale sign of a secret sin, maybe unknown to others but not hidden from God. For those unfortunate people it was an unenviable situation to be in. Isolated from social and religious gatherings it was likened to death, and if one was ever cured, to being raised from the dead. There was also a widespread belief that only God could cure leprosy, which helps us understand the reaction of the king of Israel when the king of Aram sent a letter to him asking him to cure Naaman of this disease. When the king of Israel received the letter we are told he "...tore his robes and said, 'Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!'"[5]

So what are we told about this man with leprosy.

1.      His AWARENESS. This man knew his need. Now you might think that this is very obvious. This man knew that because of his condition he was condemned to live out his days cut off from all he held dear, without a hope in the world of it ever being any different. He had nothing to look forward to, nothing to make life worthwhile. He could not live with his family. He could not work at the trade that he along with every Jewish boy was taught as a young man. All the work he could do was to grow what little food he needed to live on. His future was bleak, for this was the way he was destined to live until the day of his death - that is, unless God stepped into the picture. At least this man knew his need. The same cannot be said for many today, and maybe even for you. Leprosy is like sin. Just as leprosy in Jesus' day separated people from the life of worship God's people, so sin cuts us off from God. Just as leprosy isolated those who contracted this disease from their friends and family, so sin warps and severs human relationships. When you and I are unwilling, or maybe unable, to forgive when someone has hurt us, or to seek forgiveness when we have done wrong, it erects a barrier. We become estranged from one another and it is as though a wedge is driven between us that will drive us further and further apart the longer it is left unresolved. Resentment and bitterness can set in, and the Bible warns us against allowing this to happen when it says, "See that ... no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."[6] Note the word "defile," the same word that is used in the Old Testament to describe the disease of leprosy. The Bible says we are all sinners in need of the grace of God. It also tells us that sin separates us from God. Isaiah says, "...your iniquities have separated you from God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear."[7] It describes our situation as "lost," "perishing," "dead in ... transgressions and sins," "excluded" from God's family, and "without hope and without God in the world,"[8] a situation just as unenviable as this man with leprosy when we fully appreciate the seriousness and precariousness of it. Jesus said: "When he," that is, "the Counselor," the Holy Spirit, "comes, he will convict the world of sin and of righteousness and judgment."[9] The Holy Spirit's work is to make us aware of our need, for until we know we are "lost," that we are "perishing," that we are "dead in ... transgressions and sins," we will not do anything about it. At least this man with leprosy knew his need and was willing to do something about it.

2.      His BOLDNESS. He came to Jesus. No doubt this man had heard about the healings that had taken place in Capernaum and wherever Jesus had travelled throughout Galilee. You can imagine what would have gone through his mind. If Jesus could heal sick and demon-possessed people, maybe he could heal him as well. Mark does not tell us whether anyone with leprosy had been healed up till then in Jesus' ministry. Possibly not if they were not able to go into the towns. However, as this man with leprosy heard the reports, a glimmer of hope was sown in his heart. Maybe things could be different. Maybe I can live a normal life again. At least it was worth a try. He had nothing to lose, and everything to gain if he could be rid of this disease. So, learning of Jesus' whereabouts he decided to approach Jesus. We are not told where this took place, but it would most likely have been as Jesus travelled between villages so that the man would not have to enter the town. Note what this man did. He made a decision. He could have done nothing and remained as he was for the rest of his life. But knowing his need, and believing Jesus could help him, he came. The same is true for us. The cleansing and healing that comes from God's forgiveness of our sins requires a decision, too. We not only must know the hopelessness of our condition outside of Christ, we must be willing to acknowledge our need of God's forgiveness, and turn from living a self-centred life, and come to Christ for help. A welcome awaits us like that of the prodigal son. Our heavenly Father is longing for the time that we will come home. He is "watching and waiting" and is ready to run and embrace us the moment we head for home. Jesus said, "...whoever comes to me I will never drive away."[10] He invites us to come over and over again. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."[11] The last chapter of the Bible re-echoes his words, "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!'"[12]

3.      His IMPORTUNITY. He pleaded with Jesus. "...and begged him..." are the words Mark uses. Literally it should be translated "begging him" because it is a present participle. Note the urgency in his appeal. There is no half-heartedness in his coming to Jesus. He really wants Jesus' help. Again the Scriptures encourage us to do this time and time again. We read in Jeremiah, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."[13] In Luke 11 Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."[14] And these words can be correctly translated, "Ask and keep on asking ... seek and keep on seeking ... knock and keep on knocking..." How serious are you in seeking the Lord's help? We are to seek him "with all our heart," like blind Bartimaeus did as Jesus was leaving the city of Jericho. Even although the crowds around Bartimaeus told him to be quiet "he shouted all the more."[15] We must be in earnest when we come to Jesus as this leper was.

4.      His HUMILITY. He knelt before Jesus. He "...begged him on his knees..." Note the attitude with which this man came to Jesus. That he was willing to humble himself before Jesus denotes sincerity in his request. Kneeling is a sign of humility and reverence, and it is entirely appropriate when we come to Jesus. It is acknowledging his rightful place. The Scripture constantly warns against pride and encourages humility both towards God and towards one another. "...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land."[16] God "lives with those who are contrite and lowly in spirit."[17]

5.      His CONFIDENCE. He believed Jesus could heal him. We can pick this up from his words, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."[18] There is no uncertainty in this statement. The only hesitation the man has is if Jesus would want to heal him. This is why he says, "If you are willing..." This is the kind of faith Jesus always looked for and commended in those who came to him, and which he looks for in us. It is the kind of faith that is sure of what is hoped for, and certain of the things not seen.[19] It is knowing that nothing is too hard for God, nothing is beyond his power to accomplish if he chooses to do it.[20] When we come to him for cleansing from sin and to be born again into his family, we must have the confidence that "...he is able to save completely those who come to God through him..."[21] Thinking back to when I made that decision myself, I knew God had been speaking to me, calling me, and there was not a shadow of doubt that if I invited him into my life that he would not come. God can give you the confidence that is necessary to believe in him and entrust your life to him. Our salvation is all a gift of his grace, his undeserved favour. All who come to Christ can say with the Apostle Paul, "..by the grace of God I am what I am..."[22]

6.      His REQUEST. That is, he asked to be made clean. As we saw last week, the Scriptures constantly encourage us to do this. We deprive ourselves of what God longs to give us by not asking. It is as James says, "You do not have because you do not ask God."[23] James does go on to say that we need to ask with the right motive. We need to ask for that which will bring glory to God. But we are to ask, nevertheless. Our God is exceedingly gracious and generous. When we fulfil what he asks of us and give to him his due in tithes and offerings he promises, "...see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."[24] He always does "...immeasurably more that all we ask or imagine."[25] As we are aware of our need, we can come to him with boldness, importunity, humility and confidence today as this man with leprosy did, and have the assurance that he will grant our request. Note

7.      What he.RECEIVED. We are told that Jesus, "filled with compassion," reached out and touched him and said, "I am willing. Be clean!" As soon as Jesus spoke these words, "Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed."[26] Three things in closing:

a)      You might notice in your Bible a footnote to verse 41 saying that there is a variant reading among the Greek manuscripts for this verse. Some Bibles translate it, "filled with compassion." Others, such as TNIV have "Jesus was indignant." Either translation has its merits. We can understand Jesus being filled with tenderness for this man knowing his sorry plight, for there are other occasions when Jesus felt this way; such as when the crowds flocked to him and he saw them as sheep without a shepherd, and in Matthew's account of the healing of the two blind men outside Jericho. The Greek word carries with it the sense of being deeply stirred within one's inside. When we use the word 'gutted,' like the All blacks were when they lost their quarter final to France, it captures some of the depth of feeling that is here. This was very true of Jesus when confronted with needs such as this man. But the word "indignant" is equally appropriate in that Jesus would have been angry at this man's condition as a sign of the presence and power of Satan's kingdom in this world. The sign of God's kingdom was health and wholeness. The sign of Satan's kingdom was sickness and oppression. Jesus had come to take issue with Satan's dominion on earth and whenever and wherever he confronted disease and demon possession he was moved with indignation against these evidences of Satan's usurping God's will for his earth. This is not to say that every sickness has an underlying spiritual cause, but in general sickness had no place and was never present in God's original creation. That it is here is evidence of the consequences of man's Fall which allowed Satan a foothold in the order of things.

b)      The second thing to note about Jesus on this occasion of healing the man with leprosy was that he "TOUCHED" the man. Jesus did what no one in their right mind would ever do, thinking that leprosy was highly contagious, he touched the untouchable. But it was that touch of Jesus that made the man whole. Sometimes we lose sight of the wonder of what God has done for us in Jesus. This cleansing of the man with leprosy is a parable of Jesus, in all his purity, stooping to touch the ugliness and stench of our sin to bring healing and forgiveness. We had no future or hope without this. When speaking of the new Jerusalem, the Bible says, "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life."[27] Like the man with leprosy, there is nothing we can do to make ourselves acceptable to God. Isaiah reminds us, "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags..."[28] But God extends this invitation: "Come now, let us reason together... Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."[29] His promise is, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."[30] His blood cleanses us from all sin.[31]

c)      Finally, in the story from Mark, Jesus Instructions. He strictly forbade the man to tell anyone, but to go and show himself to the priest and offer the sacrifices required in the Law of Moses "as a testimony to them" of his healing. Why did Jesus do this? He did not want himself known primarily as a 'wonder worker.' Unwise publicity can attract people for the wrong motives. Jesus asked him to fulfil what he Law required. We need to guard against quackery, those who promise instant cures, especially when there is a fee involved. It is 'shamanlike' healing and such people that brings the gospel into disrepute. As we read earlier from Matthew, as have freely received, so we are to freely give. We are also to be wary of those who reject or ignore medical treatment entirely or long-standing remedies. Note Paul's counsel to Timothy when he said, "...use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses."[32] The man did not do as Jesus asked, but talked freely to others of what had happened. As a result the situation of the healer and the healed was reversed. This man's disobedience led to a hampering and hindering of Christ's work, but it also is a picture of Christ's suffering outside the city wall, coming under God's curse so that we might be redeemed from sin's curse on our own lives.

This account of the healing of the man with leprosy encourages us to come with confidence to Christ with our need, whatever it may be, whether for forgiveness or healing. Jesus' response to this man - "I am willing. Be clean!" - assures us of his readiness to respond. In fact, he is more willing to help us than we are in asking to his help. Ask and receive his touch upon your life today!