Tabor Baptist Church

N.B. Apologies – the audio fades out at times as the speaker moved away from the lectern/microphones

We likely have favourites passages in Scripture
Take this miracle and make a spiritual application
A desperate case – a man full of leprosy

Not just a leper – but "full of leprosy"
An advanced case – had this disease for years

Leprosy:

Initial hidden/unseen
The consequences become apparent:

Reddening of the skin

Other parts affected

Hardening and cracking of the skin
Oily substances exuding from fissures
Numbness in the hands and feet
Parts of the body are lost (hands, feet, nose)
Voice becomes deep and gruff
You could detect a leper with all 5 senses

Social consequences:

The priest in Jerusalem would declare them a leper
Unable to socialise/go home to your family
You have to remain with other lepers
Unkempt, rang a bell, called out ‘unclean’
Not allowed within 16 feet of people (except lepers)
Hopelessness – no cure with death as the only release

This leper came into the city [village]

Such an event – "behold"

No leper should have come to a conurbation where people lived
How did this man slip through?

He was unstoppable

He had heard the joyful news
Using spiritual imagination – the wife and husband
He makes his way into the city
He sees a crowd and a young teacher

Notice his faith

"Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean" (v12)
He had great faith

Personal example

Only he went to Christ – not the other lepers

We trust in Christ individually

‘I know you can, but will you?’

Why should you bother with a leper?

Jesus’ compassion

"He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him" (v13)
Mark gives us a different angle: (Mark 1:41)

His information comes from Peter
"Jesus, moved with compassion"
How do we know that Jesus was moved with compassion?

Spiritual imagination

Cleansing flowed to the leper

No transmission of the infective disease
Immediately the leprosy left him

Not like Naaman the Leper

Wonderful cleansing – power and compassion

Consequences:

Physically restored
Social consequences rescinded

Can go home to his family
Great emotion

Do you remember your salvation?
Example
What a relief

A command:

Don’t tell anyone – but show yourself to the priest (in Jerusalem)

Show and tell

Are we distinctive in our day and generation?

Example of hymn

Example of the demoniac
Show and tell

Application:

We have a disease – sin

All of us
Sin brings death
Sin is breaking the law of God

Examples

There is a cure

In Jesus
Have your sin forgiven and a certainty of heaven
Believe in Jesus Christ and you shall be saved
Trust in Jesus – He is willing and able
Get saved
If saved – rekindle that sense of joy, peace and thankfulness

Closing Remarks