Be Clean!
Jesus healing a leper is one of many miracles. I particularly love the version of the story as recorded in the gospel according to Mark, and it is one of my favorite examples of the working of the Gospel.
And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Mark 1:40-44 ESV)
Here is why this miracle illustrates the Gospel:
1. "and a leper came to him"
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me qdraws him. And rI will raise him up on the last day. (John 6:44)
When Jesus says that all who have "heard and learned from the Father come to me," (John 6:45) he is explaining the process in which God the Father draws us to Christ. God initiates our salvation by sending His son to accomplish His purposes in the world. And whatever means God uses (for me I was brought by Allison), we get to a point in our lives where as Ephesians 1:13 says, "you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit."
We come to Christ when we hear the good news of the gospel of our salvation, believe in him, and receive the Holy Spirit, and Jesus tells us in John 6:44 that the Father is the one who draws us to Christ.
2. "imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean"
I love the idea of this leper, this outcast, this hideously disfigured man hearing of the healing powers of Jesus and in his heart believing Jesus could heal. The leper believes that Jesus is the one who can cleanse him and make him well. He throws himself upon the mercy of the Lord! He is imploring him, kneeling in a position of reverence, and believing in Jesus to make him clean.
Romans 10:17 tells us, "Faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Professing faith such as the leper means you've heard the word of Christ, and you know that you are deeply in need of his cleansing power, because you have seen that you are a sinner in need of a savior. You have thrown yourself in a fit of repentance upon his mercy.
3. Christ is "moved with pity"
God is rich in mercy! This is the very reason Christ has come into the world! He comes not "to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32) Jesus, here in his compassion is "moved with pity" and perfectly reflects the richness of the mercy of God.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
(Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV)
Because we have access to God in Christ, we have access to God's unflinching, infinite mercy! When, in our moments of weakness and despair we throw ourselves upon the mercy of God, He blots out our transgressions just as He healed the leper! So we can say with King David, "according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions." (Psalm 51:1) In Christ, when we avail ourselves on the mercy of God, our needs in Him are always met.
4. Christ stretches out his hand, touches him and says, "I will; be clean," and he is immediately made clean
This is the greatness of the gospel.
I love this story of the Gospel because it shows how we come to Christ, lay ourselves upon the mercy of God, and are healed and made clean. And Paul beautifully sums up the transformation that takes place,
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)
Jesus has the power to make anyone a new creation. Jesus is willing and able to make anyone a new creation who will throw themselves upon His mercy. That is good news!
Paul Stiver
And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Mark 1:40-44 ESV)
Here is why this miracle illustrates the Gospel:
1. "and a leper came to him"
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me qdraws him. And rI will raise him up on the last day. (John 6:44)
When Jesus says that all who have "heard and learned from the Father come to me," (John 6:45) he is explaining the process in which God the Father draws us to Christ. God initiates our salvation by sending His son to accomplish His purposes in the world. And whatever means God uses (for me I was brought by Allison), we get to a point in our lives where as Ephesians 1:13 says, "you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit."
We come to Christ when we hear the good news of the gospel of our salvation, believe in him, and receive the Holy Spirit, and Jesus tells us in John 6:44 that the Father is the one who draws us to Christ.
2. "imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean"
I love the idea of this leper, this outcast, this hideously disfigured man hearing of the healing powers of Jesus and in his heart believing Jesus could heal. The leper believes that Jesus is the one who can cleanse him and make him well. He throws himself upon the mercy of the Lord! He is imploring him, kneeling in a position of reverence, and believing in Jesus to make him clean.
Romans 10:17 tells us, "Faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Professing faith such as the leper means you've heard the word of Christ, and you know that you are deeply in need of his cleansing power, because you have seen that you are a sinner in need of a savior. You have thrown yourself in a fit of repentance upon his mercy.
3. Christ is "moved with pity"
God is rich in mercy! This is the very reason Christ has come into the world! He comes not "to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32) Jesus, here in his compassion is "moved with pity" and perfectly reflects the richness of the mercy of God.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
(Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV)
Because we have access to God in Christ, we have access to God's unflinching, infinite mercy! When, in our moments of weakness and despair we throw ourselves upon the mercy of God, He blots out our transgressions just as He healed the leper! So we can say with King David, "according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions." (Psalm 51:1) In Christ, when we avail ourselves on the mercy of God, our needs in Him are always met.
4. Christ stretches out his hand, touches him and says, "I will; be clean," and he is immediately made clean
This is the greatness of the gospel.
God is good enough, loving enough, willing enough, and powerful enough to save us!
Because Jesus has died and been raised to life, "with his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) The gospel is the "power of salvation for everyone who believes," (Romans 1:16) so that in Christ Jesus we have obtained the righteousness of God.I love this story of the Gospel because it shows how we come to Christ, lay ourselves upon the mercy of God, and are healed and made clean. And Paul beautifully sums up the transformation that takes place,
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)
Jesus has the power to make anyone a new creation. Jesus is willing and able to make anyone a new creation who will throw themselves upon His mercy. That is good news!
Paul Stiver
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