WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.520 Now I don't know about you, but sometimes reading the newspapers can be a little bit depressing, can't it? 00:00:07.060 --> 00:00:10.919 ! Whether it's death, extortion, corruption, suffering. 00:00:12.280 --> 00:00:15.759 ! But a question I'd like us to think about just as we start is this. 00:00:15.759 --> 00:00:26.620 Why, in all the mess of this world, do we and others fail to go and seek help from Jesus Christ? 00:00:26.620 --> 00:00:31.060 Why, in all the mess of this world, do we fail to do that? 00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:35.539 Do we come to him for forgiveness, for wisdom, for new life? 00:00:35.640 --> 00:00:36.780 Just have a moment to think. 00:00:42.460 --> 00:00:44.719 I don't know what reasons have come to mind for you. 00:00:44.840 --> 00:00:50.760 Perhaps we just can't be bothered, or we think that the problem is someone else's, 00:00:50.760 --> 00:00:56.100 or we think that actually Jesus just can't deal with it, the scale, the depth. 00:00:57.599 --> 00:01:03.379 Now these four short verses from Matthew's Gospel blow that out of the water. 00:01:04.340 --> 00:01:09.319 They show us that Jesus Christ is exactly the person we must come to. 00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:13.519 Now as I said earlier, this passage is straight after the Sermon on the Mount. 00:01:14.039 --> 00:01:16.099 Jesus has come down the mountain. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:19.340 He's had this great teaching that he's been given. 00:01:19.340 --> 00:01:23.040 And then verse 2, we meet a leper. 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:29.340 We meet a leper who knows Jesus is exactly the person to come to. 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:32.500 And the first thing for us to see is this. 00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:36.700 The leper, he knows his need. 00:01:37.240 --> 00:01:40.159 He knows his need. 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:45.000 Now a leper in this context may mean he has leprosy. 00:01:45.079 --> 00:01:47.640 It could mean he's got a variety of skin diseases. 00:01:48.219 --> 00:01:50.579 But his skin is falling apart. 00:01:50.700 --> 00:01:53.879 He is in pain, in suffering. 00:01:54.879 --> 00:01:58.759 And as we read about in Leviticus, this has massive impacts on his life. 00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:01.879 It would not have been as it should have been. 00:02:02.519 --> 00:02:04.979 Just personally, just imagine the pain he's in. 00:02:05.039 --> 00:02:08.439 Even the smell with the lack of hygiene and the heat. 00:02:08.740 --> 00:02:09.299 Be horrific. 00:02:09.300 --> 00:02:15.300 But more importantly, we saw in that Leviticus passage that he would be called unclean. 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:17.200 This biblical word. 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:20.219 And it meant a number of things. 00:02:20.300 --> 00:02:22.219 But he would have been a social outcast. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:28.560 He would have had to have cried out, I'm unclean, when anyone came near. 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:29.160 Can you imagine? 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:33.220 He would have lived outside of the city alone. 00:02:33.720 --> 00:02:36.260 Alienated from friends, from family. 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:37.700 The loneliness. 00:02:37.699 --> 00:02:39.500 He couldn't have touched anyone. 00:02:41.159 --> 00:02:45.179 But even more significantly, he was unable to go to the temple. 00:02:45.679 --> 00:02:46.899 He was unable to worship. 00:02:49.359 --> 00:02:53.179 The horror of his skin disease led to an ostracized life. 00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:56.019 All these symptoms of his disease. 00:02:56.139 --> 00:02:59.500 One writer puts it, the lepers were considered the living dead. 00:02:59.639 --> 00:03:01.319 Dead men walking. 00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:10.919 Now, he could have asked Jesus, you know, tell my friends, can you just be a bit nicer to me? 00:03:11.259 --> 00:03:12.879 Can you actually just tell the priest? 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:14.780 Can they just let me in just briefly? 00:03:15.180 --> 00:03:20.060 Or maybe can you give me a new t-shirt just to cover up so no one actually sees what's wrong with me? 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:23.139 But it would have been ridiculous to ask for those things, wouldn't it? 00:03:23.139 --> 00:03:25.279 They were just dealing with the symptoms. 00:03:26.359 --> 00:03:28.079 But no, he doesn't ask for that. 00:03:28.679 --> 00:03:33.619 He asked, you notice, he says, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. 00:03:33.739 --> 00:03:34.979 He asked to be clean. 00:03:35.579 --> 00:03:37.619 It's like, I need to be made new. 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:39.339 I need new skin. 00:03:39.340 --> 00:03:42.560 He didn't want to deal with the symptoms. 00:03:42.740 --> 00:03:46.460 He wanted to deal with the cause, the root problem. 00:03:48.020 --> 00:03:54.400 Now, uncleanness in the Bible, as you may know, is about much more than just skin disease. 00:03:55.599 --> 00:04:02.259 All those symptoms, especially being cut off from God, point us to a deeper problem in our lives. 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:04.980 This passage is not just about skin disease. 00:04:04.979 --> 00:04:11.319 Because we have lots of symptoms wrong with us too, actually very similar to the leper. 00:04:12.359 --> 00:04:15.179 With others, we can often be alienated from one another. 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:20.740 We perhaps have fallen out with a friend or family members don't speak anymore. 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:24.839 Or perhaps we've fallen out with those we don't even know. 00:04:24.980 --> 00:04:26.459 We experience crime. 00:04:26.620 --> 00:04:27.779 There's terrorism in the world. 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:31.259 But also we know we are separated from God. 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:33.680 We're separated from him. 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:36.840 People are under judgment now and for the future. 00:04:37.100 --> 00:04:41.939 And even in ourselves, we know there are anxieties, eating issues, tempers, addictions. 00:04:42.900 --> 00:04:45.780 We are dead men and women walking. 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:52.840 And it is no accident that Matthew has put this event straight after the Sermon on the Mount. 00:04:52.980 --> 00:04:54.720 If you've never read the Sermon on the Mount, read it. 00:04:54.780 --> 00:04:58.819 It is full of hard-hitting truths about the standards of God. 00:04:58.819 --> 00:05:00.240 Jesus said this. 00:05:00.300 --> 00:05:05.540 He said, you therefore must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:08.079 Jesus was showing us all the symptoms. 00:05:09.019 --> 00:05:11.420 How we're failing to miss the mark. 00:05:11.699 --> 00:05:15.079 You can't read the Sermon without knowing there's something wrong with us. 00:05:16.920 --> 00:05:19.879 And the thing is, we can't help but screw things up, can we? 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:24.199 It's like you have a beautiful meal with someone you love. 00:05:24.500 --> 00:05:26.000 You know, the candles are on the table. 00:05:26.279 --> 00:05:28.399 The beautiful food's in front of you. 00:05:28.899 --> 00:05:34.360 And then you just have to go and mention a long-standing argument like why they didn't put the bins out or something. 00:05:34.540 --> 00:05:38.219 We just can't help but ruin a beautiful evening. 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:40.860 And we do it with a lot of things God's given us. 00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:42.079 He gives us good friendships. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:44.899 And yet in our best moments we're even arrogant. 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:45.699 We're lazy. 00:05:45.959 --> 00:05:46.479 We're judging. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:48.759 God gives us his word. 00:05:49.099 --> 00:05:51.859 And yet we still try and make it about ourselves. 00:05:52.699 --> 00:05:53.959 God gives us families. 00:05:54.680 --> 00:05:57.620 And yet we still hurt each other and speak unkindly. 00:05:58.479 --> 00:06:01.379 All these symptoms point us deeper. 00:06:03.159 --> 00:06:04.759 So what is the cause? 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:07.779 We know it's our sinful nature, don't we? 00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:09.199 We are sinners. 00:06:09.379 --> 00:06:11.039 We need a new heart. 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:12.939 We need a deep clean. 00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:18.400 But the horror of the leper's skin points us to the horror of our sin. 00:06:18.740 --> 00:06:23.740 Sin is like that painful, rotting flesh on his hand and his arm. 00:06:24.300 --> 00:06:25.840 We are bent on doing wrong. 00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:28.340 We are rotten and we are dirt ridden. 00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:30.259 We need a deep clean. 00:06:32.100 --> 00:06:35.460 The leper knows his need. 00:06:36.200 --> 00:06:39.600 And the thing is, I think in society we try and treat the symptoms 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:41.420 and forget about the cause. 00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:47.240 For example, in ourselves, there's a lot of positive thinking. 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:48.100 That's all we need to do. 00:06:48.140 --> 00:06:49.540 We just need to smile more. 00:06:50.060 --> 00:06:51.920 There's an author called Roy Bennett who said this. 00:06:51.980 --> 00:06:55.040 He said, just stop comparing yourself to other people. 00:06:55.300 --> 00:06:59.580 Just choose to be happy and live your own life. 00:06:59.700 --> 00:07:00.340 Just choose. 00:07:00.339 --> 00:07:02.939 That's all we need to do to deal with all that's wrong in the world. 00:07:03.079 --> 00:07:05.199 Just choose to be happy. 00:07:05.799 --> 00:07:06.439 Or with God. 00:07:06.939 --> 00:07:09.679 We make up more and more laws. 00:07:10.199 --> 00:07:11.619 Say this lots of times. 00:07:11.719 --> 00:07:13.079 Don't eat or touch that. 00:07:13.639 --> 00:07:13.899 I don't know. 00:07:13.919 --> 00:07:17.500 If we struggle with lust, we may just need to get other people to cover up. 00:07:17.599 --> 00:07:19.039 We deal with the symptoms. 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:20.479 With other people. 00:07:20.659 --> 00:07:22.239 We're just very nice to people, aren't we? 00:07:22.279 --> 00:07:23.179 We put on a smile. 00:07:23.659 --> 00:07:24.699 We're kind to people. 00:07:24.699 --> 00:07:27.620 And then when we get home, we slag them off behind their back. 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:31.560 We're dealing with the symptoms and not the cause. 00:07:32.620 --> 00:07:37.759 A few months ago, I twisted my ankle pretty badly and it swelled up like a balloon. 00:07:38.779 --> 00:07:40.899 Now, it wasn't broken, luckily. 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:43.339 But just imagine that my ankle had been broken. 00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:47.360 And I went to the doctor and the doctor just said, here, have some paracetamol. 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:50.439 You know, that will deal with it. 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:53.620 That would have absolutely wrecked it, wouldn't it? 00:07:53.620 --> 00:07:57.040 And dealing with the symptoms just will not help. 00:07:57.939 --> 00:08:00.220 No, we need to deal with the cause. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:02.139 It's in us. 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:04.019 The issue is deep. 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:06.560 And that means we've got to stop messing around on the surface. 00:08:08.680 --> 00:08:14.180 Perhaps you've come to church for years, but you're not really sure what the fuss is all about. 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:15.399 You like the friendships. 00:08:16.459 --> 00:08:17.579 You enjoy some singing. 00:08:18.280 --> 00:08:21.079 You've never quite got the whole Jesus thing. 00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:25.560 Well, perhaps you've never realised your needs. 00:08:26.359 --> 00:08:28.459 And you really do have one. 00:08:28.859 --> 00:08:31.899 And it is vital that we understand this for any long-term change. 00:08:31.959 --> 00:08:36.659 If we want to know the living God, if we want to have friendships restored, if we want to have inner peace, 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:41.699 then we've got to deal with the deep, not the superficial, our sin. 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:43.779 We need a deep clean. 00:08:43.779 --> 00:08:46.740 The leper knows his need. 00:08:47.259 --> 00:08:48.799 Do you know yours? 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:53.620 Secondly, he knows God's solution. 00:08:53.779 --> 00:08:57.059 He knows his need and he knows God's solution. 00:08:58.100 --> 00:08:59.639 If we look at verse 2. 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:04.379 The leper came to Jesus, knelt before him saying, 00:09:04.379 --> 00:09:08.240 Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. 00:09:08.439 --> 00:09:12.379 He falls at the feet of the man he knew would deal with his problem. 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:14.080 He knew it was Jesus. 00:09:14.200 --> 00:09:19.120 He knew that Jesus had the power, had the authority to deal with this. 00:09:20.419 --> 00:09:21.000 Now, how do we know? 00:09:21.019 --> 00:09:22.159 We're not quite sure how he knew. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:24.799 Perhaps he had seen a lot of Jesus' miracles previously. 00:09:24.939 --> 00:09:27.779 Perhaps he had been up on the mountain hearing this teaching. 00:09:27.779 --> 00:09:35.439 But he knew God's solution wasn't just some generic sort of faith in an idea of God, 00:09:35.559 --> 00:09:39.039 but it was Jesus Christ himself, God's son. 00:09:40.319 --> 00:09:43.860 And not only is it said in our passage that Jesus is the solution, 00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:45.679 Jesus shows it. 00:09:46.459 --> 00:09:49.699 Cleanness comes through Jesus at the end of verse 3 we see, 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:53.220 and immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 00:09:53.220 --> 00:09:57.279 It's immediate what Jesus does, and it's total. 00:09:57.279 --> 00:10:00.740 Verse 4, the leper could go to the temple. 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:06.419 He's completely restored to all areas of life, especially God himself. 00:10:06.579 --> 00:10:10.439 He could offer those sacrifices that we read about in Leviticus. 00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:15.139 It's sort of the opposite of those stain remover adverts. 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:17.620 You know, I'm sure we've all seen them where they say, 00:10:17.699 --> 00:10:22.659 I can get rid of any stain like paint or ink or grease. 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:24.120 And we know it's a lie. 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:26.919 You put it on your carpet and it just gets worse. 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:29.159 It gets bigger and just this dull brown. 00:10:29.539 --> 00:10:30.199 And it's awful. 00:10:30.599 --> 00:10:31.439 But not Jesus. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:35.620 No, he is a mighty and powerful saviour. 00:10:35.719 --> 00:10:37.399 He gets rid of it completely. 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:40.799 God's solution is God's person. 00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:45.219 Not a set of ideas, not a philosophy, or a set of rules. 00:10:45.620 --> 00:10:46.620 No, it's a person. 00:10:46.779 --> 00:10:48.099 Jesus Christ. 00:10:48.219 --> 00:10:51.459 He has the authority and he has the power. 00:10:51.460 --> 00:11:00.060 And he dealt with all sickness, all sin, all death supremely in his death and resurrection. 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:04.180 In his death, the power of sin was completely removed. 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:05.920 It wasn't swept under the carpet. 00:11:06.139 --> 00:11:09.560 No, he took it on himself and destroys it. 00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:13.979 In Christ, our sin is washed away. 00:11:15.119 --> 00:11:17.659 Our deep refusal to do good. 00:11:17.659 --> 00:11:23.740 The way we destroy the good we've been given is washed away. 00:11:23.939 --> 00:11:25.919 Cleaned from the inside out. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:29.879 And because of his resurrection, we are united to his new life. 00:11:30.839 --> 00:11:32.079 He gives us a new heart. 00:11:32.199 --> 00:11:33.500 He gives us new desires. 00:11:33.699 --> 00:11:35.579 Love for God and for others. 00:11:36.079 --> 00:11:39.839 As we are forgiven, so we can forgive others. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:43.899 Jesus is a mighty and powerful saviour. 00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:46.560 As we come to him, it is immediate. 00:11:47.780 --> 00:11:48.740 It is total. 00:11:48.899 --> 00:11:51.500 It impacts all areas of our life. 00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:57.340 But until he returns, our lives don't fully show it though, do they? 00:11:59.080 --> 00:12:04.920 As with the leper, some things are completed now and some things we look forward to. 00:12:05.259 --> 00:12:07.379 For the leper, some things were immediately restored. 00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:08.500 He could go to the temple. 00:12:08.500 --> 00:12:11.120 His skin was right again. 00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:13.100 But some things were slow, weren't they? 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:16.740 He would have to rebuild his relationships with his friends and family. 00:12:17.559 --> 00:12:20.779 And some things would only be got right when Jesus returned. 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:23.879 He would still get sick and he would still die. 00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:25.179 And it's the same with us. 00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:28.120 As we come to Jesus immediately, we are forgiven. 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:30.919 We are adopted into God's family. 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:32.440 Sins are wiped clean. 00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:34.460 We're given his Holy Spirit. 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:36.019 Our hearts are transformed. 00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:38.500 The root of our sin is cut off. 00:12:39.419 --> 00:12:41.419 But some things are slow, aren't they? 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:46.419 Even though the root of sin is cut off, old patterns just slowly change. 00:12:47.179 --> 00:12:49.019 Old habits are slowly broken. 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:51.039 Our hearts are inclined to do good. 00:12:51.299 --> 00:12:54.659 But we still battle with the sin in our lives. 00:12:54.659 --> 00:12:56.419 We still fight against it. 00:12:57.579 --> 00:13:01.699 And when Jesus Christ returns, that is when our bodies will be made new. 00:13:01.799 --> 00:13:03.699 And we will never sin again. 00:13:03.819 --> 00:13:05.519 We will not need to battle again. 00:13:06.819 --> 00:13:09.959 But in Jesus Christ, sin has been defeated. 00:13:10.959 --> 00:13:12.959 It will not win. 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:15.320 We will be made fully new. 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:18.080 Jesus is a mighty saviour. 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:22.560 The leper knows God's solution. 00:13:22.900 --> 00:13:24.200 It is Jesus Christ. 00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:26.440 It's through him. 00:13:26.440 --> 00:13:35.120 Now even when we acknowledge the cause of sin, people still avoid Jesus, don't they? 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:38.020 We especially see this in other religions. 00:13:38.400 --> 00:13:43.100 For example, Islam will acknowledge sin, but yet just take Jesus out of the equation. 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:45.000 He is a prophet, but not a saviour. 00:13:46.160 --> 00:13:48.540 We see in ourselves, we try and make ourselves better. 00:13:48.680 --> 00:13:50.100 I can defeat my sin. 00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:55.639 You see, in liberal Christianity, let's just have the Sermon on the Mount, but no salvation. 00:13:57.620 --> 00:13:58.960 Perhaps that's you here. 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:03.720 You know your sin, but you don't want Jesus Christ. 00:14:05.019 --> 00:14:07.519 I used to teach at a school up in York. 00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:08.500 I was a geography teacher. 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:13.800 And a lot of the time, I heard the message, be true to yourself. 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:15.080 Be true to yourself. 00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:16.100 Find it within. 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:19.639 That's how we deal with things that are wrong in the world. 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:22.100 You're the only person you can trust. 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:25.000 But the irony was never seen. 00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:32.779 You know, when people were expelled for taking drugs, for bullying, for being true to themselves in that way, 00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:37.480 it was never seen that that completely undermined the view. 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:44.519 Looking inside for the solution is ridiculous, because inside is the source of the problem. 00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:47.700 The answer is in Jesus Christ. 00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:49.279 He is the great saviour. 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:51.720 The one who can really make us clean. 00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:53.259 And that is liberating. 00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:56.319 The weight falls off our shoulders. 00:14:56.460 --> 00:14:57.919 We can stop trying. 00:14:58.419 --> 00:14:59.819 And we come to him. 00:15:01.179 --> 00:15:03.000 The leper knows God's solution. 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:04.179 Do you? 00:15:04.179 --> 00:15:16.000 And thirdly, he didn't know if. 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:16.219 He knew God's solution. 00:15:16.219 --> 00:15:18.459 But he didn't know if. 00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:19.839 Do you notice that in verse 2? 00:15:19.959 --> 00:15:22.779 He says, Lord, if you will. 00:15:23.439 --> 00:15:25.099 He's saying, do you want to, Jesus? 00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:27.620 This is a cliffhanger moment. 00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:27.720 This is a cliffhanger moment. 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:29.139 Just imagine it. 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:30.700 The leper's fallen on his knees. 00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:35.000 The camera, in a sense, moves to zoom in on Jesus. 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:39.200 From the wide angle lens, seeing the whole scene, right onto Jesus Christ. 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:42.660 We know he can, but does he want to? 00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:45.060 Does he want to? 00:15:46.160 --> 00:15:47.879 Now, why does the leper ask this? 00:15:48.020 --> 00:15:50.879 We're not entirely sure, but perhaps it's out of respect. 00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:56.500 Perhaps he's honouring Jesus and saying, I don't have a right to this, but I know you can. 00:15:57.340 --> 00:15:59.879 Or perhaps it's because he's focused in on himself. 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:01.159 He's turned inward. 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:02.519 He saw his own problems. 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:03.399 I'm too sick. 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:05.000 I'm too bad, Jesus. 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:07.279 You'll probably want to heal others. 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:10.559 They've done a lot for themselves. 00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:11.340 I'm nothing. 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:17.259 But whatever it was, here we are in that moment, in that tension. 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:27.139 And in this verse, verse 3, we see the incredible love and compassion of Jesus Christ. 00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:31.100 In verse 3, he both touches him and he wills to do it. 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:36.379 Just imagine that Matthew slows the pace down. 00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:40.559 It may not feel like that, but he says, he stretched out his hands. 00:16:41.179 --> 00:16:42.159 Matthew didn't need to say that. 00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:43.139 It's obvious he's going to touch him. 00:16:43.179 --> 00:16:44.379 He's going to stretch out his hands. 00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:48.860 He stretched out his hands and he touched him. 00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:53.200 Just imagine that moment for the leper. 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:56.539 He had not been touched in years. 00:16:58.259 --> 00:17:04.420 Just the wonder, a hand on his shoulder and the deep feeling that must have caused inside. 00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:06.480 The compassion of Jesus. 00:17:06.660 --> 00:17:10.859 And then as he does it, he says, Jesus says, I will. 00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:14.059 Now that's not short for I will do it. 00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:16.980 It's saying, I want to. 00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:18.040 I wish to. 00:17:18.120 --> 00:17:19.580 I desire to. 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:20.820 I choose to. 00:17:21.840 --> 00:17:22.760 This is amazing. 00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:24.900 Just the simplicity in those two words. 00:17:25.060 --> 00:17:26.460 And yet the beauty of them. 00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:30.460 This broken man trusting in Christ. 00:17:30.620 --> 00:17:31.640 Here's those words. 00:17:31.860 --> 00:17:33.460 I will. 00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:36.519 What sweet music to his soul. 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:36.519 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:40.140 The joy and the happiness that must have filled his heart. 00:17:40.140 --> 00:17:44.460 And again, this points beyond this incident. 00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:48.500 He did much more than just touch disease. 00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:51.320 At the cross, he took it on himself. 00:17:51.800 --> 00:17:54.259 He became sick with our disease. 00:17:54.380 --> 00:17:57.020 He became ill with our sin on the cross. 00:17:57.140 --> 00:18:01.140 And he took it willingly so that we could be free from it. 00:18:01.140 --> 00:18:06.160 Jesus on the cross is the loudest proclamation of I will. 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:10.840 The leper didn't know if. 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:12.000 But we do. 00:18:12.800 --> 00:18:14.200 We do. 00:18:14.940 --> 00:18:17.259 Jesus wants to clean you. 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:18.460 To forgive you. 00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:22.880 To clean you from the inside out. 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:28.279 And at the feet of Jesus Christ, we find mercy and forgiveness. 00:18:28.840 --> 00:18:33.240 When we seek him, it's as if we feel the touch of a hand on our shoulder. 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:37.539 And a voice saying, I will be clean. 00:18:37.660 --> 00:18:40.559 We meet a generous and compassionate Lord. 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:47.919 Now even when we know it's Jesus who saves us, we can still stand far off. 00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:50.839 Perhaps our eyes are stuck on ourselves. 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:52.079 I'm just too bad. 00:18:52.179 --> 00:18:53.279 Perhaps that's you. 00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:55.700 You look at the depth of your sin. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:58.559 You're like, you have no idea what I've done. 00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:01.299 And you're like, no way. 00:19:02.899 --> 00:19:05.819 Or perhaps you came to Jesus a long time back. 00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:08.339 And now you just feel like you're a bit blind to your dirt. 00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:10.720 You've let the stains build up in a sense. 00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:12.039 You've got used to them. 00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:14.119 No way will Christ take me back. 00:19:16.159 --> 00:19:18.339 Or perhaps you know you've got a new heart. 00:19:18.419 --> 00:19:19.759 You know God's changing you. 00:19:19.779 --> 00:19:23.319 But in the midst of that, your sin just seems darker than ever. 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:24.519 Well, no. 00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:26.399 Jesus is willing. 00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:30.699 I will be clean, he says. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:35.579 Not coming to Jesus a bit like this. 00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:38.419 Let's just imagine a child broke a window. 00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:44.899 And then they ran to their room to hide because they were scared of saying sorry to their parents. 00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:48.279 Now that would break a parent's heart, wouldn't it? 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:53.960 Christ loves us so much that he died for us. 00:19:53.960 --> 00:19:57.960 So to finish, two final applications. 00:19:58.259 --> 00:20:01.860 Firstly, be like this leper. 00:20:02.380 --> 00:20:04.180 Be like this leper. 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:07.779 We must live daily in verse 2. 00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:09.620 Coming to Jesus Christ. 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:10.860 Now this is for all of us. 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:12.860 We know the problem. 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:14.900 We know we have sin in our lives. 00:20:15.880 --> 00:20:17.840 We know that it lurks deep within. 00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:19.919 We know our need. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:21.339 And we know the solution. 00:20:21.619 --> 00:20:23.139 We know it is Jesus Christ. 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:25.679 He is the loving saviour. 00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:27.039 We know he is willing. 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:31.139 And so we all come to him like the leper. 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:33.319 And it's not a one-off. 00:20:33.439 --> 00:20:35.899 It is a rhythm of the Christian life. 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:38.439 It's the life of a repentance. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.839 Now what does that look like? 00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:43.579 We can't literally fall down at his physical feet. 00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:45.500 Quite like the leper. 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:46.939 But instead, isn't it? 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:47.619 It's prayer. 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:49.539 It's the attitude of our hearts. 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:51.019 It's like the leper. 00:20:51.159 --> 00:20:53.119 We need to recognise we need help. 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.879 We speak to him. 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:56.359 We acknowledge our sin. 00:20:56.459 --> 00:20:57.419 We speak it out. 00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:59.220 We tell him our faults. 00:21:00.399 --> 00:21:02.179 And then we recognise Jesus' authority. 00:21:02.179 --> 00:21:03.759 We know he is the solution. 00:21:04.399 --> 00:21:05.339 And we ask for forgiveness. 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:07.279 We could pray physically on our knees. 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:08.119 We don't need to. 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:10.079 But we come to him. 00:21:10.439 --> 00:21:11.479 Called by him. 00:21:12.479 --> 00:21:13.399 Knowing our problem. 00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:14.739 Knowing he's the solution. 00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:16.139 And knowing he's willing. 00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:20.119 And this rhythm of life is most clearly seen, isn't it? 00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:21.479 In our Sunday worship. 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:22.679 Our weekly worship. 00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.559 Every week. 00:21:23.679 --> 00:21:24.599 Sunday by Sunday. 00:21:24.719 --> 00:21:25.539 We come together. 00:21:25.939 --> 00:21:26.679 We repent. 00:21:27.159 --> 00:21:28.179 We seek forgiveness. 00:21:28.699 --> 00:21:29.839 We hear God's assurance. 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:30.919 We've done it today. 00:21:31.699 --> 00:21:33.339 And it's not a formality. 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:37.339 We're not doing it because we just always have. 00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:43.279 We do it because it is the fitting response to our sin and to our saviour. 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:46.220 Preparing this sermon has really challenged me. 00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:47.699 I am slow to repent. 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:50.779 I am slow to recognise my faults. 00:21:50.879 --> 00:21:52.459 And I can treat that liturgy. 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:55.480 That coming to confession is just a formality. 00:21:56.519 --> 00:22:00.679 May I, may you, know the privilege and the importance of what we do. 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:03.740 Let's take that part of the service seriously. 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:07.200 It's not something we just get through before we get to the sermon. 00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:11.720 It's a serious part of our worship and response to the living God. 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:16.420 And then this weekly rhythm of repentance spills out. 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:18.640 It overflows into our daily lives. 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:21.440 Each morning, let's be on our knees before our God. 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:23.059 Like this letter. 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:24.180 Before our saviour. 00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:29.680 And then as we do, dwelling on this daily, God changes us. 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:33.940 Imagine if we were a church that repented from the heart. 00:22:34.060 --> 00:22:36.519 How we would see Christ more gloriously. 00:22:37.860 --> 00:22:40.400 And we'd see God's work in our lives. 00:22:41.080 --> 00:22:42.660 Our desires change. 00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:45.080 We'd start to want to live God's way more. 00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:50.179 So whether you've done so for years or you've never done it before ever. 00:22:50.379 --> 00:22:52.939 Come to Jesus Christ like the leper. 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:54.939 Be like this leper. 00:22:57.539 --> 00:23:00.359 But secondly, be like this leper. 00:23:00.879 --> 00:23:03.539 But don't live like you're still a leper. 00:23:03.939 --> 00:23:06.079 Don't live like you're still a leper. 00:23:06.439 --> 00:23:08.359 Not only do we live in verse 2. 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:10.059 Always coming to Christ. 00:23:10.179 --> 00:23:12.720 But we also live in the results of verse 3. 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:15.240 In verse 4, Jesus tells him, 00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.579 Go to the temple. 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:18.559 You can now go to the temple. 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:20.860 His life has changed. 00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:24.079 So until Christ returns, 00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:25.600 if we keep seeking him, 00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:28.900 then we live as cleansed, forgiven people. 00:23:29.620 --> 00:23:31.400 We can approach God. 00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:33.940 We are fully restored to his people, 00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:35.100 our brothers and sisters. 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:38.319 Now there is a tension here. 00:23:38.860 --> 00:23:40.279 We are still sinners. 00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:42.339 We still need to come to him. 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:45.700 We are also restored in him. 00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:48.680 I think the problem is, 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:51.039 is we can stop living in that reality 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:54.720 and go back to living like a leper. 00:23:54.819 --> 00:23:56.339 Even though we know forgiveness 00:23:56.339 --> 00:23:58.579 and cleansing in Christ, 00:23:59.360 --> 00:24:01.700 we live like he's done nothing for us. 00:24:01.900 --> 00:24:03.079 We live like we're still a leper. 00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:04.299 Just imagine that leper. 00:24:04.860 --> 00:24:06.980 Just imagine if he didn't go to the temple 00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:08.559 when Jesus said he should. 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:10.159 Just imagine if he went back 00:24:10.159 --> 00:24:11.940 to living outside in the camp, 00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:12.899 avoiding touch, 00:24:13.179 --> 00:24:14.379 shouting among clean, 00:24:15.419 --> 00:24:16.399 being lonely, 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:19.539 no contact with anyone, 00:24:19.659 --> 00:24:20.279 no hugs. 00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:22.879 It would be ridiculous, wouldn't it? 00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:26.800 And yet with God we can do the same. 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.880 With him we can be like, 00:24:29.080 --> 00:24:30.240 we can just ignore him 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:32.620 rather than spending time in his word 00:24:32.620 --> 00:24:33.500 and praying. 00:24:34.780 --> 00:24:37.640 Rather than coming to Sunday church regularly. 00:24:38.820 --> 00:24:40.800 I have a relation who once said to me, 00:24:40.860 --> 00:24:42.140 I believe in Jesus Christ, 00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:43.240 but I just don't go to church. 00:24:43.320 --> 00:24:44.460 I've just heard it all before. 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:47.380 He was living like a leper. 00:24:47.380 --> 00:24:51.020 And with others perhaps we do the same. 00:24:51.360 --> 00:24:53.180 Perhaps at the end of the church service 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:53.760 we run off. 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.000 We avoid people. 00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:56.080 We get home quickly. 00:24:57.040 --> 00:24:58.360 Actually rather than getting to know 00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:59.200 our brothers and sisters, 00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:00.200 loving one another, 00:25:00.360 --> 00:25:01.240 caring for one another, 00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:02.460 encouraging each other. 00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:04.380 Perhaps we live on the fringe 00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:05.580 and we don't get stuck in. 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:09.940 Stop living like you're still a leper. 00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:12.759 So to finish, 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:13.840 Jesus can 00:25:13.840 --> 00:25:16.019 and he wants to deal 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:18.080 with our deep problem of sin. 00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:19.000 Come to him. 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:21.259 Be like this leper. 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:23.700 Trust your Lord and Saviour. 00:25:23.840 --> 00:25:25.400 He is mighty to save. 00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:27.100 He is a loving King. 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:28.900 Let's pray to him now. 00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:28.980 Amen. 00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:29.039 Amen.