WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.060 to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:02.660 --> 00:00:05.799 A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. 00:00:05.860 --> 00:00:06.700 We're glad that you're here. 00:00:07.219 --> 00:00:08.259 And we're glad that you're here 00:00:08.259 --> 00:00:10.339 not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:10.900 --> 00:00:13.980 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:16.260 And as we follow Jesus together, 00:00:16.260 --> 00:00:19.320 we become convinced that there's no one so good 00:00:19.320 --> 00:00:20.600 that they don't need God's grace 00:00:20.600 --> 00:00:23.440 and no one so bad that they can't have it. 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:25.560 So that's why we come back week after week 00:00:25.560 --> 00:00:27.760 to hear what God has to say to us in his word, 00:00:28.100 --> 00:00:29.839 because we believe that God has something to say 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:30.379 to everyone. 00:00:30.579 --> 00:00:32.399 He has something to say to those 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:33.859 who've been Christians their whole lives. 00:00:34.299 --> 00:00:36.519 He has something to say to those who have been Christians 00:00:36.519 --> 00:00:38.759 only for a short amount of time. 00:00:38.899 --> 00:00:41.140 And he has something to say to those 00:00:41.140 --> 00:00:42.659 who would not consider themselves Christians, 00:00:42.659 --> 00:00:46.000 who have doubts or questions or objections to Christianity. 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:48.840 So that's why we open up God's word. 00:00:49.019 --> 00:00:49.859 We do it every Sunday. 00:00:50.700 --> 00:00:52.480 We're continuing this morning our series 00:00:52.480 --> 00:00:53.500 in the Gospel of Mark. 00:00:53.620 --> 00:00:55.019 You'll remember that the Gospel of Mark 00:00:55.019 --> 00:00:58.379 tells the story of Jesus in his life and his death 00:00:58.380 --> 00:00:59.800 and his resurrection. 00:01:00.380 --> 00:01:03.080 And we're asking two questions as we go along together. 00:01:03.179 --> 00:01:05.379 We're asking the question of who is Jesus 00:01:05.379 --> 00:01:08.439 and the question of how do we respond to him? 00:01:08.859 --> 00:01:11.700 Who is Jesus and how do we respond to him? 00:01:11.740 --> 00:01:12.840 Those are the very questions 00:01:12.840 --> 00:01:14.820 the Gospel of Mark itself asks us. 00:01:14.920 --> 00:01:16.980 So we're not doing anything that's foreign to the book, 00:01:17.379 --> 00:01:19.719 except this morning I'm gonna reverse those questions. 00:01:19.719 --> 00:01:22.520 So we're gonna ask first, how do we respond to Jesus? 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:24.640 And second, who is he? 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:26.040 I invite you to turn with me. 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:27.260 We're in Mark chapter one. 00:01:27.659 --> 00:01:29.439 We're nearing the end of chapter one. 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:32.200 We're in the very last section, verses 40 through 45. 00:01:32.900 --> 00:01:35.079 And as we come to this passage, 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:36.400 there's sort of a challenge here. 00:01:37.500 --> 00:01:39.540 One of my challenges as a preacher 00:01:39.540 --> 00:01:42.960 and one of your challenges as a reader 00:01:42.960 --> 00:01:47.359 is what do we do with all these miracle stories 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:48.439 in the Gospels? 00:01:49.780 --> 00:01:52.079 Why do we have so many of them? 00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:53.260 Why do we need all of them? 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:54.799 Couldn't Mark? 00:01:54.879 --> 00:01:57.280 Mark certainly could have told us fewer or more miracles 00:01:57.280 --> 00:01:59.459 or less or more miracles, right? 00:02:00.359 --> 00:02:01.599 And didn't we just see a miracle? 00:02:01.739 --> 00:02:04.120 We just saw Simon's mother-in-law 00:02:04.120 --> 00:02:05.859 being almost raised from the dead. 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:06.819 She had a fever, right? 00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:09.659 In Mark chapter one, verses 29 through 31. 00:02:10.060 --> 00:02:11.620 So my thought this morning 00:02:11.620 --> 00:02:14.060 is that I'll just recycle that sermon. 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:17.599 I'm just gonna tell you all the same points 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:19.819 from Mark chapter one, verses 29 through 31. 00:02:20.039 --> 00:02:21.020 You know, Jesus is king. 00:02:21.020 --> 00:02:21.980 He's restoring the world. 00:02:22.060 --> 00:02:23.300 He's bringing the future into the present. 00:02:24.140 --> 00:02:25.120 And then, you know, 00:02:25.219 --> 00:02:26.900 we've already learned everything we need to know, right? 00:02:26.920 --> 00:02:28.700 It's just repeating the same thing over and over. 00:02:30.260 --> 00:02:31.180 Of course, I joke. 00:02:32.340 --> 00:02:34.640 Why does Mark do that to us? 00:02:35.140 --> 00:02:36.480 What is it that we have to gain 00:02:36.480 --> 00:02:38.379 from so many different miracle stories 00:02:38.379 --> 00:02:39.800 coming to us over and over? 00:02:39.860 --> 00:02:41.540 By the way, this is not the last one. 00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:44.600 It's with that question that we're gonna read now. 00:02:44.599 --> 00:02:47.180 And so I invite you to turn in your Bible 00:02:47.180 --> 00:02:50.419 or in your worship guide or on your phone with me, 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:52.659 Mark chapter one, starting at verse 40. 00:02:53.859 --> 00:02:56.259 And as we turn, remember that this is God's word. 00:02:56.639 --> 00:02:59.620 God tells us that his word is more precious than gold, 00:02:59.859 --> 00:03:00.879 even the finest gold. 00:03:01.539 --> 00:03:02.599 And it's sweeter than honey, 00:03:02.799 --> 00:03:04.740 even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:07.319 And so that's why we read now, starting at verse 40. 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:10.919 And a leper came to him, imploring him 00:03:10.919 --> 00:03:12.739 and kneeling said to him, 00:03:13.340 --> 00:03:15.739 if you will, you can make me clean. 00:03:16.599 --> 00:03:19.439 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:21.000 and touched him and said to him, 00:03:21.340 --> 00:03:23.259 I will be clean. 00:03:24.099 --> 00:03:26.219 And immediately the leprosy left him 00:03:26.219 --> 00:03:27.500 and he was made clean. 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:30.060 And Jesus sternly charged him 00:03:30.060 --> 00:03:32.259 and sent him away at once and said to him, 00:03:32.840 --> 00:03:34.859 see that you say nothing to anyone, 00:03:34.860 --> 00:03:37.640 but go show yourself to the priest 00:03:37.640 --> 00:03:40.760 and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded 00:03:40.760 --> 00:03:42.280 for a proof to them. 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:45.840 But he went out and began to talk freely about it 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:46.980 and to spread the news 00:03:46.980 --> 00:03:50.500 so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town 00:03:50.500 --> 00:03:52.740 but was out in desolate places 00:03:52.740 --> 00:03:56.260 and people were coming to him from every quarter. 00:03:57.560 --> 00:03:59.040 I invite you to pray with me 00:03:59.040 --> 00:04:01.200 as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:03.060 Our father in heaven, 00:04:03.060 --> 00:04:05.099 and we thank you again for your word 00:04:05.099 --> 00:04:07.120 that you give us in it everything we need, 00:04:07.420 --> 00:04:09.840 that you don't give us too many miracle stories 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:11.620 and you don't give us too few, 00:04:11.920 --> 00:04:15.020 but you give us everything that we need 00:04:15.020 --> 00:04:17.439 to know you, to grow in you, 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:18.720 to love you and to serve you. 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:21.019 We ask that you would do that this morning, 00:04:21.160 --> 00:04:23.759 that you would show us our need 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:26.540 to be touched by you, to be made clean, 00:04:26.980 --> 00:04:28.879 and you'd show us how you meet us 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:29.879 at that point of need. 00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:33.000 And we thank you that we can come to you freely 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:33.939 and ask these things 00:04:33.939 --> 00:04:36.879 because we ask them in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:04:37.339 --> 00:04:37.620 Amen. 00:04:41.540 --> 00:04:44.860 Okay, I asked you all kind of a sassy question, 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:48.219 which is why I can't just preach the same sermon 00:04:48.219 --> 00:04:50.159 I preached a few weeks ago in Jesus Healing 00:04:50.159 --> 00:04:52.779 because we have another healing right in front of us. 00:04:52.819 --> 00:04:55.240 And thankfully, Mark doesn't leave us to wonder. 00:04:55.240 --> 00:04:57.040 He answers that question right away. 00:04:57.160 --> 00:05:00.360 Very first noun that we have in verse 14, 00:05:00.519 --> 00:05:02.980 very first noun of this story clues us in. 00:05:03.100 --> 00:05:07.379 We are dealing with a leper and a leper came to him. 00:05:07.500 --> 00:05:10.060 Now, this is a concept we are not as familiar with 00:05:10.060 --> 00:05:10.920 in the modern day, 00:05:11.379 --> 00:05:14.100 but as we saw in our Old Testament reading this morning, 00:05:14.220 --> 00:05:15.960 this was a really big deal. 00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:19.019 If you're a leper, you are someone who's outcast. 00:05:19.079 --> 00:05:20.900 You're someone who's in desperate need. 00:05:21.240 --> 00:05:23.500 You are practically exiled from the community. 00:05:23.500 --> 00:05:26.959 Remember, I told you to focus on verses 44 and 45. 00:05:27.240 --> 00:05:29.079 In that Leviticus 13 reading, 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:31.500 we saw that someone would live outside of the community. 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:35.079 They'd have to declare to everyone how unclean they were. 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:37.180 And so it was considered by many people 00:05:37.180 --> 00:05:40.699 that leprosy was actually a fate worse than death. 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:43.019 It would be better to die 00:05:43.019 --> 00:05:45.180 than to have to live cut off from everyone, 00:05:45.579 --> 00:05:49.759 to live looking disfigured and deformed in this way. 00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:52.699 A leper, scholars tell us, 00:05:52.740 --> 00:05:55.459 can encompass a wide variety of skin diseases. 00:05:55.620 --> 00:05:57.939 What we do know is it would make you look terrible. 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:01.259 You would be compared at times to looking like a corpse. 00:06:01.339 --> 00:06:04.180 These people would be especially white and pale. 00:06:06.099 --> 00:06:06.959 And so it can be, 00:06:07.060 --> 00:06:08.839 you can imagine, right, how terrible that is. 00:06:08.899 --> 00:06:12.300 Of course, people even today spend all sorts of money 00:06:12.300 --> 00:06:13.319 caring for their skin 00:06:13.319 --> 00:06:16.199 and this desire to look healthy and young and beautiful. 00:06:16.699 --> 00:06:17.959 The person with leprosy 00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:20.599 has given up on that a long time ago, right? 00:06:20.659 --> 00:06:23.540 There is no hope for them to escape this fate. 00:06:23.980 --> 00:06:24.819 On top of that, 00:06:25.219 --> 00:06:27.420 scholars tell us it was considered contagious. 00:06:27.620 --> 00:06:28.480 So if you were a leper, 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:29.819 not only did you look terrible, 00:06:30.159 --> 00:06:32.519 but no one would want to have anything to do with you. 00:06:32.600 --> 00:06:33.719 There's a reason you're told 00:06:33.719 --> 00:06:35.339 to live outside of the community. 00:06:35.719 --> 00:06:38.300 You're cut off from friendships and relationships. 00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:41.039 Of course, you all can think just how crazy 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:42.840 maybe you began to feel during COVID, 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:44.660 quarantined for a few days 00:06:44.660 --> 00:06:46.100 or isolated for a few weeks. 00:06:46.300 --> 00:06:48.140 Imagine being cut off from people 00:06:48.140 --> 00:06:49.740 for the rest of your life. 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:53.840 That's the fate that is facing this person. 00:06:54.040 --> 00:06:55.680 And to add insult to injury, 00:06:55.800 --> 00:06:57.720 to make it even more of a hopeless situation, 00:06:58.080 --> 00:07:00.120 this was considered something that was incurable. 00:07:00.840 --> 00:07:02.860 And so this was in many ways 00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:06.580 the worst of the worst place to be in the ancient world. 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:10.220 You were someone who was cast out from society. 00:07:10.220 --> 00:07:13.120 Now this is hard for us as modern people 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:14.380 to wrap our heads around. 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:16.340 If you all were here a few weeks ago, 00:07:16.900 --> 00:07:18.200 you remember Jason Tippett, 00:07:18.400 --> 00:07:20.060 a pastor in Buena Vista, Colorado, 00:07:20.220 --> 00:07:20.920 came and preached. 00:07:21.640 --> 00:07:24.080 Jason says he thinks that the best way 00:07:24.080 --> 00:07:26.020 for us to understand leprosy today, 00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:29.200 the closest analogy would be that of a sex offender. 00:07:29.900 --> 00:07:31.720 Those are our modern day lepers. 00:07:32.280 --> 00:07:34.840 They're people who are separated out from society, right? 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:37.160 They have to keep their distance from other people. 00:07:37.280 --> 00:07:38.060 Everywhere they go, 00:07:38.120 --> 00:07:39.720 they often have to declare their status. 00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:41.860 Now I'm not saying that's a bad thing. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:44.980 What I am saying is that's our idea in society 00:07:44.980 --> 00:07:46.460 of understanding what it is like 00:07:46.460 --> 00:07:48.680 to carry this type of shame, 00:07:49.320 --> 00:07:52.380 this type of permanent being cut off from a community, 00:07:52.500 --> 00:07:54.140 this sort of isolation. 00:07:54.940 --> 00:07:57.240 And so Mark here is drawing us into the story 00:07:57.240 --> 00:07:58.260 from the very beginning. 00:07:58.400 --> 00:07:59.360 There's an acceleration, 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:01.620 an intensification of what's going on here. 00:08:01.880 --> 00:08:04.480 This is not a garden variety healing. 00:08:04.860 --> 00:08:07.700 This is not a garden variety exorcism. 00:08:07.699 --> 00:08:10.159 This is different in kind 00:08:10.159 --> 00:08:13.839 from Simon's mother-in-law being cured of her fever. 00:08:13.979 --> 00:08:16.300 This is an entirely different situation. 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:19.599 This is someone with an extremely high level 00:08:19.599 --> 00:08:21.620 of hopelessness and despair, 00:08:22.060 --> 00:08:24.439 an incredibly low quality of life. 00:08:24.680 --> 00:08:29.159 And so we can understand why this man does what he does. 00:08:30.099 --> 00:08:31.139 Remember, I've told you before, 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:32.299 when we read the gospels, 00:08:32.299 --> 00:08:35.279 we are looking to characters as models. 00:08:35.479 --> 00:08:37.879 This man models for us how it is 00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:41.059 that we are meant to respond to Jesus. 00:08:42.219 --> 00:08:45.539 Verse 40, we see how desperate he is. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:47.120 He comes to Jesus. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:49.099 Jesus isn't seeking him out. 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:51.459 Of course, he comes knowing people aren't going 00:08:51.459 --> 00:08:53.279 to want to see him or be around him. 00:08:53.359 --> 00:08:54.019 Not only does he come, 00:08:54.079 --> 00:08:57.159 he's imploring Jesus and kneeling before him. 00:08:57.599 --> 00:09:00.219 In other words, this man is so desperate, 00:09:00.220 --> 00:09:02.720 he doesn't care what people think of him. 00:09:02.980 --> 00:09:04.879 He doesn't care how they look at him. 00:09:05.160 --> 00:09:07.340 He is going to do anything 00:09:07.340 --> 00:09:09.879 to have a chance at Jesus and his healing. 00:09:10.139 --> 00:09:11.620 He is that desperate. 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:14.800 He has given up long ago on looking good, 00:09:14.920 --> 00:09:17.899 feeling good, pretending to have everything together. 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:21.300 Everyone knows that his life is a mess. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:23.720 He knows it as well. 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:29.100 So he models for us something simple. 00:09:29.100 --> 00:09:31.000 How do we respond to Jesus? 00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:33.779 We respond to Jesus by coming to him. 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:37.500 We come to him with our need. 00:09:38.460 --> 00:09:40.100 Remember last week we talked about prayer. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:42.259 This is the appropriate posture for prayer. 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:43.899 People who are desperate, 00:09:44.060 --> 00:09:46.340 who know that they have no other hope. 00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:48.800 You remember the illustration from last week 00:09:48.800 --> 00:09:50.519 about Tim and Kathy Keller who prayed 00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:54.139 because they realized otherwise they would not make it. 00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:59.120 This man runs to Jesus because he knows 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:03.039 otherwise he is not going to make it. 00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:06.519 This man knows his need. 00:10:06.659 --> 00:10:09.559 It's that desperate need that drives him to Jesus. 00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:12.779 He is no longer able to entertain the idea 00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:15.480 of maybe trying to be self-sufficient enough 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:19.019 that he doesn't need to admit anything to anyone. 00:10:19.019 --> 00:10:22.879 Remember leprosy was something that was incurable. 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:26.340 He could not escape from it. 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:29.360 And so the point is this. 00:10:29.500 --> 00:10:32.220 Yes, Jesus takes the initiative, right? 00:10:32.740 --> 00:10:34.659 Yes, Jesus seeks us out. 00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:36.600 If he didn't, he wouldn't be there 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:38.600 ministering in and near Capernaum. 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:42.939 Yes, Jesus is the one who initiates his grace towards us. 00:10:42.940 --> 00:10:47.880 And those who truly know how desperate and needy they are 00:10:47.880 --> 00:10:49.540 run to Jesus. 00:10:50.560 --> 00:10:51.920 They come to Jesus. 00:10:52.060 --> 00:10:54.220 They are seeking him out and imploring him. 00:10:54.300 --> 00:10:56.460 Remember what we talked about in Mark chapter one, 00:10:56.540 --> 00:10:57.360 verses one through eight, 00:10:57.400 --> 00:10:59.720 when we began the very beginning of this gospel. 00:11:00.380 --> 00:11:02.420 Need is the price of admission. 00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:05.780 Jesus comes, he's told us, 00:11:06.140 --> 00:11:07.740 Mark chapter two, verse 17, 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:11.020 those who are well have no need of a physician, 00:11:11.020 --> 00:11:12.540 but those who are sick. 00:11:12.940 --> 00:11:16.540 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. 00:11:17.820 --> 00:11:19.440 How do we respond to Jesus? 00:11:19.620 --> 00:11:23.020 We run to him with our need. 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:29.500 Brothers and sisters, do you know how needy you are? 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:33.300 Do you know how needy you are? 00:11:35.320 --> 00:11:38.040 Leprosy is meant to be a picture for us 00:11:38.040 --> 00:11:39.940 of what our spiritual condition is. 00:11:39.940 --> 00:11:42.920 It's obvious for this man, right? 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:45.640 Not always as obvious for us. 00:11:45.700 --> 00:11:51.160 It's easier for us to hide how dark our hearts are, 00:11:51.520 --> 00:11:54.220 than it is for this man to hide his leprosy. 00:11:54.340 --> 00:11:58.520 And yet he is a picture for us of what is true for all of us. 00:11:59.160 --> 00:12:02.400 We are in our sin, the walking dead. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:07.699 When and to the extent that we know that we will be like him, 00:12:07.779 --> 00:12:09.480 we will run after Jesus. 00:12:09.620 --> 00:12:10.519 We will come to him. 00:12:10.939 --> 00:12:13.860 We will be the ones imploring him and kneeling to him, 00:12:13.939 --> 00:12:16.039 saying, if you will, you can make it clean. 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:21.340 Sometimes when I pray at the beginning of a sermon 00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:22.679 or I pray our prayer of invocation, 00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:23.899 I'll say something like this, 00:12:23.939 --> 00:12:26.720 that God would make Jesus more beautiful to us. 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:31.279 Do you want Jesus to look more beautiful to you? 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:34.980 Do you wonder from time to time maybe why Jesus 00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:37.440 is not as beautiful to you as you think 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:39.080 you would like him to be or he should be? 00:12:40.800 --> 00:12:43.040 One of the great spiritual secrets is this. 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:45.500 The more we understand our need, 00:12:45.700 --> 00:12:47.600 the more beautiful Jesus will be to us. 00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:52.220 The way that Jesus grows beautiful to us 00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:55.060 is that we grow in understanding and knowing 00:12:55.060 --> 00:12:57.660 how terrible our position is, 00:12:57.879 --> 00:12:59.240 how much we need him, 00:12:59.300 --> 00:13:03.879 the fact that we have no hope outside of him and his mercy. 00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:06.480 That is how Jesus becomes beautiful to us. 00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:07.480 Brothers and sisters, 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:11.060 I promise you that this leper saw Jesus 00:13:11.060 --> 00:13:13.580 as incredibly beautiful. 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:18.040 Even though in his appearance, Isaiah tells us, 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:20.500 there's nothing that would draw us to Jesus. 00:13:20.500 --> 00:13:22.860 He didn't look beautiful in his face 00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:24.100 or his body or his figure. 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:27.139 And yet his beauty came in his ability 00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:29.100 to meet this man's need. 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:33.360 Jesus is beautiful to the needy. 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:37.200 Jesus is beautiful to those who know 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:39.100 that they cannot save themselves. 00:13:39.340 --> 00:13:42.759 Jesus is beautiful to those who know they are lepers. 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:47.159 Jesus is beautiful to those who are willing to acknowledge 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:48.440 they can't save themselves. 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:53.600 believing we can save ourselves is as silly 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:57.600 as a leper believing he can make himself clean. 00:14:00.400 --> 00:14:02.400 How do we respond to Jesus? 00:14:03.660 --> 00:14:05.940 We come to him, we run to him with our need. 00:14:06.820 --> 00:14:09.800 We know how desperate and how needy we are. 00:14:10.880 --> 00:14:11.900 I've told you all before, 00:14:12.040 --> 00:14:14.260 one of my passions as your pastor 00:14:14.260 --> 00:14:17.080 is not just that I would tell you things from the Bible 00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:18.620 and you would learn things about the Bible, 00:14:18.700 --> 00:14:21.220 but you would actually learn how to read the Bible. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:23.639 One of the things that we see in the Gospel of Mark 00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:25.340 is we have these sets of characters 00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:26.940 that serve as models for us. 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:31.280 The disciples are mostly a negative model for us. 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:33.759 In fact, one of my seminary professors put it this way, 00:14:34.020 --> 00:14:36.020 the disciples only get one thing right. 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:39.180 The only thing the disciples get right 00:14:39.180 --> 00:14:40.560 is that they keep following Jesus. 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:44.719 Now, that's a pretty big important thing to get right, right? 00:14:46.119 --> 00:14:47.559 They make it because of that. 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:49.559 They make it because they keep following Jesus. 00:14:50.119 --> 00:14:52.159 We have this other set of characters, 00:14:52.619 --> 00:14:56.179 this group of people who are in desperate need of Jesus healing. 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:59.379 They, in a sense, understand things spiritually 00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:01.139 that the disciples do not. 00:15:01.339 --> 00:15:02.959 While the disciples are confused, 00:15:03.219 --> 00:15:05.759 they're obsessed with power and position and honor, 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:10.960 these people know that all they need is to be healed. 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:13.200 They have given up a long time ago 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:15.720 on being important or significant or wealthy or powerful. 00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:17.659 They just want to be clean. 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:22.019 They just want to be healthy again. 00:15:23.419 --> 00:15:24.860 And so they're their model for us, 00:15:25.299 --> 00:15:28.500 that we would be not like the disciples stumbling along, 00:15:28.939 --> 00:15:31.259 being rebuked by Jesus for having little faith, 00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:33.799 but we instead would be like this leper, 00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:37.439 people who know how much we need Jesus and his grace, 00:15:37.479 --> 00:15:39.719 and we come to him asking for it 00:15:39.719 --> 00:15:43.000 because we have no other hope. 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:49.879 People always want to know why they suffer in this life. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.379 Why is this the brokenness that you have? 00:15:52.459 --> 00:15:54.939 Why is this the thing in your life that doesn't work? 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:58.279 They often come to pastors and they ask them, 00:15:58.399 --> 00:15:58.579 why? 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:00.579 Why is this happening? 00:16:01.339 --> 00:16:03.279 Why is this the thing that's going on in my life? 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:04.600 Why is this the thing that's broken? 00:16:06.699 --> 00:16:07.459 Guys, I don't know. 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:13.000 I don't know why God has chosen your particular suffering for you. 00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:15.399 I can't answer that question for you. 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:19.759 I don't know why God has allowed certain things into your life. 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:22.100 God has not revealed that to me. 00:16:22.939 --> 00:16:25.059 I don't expect him to reveal that to me. 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:30.159 Often all we can do, often all I can do is sit with you and be with you 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:34.319 and remind you of God's faithfulness over time. 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:41.980 God can use your suffering to draw you closer to him. 00:16:43.640 --> 00:16:47.940 God can use your suffering to show you your need. 00:16:49.400 --> 00:16:53.560 God can use your suffering to grow you spiritually. 00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:59.379 I don't know why he allows the things that he allows to happen. 00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:01.439 I do know he uses it for good. 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:03.799 I do know one of the ways he uses it for good, 00:17:03.859 --> 00:17:05.019 that we would be like this man, 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:06.819 that we can come with our need, 00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:09.119 imploring him and kneeling before him. 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:12.779 Now when I say that, 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:14.659 when I say that God uses suffering, 00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:16.059 uses it in our lives, 00:17:16.179 --> 00:17:17.519 often people mishear that. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:18.939 What I'm not saying, 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:20.319 I'm not saying that suffering is okay. 00:17:20.439 --> 00:17:22.739 I'm not saying it's a great thing that this man had leprosy. 00:17:23.159 --> 00:17:24.739 I'm not saying that we dismiss it. 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:29.059 I'm not saying that we don't cry and lament and grieve. 00:17:30.659 --> 00:17:33.019 Forbidding those things is called stoicism. 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:34.419 It's not called Christianity. 00:17:35.679 --> 00:17:38.479 It's the opposite of what the Bible actually shows us. 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:40.839 Sometimes people will say things like, 00:17:40.939 --> 00:17:41.739 well, God's sovereign. 00:17:42.619 --> 00:17:43.739 And that's true, right? 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:46.859 People will use that though as a throwaway line. 00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:48.099 What they really mean is, 00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:50.859 I would like to avoid facing real pain and doubt. 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:52.639 And so I'm just gonna shove this in the corner. 00:17:54.259 --> 00:17:57.219 That's not what God's sovereignty is for, right? 00:17:57.259 --> 00:18:00.919 It's a lot more comfortable to be numb sometimes. 00:18:02.719 --> 00:18:05.159 And then we wonder why we're not growing spiritually, right? 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.579 Well, if you're numb, 00:18:07.579 --> 00:18:09.039 if you just say God's sovereign, 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:10.159 and you shove things in the corner, 00:18:10.239 --> 00:18:11.679 you're not gonna come to him with your need. 00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:13.979 Of course you're not growing spiritually. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:18.119 Of course he's not becoming more beautiful to you. 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:20.979 It's a lot easier, right? 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:25.159 It's a lot easier to avoid the risk of coming to God 00:18:25.159 --> 00:18:26.659 with our hurts and needs. 00:18:26.699 --> 00:18:27.500 It's a lot safer. 00:18:27.639 --> 00:18:29.879 It's more comfortable to shut down our hearts 00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:33.640 because then we don't have to risk being disappointed again. 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:39.880 It's a lot easier just to ignore and avoid God. 00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:41.020 And yet Psalm 13, right? 00:18:41.080 --> 00:18:42.700 The whole Bible shows us a different model. 00:18:42.800 --> 00:18:44.640 In Psalm 13, the psalmist is crying out, 00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:46.960 asking God how long he's gonna forget him. 00:18:47.020 --> 00:18:49.900 It's at the end of the psalm that he confesses God's sovereignty. 00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:52.720 It's after he's lamented. 00:18:52.820 --> 00:18:57.519 It's as he's grieving that he confesses that God's the one who's in control. 00:18:58.600 --> 00:19:03.019 I mean, imagine for a second that this leper is sitting in his leper colony 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:06.220 and he's just reading, you know, theology books. 00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:09.519 Someone at the church just dumped a box of books by his tent 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:11.819 and drove away so they wouldn't have to be infected. 00:19:12.379 --> 00:19:14.500 So he's reading, you know, some heavy theology 00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:17.359 and he gets to the section on God's sovereign. 00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:20.119 He says, oh, I'm a leper, but God's sovereign. 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.879 Okay, I don't have to worry about this anymore. 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:24.059 I'm just gonna stay here. 00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:27.420 No, he sees, he knows God's sovereignty. 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:29.420 That's why he runs to God. 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:32.619 That's why he comes and he has this confidence. 00:19:32.619 --> 00:19:36.979 Verse 40, if you will, you can, right? 00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:38.219 If you will, you can. 00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:40.759 He knows how powerful God is. 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:42.659 He knows God's sovereignty. 00:19:42.939 --> 00:19:44.559 That's why he comes to him. 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:46.459 That's what drives him to God. 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:48.459 That's what gives him this confidence, 00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:51.739 this willingness to look like an idiot in front of everyone else 00:19:51.739 --> 00:19:54.239 because he knows that it's worth it. 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:58.299 Brothers and sisters, God's sovereignty is meant to drive us 00:19:58.299 --> 00:19:59.959 to ask him for things. 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:03.299 God's sovereignty is meant to drive us. 00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:06.799 It's what gives us enough confidence to finally make it safe, 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:09.480 to lay our hearts and our needs out before him. 00:20:09.860 --> 00:20:12.539 That is what gives us the power and the platform. 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:15.240 That is the only thing that makes it safe. 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:19.240 That's how we're able to do what we talked about last week, 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:22.240 to come before God in prayer. 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:32.460 Are you ready to come and ask God for healing? 00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:40.579 Some of you have quietly resigned to the status quo 00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:43.900 because it's much safer 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:47.920 and it's much easier than trusting and crying out. 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:51.460 You don't have to risk being disappointed. 00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:54.019 You don't have to risk being embarrassed. 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:57.519 What if I pray about this and things don't turn out well? 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:02.639 What if I share my need with someone and it gets messy? 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:05.879 You don't have to risk admitting 00:21:05.879 --> 00:21:07.879 what's actually going on in your lives. 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.319 It's risky. 00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:13.700 It's risky to tell God what we need and ask him to intervene. 00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:17.660 It's risky to be lepers out in the open. 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:22.940 It's risky to come into the town where God is. 00:21:22.940 --> 00:21:27.940 I knew a young woman a long time ago in a different life 00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:31.559 and she was desperate to be married. 00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:35.600 She told me she didn't pray about it for a long time 00:21:35.600 --> 00:21:39.140 because she was afraid of what would happen 00:21:39.140 --> 00:21:39.940 if God didn't answer. 00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:42.840 It's risky. 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:47.320 It's risky to tell God what we want and need 00:21:47.320 --> 00:21:49.299 and ask him to intervene. 00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:54.139 It's risky to admit that things in your marriage are not okay. 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:56.799 I might feel like admitting that you're a leper. 00:21:58.299 --> 00:22:01.559 It's risky to finally begin to talk about 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:03.419 your heartbreak from your divorce. 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:05.240 Seems scary, right? 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:08.299 It's risky to ask the question 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:10.700 of why your friendships only last a year or two 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:13.559 and why you always self-sabotage. 00:22:14.639 --> 00:22:16.700 It's risky to ask the question 00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:17.960 of why you're always the one 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:19.319 who ends your dating relationships. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:22.019 It's risky 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:24.480 to finally admit 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:26.519 that things are more important to you than people. 00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:29.480 It's risky to admit 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:30.400 that everything you do 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:32.319 has an angle to it. 00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:34.620 It's risky to admit 00:22:34.620 --> 00:22:37.200 that you're in over your ears 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:37.980 in credit card debt 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:41.220 and your purchases never accomplished 00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:43.200 what you hoped they would. 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:46.480 That's the other thing 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:48.220 this leper shows us. 00:22:49.080 --> 00:22:50.299 There's a sense in which 00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:51.779 sins that 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:53.319 people can see, 00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:54.480 struggles that people can see, 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:55.420 there's a grace to it. 00:22:56.580 --> 00:22:57.440 There's a grace 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.600 to things being 00:22:58.600 --> 00:22:59.640 visible, right? 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:00.140 If you're rich, 00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:00.740 if you're healthy, 00:23:01.340 --> 00:23:02.720 things look good on the inside, 00:23:03.940 --> 00:23:04.740 it's easy to hide. 00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:07.220 It's easy to believe 00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:07.840 you're powerful. 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:08.600 There's a reason 00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:09.420 Jesus tells us 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:10.319 in Mark chapter 10, 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:12.159 it's easier for a camel 00:23:12.159 --> 00:23:13.480 to go through the eye of a needle 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.439 than for a rich person 00:23:14.439 --> 00:23:15.559 to enter the kingdom of God. 00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:19.159 Long time ago, 00:23:19.419 --> 00:23:20.639 summer of 2009, 00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:22.099 I was on this mission trip 00:23:22.099 --> 00:23:22.619 to Ireland 00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:24.220 and one of the things 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:24.799 they had us do 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:26.319 was door-to-door evangelism. 00:23:26.879 --> 00:23:27.960 Whatever you think about that, 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.879 just put it aside for a minute, 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:29.139 okay? 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:29.720 Go with me. 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.460 We experienced 00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:33.359 and it was already known 00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:35.419 that rich neighborhoods 00:23:35.419 --> 00:23:36.399 are not very interested. 00:23:38.059 --> 00:23:38.819 They're more likely 00:23:38.819 --> 00:23:39.939 to close the door on you, 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.420 and they're more likely 00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:41.039 not to answer. 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:42.980 Poor neighborhoods 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:44.000 are much more interested. 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:46.220 They're much more likely 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:46.960 to open the door. 00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:48.840 They're much more likely 00:23:48.840 --> 00:23:49.539 to talk to you. 00:23:49.580 --> 00:23:49.860 Why? 00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:52.460 They're not under the illusion 00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:53.180 that they're powerful. 00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.640 They're not under the illusion 00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:56.440 that they have the world 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:56.920 figured out 00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:57.559 and they can fix it. 00:23:57.600 --> 00:23:59.519 They know their need. 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:03.600 They know the situation 00:24:03.600 --> 00:24:04.200 that they're in. 00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.640 So there's a grace. 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.480 There's a grace that comes 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.100 and your problems 00:24:08.100 --> 00:24:09.220 are something everyone can see. 00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:10.440 There's a grace for this leper. 00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:11.360 He can't hide the fact 00:24:11.360 --> 00:24:12.100 that he has leprosy. 00:24:15.120 --> 00:24:15.740 There's things 00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:16.620 that are easy to hide 00:24:16.620 --> 00:24:17.299 and things that are difficult 00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:17.660 to hide. 00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:19.019 You could have $200,000 00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:20.140 in credit card debt. 00:24:20.180 --> 00:24:21.120 I would have no idea, right? 00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:21.600 No one knows 00:24:21.600 --> 00:24:22.279 that that's your struggle. 00:24:23.620 --> 00:24:24.079 If you struggle 00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:24.579 with your weight, 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:26.240 yeah, people might know that, right? 00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:28.079 Is one better than the other? 00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:28.640 Not necessarily. 00:24:28.860 --> 00:24:29.660 One worse than the other? 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.019 I don't know. 00:24:31.900 --> 00:24:32.600 It's easy 00:24:32.600 --> 00:24:33.440 when our struggles 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.079 can be hidden 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:35.400 to avoid Jesus. 00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:36.380 The leper knows 00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:37.900 something different. 00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:40.720 And that's what helps 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.040 the leper 00:24:41.040 --> 00:24:41.820 just want to be healed. 00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:43.100 That's what helps him 00:24:43.100 --> 00:24:43.700 know his need. 00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:44.840 That's what helps him 00:24:44.840 --> 00:24:45.700 avoid the trap 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:46.360 of the disciples 00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:47.720 who want power 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.480 and significance 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.480 and fame. 00:24:52.300 --> 00:24:53.019 And so how do we 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:53.740 respond to Jesus? 00:24:54.320 --> 00:24:54.900 We come to him 00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:55.380 with our need. 00:24:55.420 --> 00:24:55.920 We come to him 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:56.540 with our need 00:24:56.540 --> 00:24:57.940 no matter how risky it is 00:24:57.940 --> 00:24:58.900 and how threatening it is. 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.500 We come to him 00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.060 with our need 00:25:01.060 --> 00:25:01.960 because we have 00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:03.320 no other hope 00:25:03.320 --> 00:25:04.340 outside of God's mercy. 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:07.639 And we come to him 00:25:07.639 --> 00:25:08.500 with our need 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.539 because of who 00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:11.359 Jesus is. 00:25:11.439 --> 00:25:11.619 Remember, 00:25:11.679 --> 00:25:12.419 we have two questions. 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:13.559 How do we respond to Jesus? 00:25:13.699 --> 00:25:14.240 Who is he? 00:25:14.899 --> 00:25:16.139 We have a wonderful picture, 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:16.859 a beautiful picture 00:25:16.859 --> 00:25:18.019 of what Jesus is 00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:18.919 here in this passage. 00:25:20.139 --> 00:25:21.339 It's short and it's simple. 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.220 Jesus touches 00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:23.659 the untouchable. 00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:26.240 Remember, 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:26.759 I told you 00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.139 it was thought 00:25:27.139 --> 00:25:27.819 that leprosy 00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:28.579 was contagious. 00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:31.299 What does Jesus do 00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:32.179 in verse 41? 00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:34.299 moved with pity. 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:35.480 He stretched out his hand 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:36.799 and touched him. 00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:38.900 Jesus heals 00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:39.519 different people 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:40.220 in different ways 00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:41.000 throughout the Gospels. 00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:41.720 That's part of the reason 00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:42.740 we have different miracles. 00:25:43.840 --> 00:25:44.400 He heals them 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:45.060 in different ways 00:25:45.060 --> 00:25:46.120 depending on the situation. 00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:46.560 Here, 00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.360 he touches 00:25:47.360 --> 00:25:48.880 someone who's not 00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:49.759 supposed to be touched. 00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:52.580 Jesus isn't afraid 00:25:52.580 --> 00:25:53.019 of the fact 00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:53.500 that this man 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.080 is unclean. 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.180 He's not 00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:57.080 intimidated 00:25:57.080 --> 00:25:57.860 or overwhelmed 00:25:57.860 --> 00:25:58.779 or ashamed of him. 00:25:58.779 --> 00:26:01.099 He's not embarrassed 00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:01.899 by his need. 00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:04.200 Jesus doesn't feel 00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:04.599 awkward 00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:06.160 about the fact 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:06.720 that this man 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:07.660 is standing before him. 00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:10.440 Jesus doesn't feel 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.220 awkward about you 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.700 and your need. 00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:14.359 Jesus isn't embarrassed 00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:14.839 by you. 00:26:16.359 --> 00:26:17.220 There's nothing 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:18.420 here 00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:20.180 that's so gross 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:20.819 and repulsive 00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:22.019 that Jesus won't touch it. 00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:24.759 Jesus touches 00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:25.379 this man 00:26:25.379 --> 00:26:26.319 who has this gross 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:27.279 and disfiguring 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:28.099 skin disease. 00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:30.299 Remember we read 00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:31.339 in Leviticus 13 00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:32.559 about the little boils 00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:33.879 and the liquid 00:26:33.879 --> 00:26:34.460 coming out. 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:35.059 This is gross. 00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:37.180 Jesus touches 00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:37.700 this man. 00:26:39.180 --> 00:26:39.920 Jesus is willing 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:41.220 to do that. 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:42.660 And so we see here 00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:43.559 just in a simple form 00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:44.000 the message 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.639 of the Gospel. 00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:47.319 We're not all 00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.039 physical lepers 00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:50.279 but we are 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:50.799 as one person 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.139 has put it 00:26:51.139 --> 00:26:51.980 all spiritual lepers. 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.779 We are all 00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:56.039 the walking dead. 00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:58.879 we all have 00:26:58.879 --> 00:26:59.899 no hope 00:26:59.899 --> 00:27:00.779 outside of Jesus 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:02.299 and his touch. 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.440 And 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:06.159 we all have 00:27:06.159 --> 00:27:07.159 the opportunity 00:27:07.159 --> 00:27:07.980 the invitation 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:08.759 to come 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.539 like this man 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:10.480 before Jesus 00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.839 verse 40 00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:12.659 to come to him 00:27:12.659 --> 00:27:14.059 to implore him 00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:15.319 and to kneel to him 00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:15.639 to say 00:27:15.639 --> 00:27:16.259 if you will 00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:17.200 you can make me clean. 00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:18.980 Of course we can have 00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.599 more confidence 00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:20.259 in this man 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:20.899 because we know 00:27:20.899 --> 00:27:21.399 this story. 00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:21.900 we don't need 00:27:21.900 --> 00:27:22.220 to say 00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:22.740 if you will. 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.620 We know 00:27:24.620 --> 00:27:25.000 that Jesus 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:25.620 offers it. 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.380 He offers it 00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:27.000 for everyone 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.920 who comes to him 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:29.040 in repentance 00:27:29.040 --> 00:27:30.400 and faith. 00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:32.240 Jesus is the one 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:32.680 who touches 00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:33.420 the untouchable. 00:27:34.340 --> 00:27:35.120 There is nothing 00:27:35.120 --> 00:27:35.820 so gross 00:27:35.820 --> 00:27:36.480 and repulsive 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:36.980 that Jesus 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.720 won't touch it. 00:27:38.620 --> 00:27:39.280 There's nothing 00:27:39.280 --> 00:27:40.040 so far gone 00:27:40.040 --> 00:27:40.780 he's not powerful 00:27:40.780 --> 00:27:41.180 enough 00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:42.460 to heal it. 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:45.080 And 00:27:45.080 --> 00:27:47.019 we have to know 00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:47.420 our need. 00:27:48.120 --> 00:27:48.960 We have to admit 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:49.320 our need. 00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:51.779 In another gospel 00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:52.639 in the gospel 00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:53.139 of Luke 00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:54.619 we're told 00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:55.099 a story 00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:55.379 a story 00:27:55.379 --> 00:27:56.039 about two people. 00:27:56.179 --> 00:27:57.259 One person 00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:58.460 who knows 00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:58.919 his need 00:27:58.919 --> 00:27:59.759 and one who doesn't. 00:28:00.679 --> 00:28:01.299 Jesus tells 00:28:01.299 --> 00:28:01.799 the parable 00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.460 of the Pharisee 00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:03.220 and the tax collector. 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:03.740 They both 00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.399 go to pray 00:28:04.399 --> 00:28:05.799 in the temple. 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:07.299 Jesus tells it 00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:07.700 to those 00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:08.159 who trusted 00:28:08.159 --> 00:28:08.759 in themselves 00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.759 that they were 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.039 righteous 00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:10.519 and treated 00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:11.759 others with contempt. 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.659 The Pharisee 00:28:13.659 --> 00:28:15.139 stands by himself 00:28:15.139 --> 00:28:15.679 and he prays 00:28:15.679 --> 00:28:16.099 like this 00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:17.019 God I thank you 00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:17.519 that I am not 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.220 like other men 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:19.640 extortioners 00:28:19.640 --> 00:28:20.819 unjust adulterers 00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.160 or even 00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:21.559 like this 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:22.180 tax collector. 00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:23.900 I fast 00:28:23.900 --> 00:28:24.579 twice a week. 00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:26.000 I give tithes 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.740 of all that I get. 00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:29.539 Tax collector 00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.400 responds differently. 00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:31.680 He stands 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:32.279 far off. 00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.539 He doesn't lift 00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:35.019 his eyes up 00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:35.319 to heaven 00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:35.779 but he beats 00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.259 his breast 00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:36.920 saying God 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:37.620 be merciful 00:28:37.620 --> 00:28:38.819 to me 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.519 a sinner. 00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:41.220 He knows 00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:41.680 he's a leper. 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:42.960 And Jesus 00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:43.460 says this 00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:43.940 I tell you 00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:44.460 this man 00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:44.860 went down 00:28:44.860 --> 00:28:45.380 to his house 00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:45.900 justified 00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:46.579 rather than 00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:46.940 the other 00:28:46.940 --> 00:28:48.340 for everyone 00:28:48.340 --> 00:28:48.960 who exalts 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:49.240 himself 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:49.940 will be humbled 00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:51.279 but the one 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.940 who humbles 00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:52.400 himself 00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:53.660 will be exalted. 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.440 Brothers and sisters 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:56.960 do you know 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:57.360 your need? 00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:59.340 Jesus has come 00:28:59.340 --> 00:29:00.120 to touch it 00:29:00.120 --> 00:29:01.500 he has come 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:02.460 to heal it. 00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:04.200 We just have 00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:04.680 to admit it 00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:05.059 and say 00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:05.960 God be merciful 00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:06.519 to me 00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.340 a sinner. 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:08.819 Let's pray. 00:29:10.360 --> 00:29:11.100 Our Father 00:29:11.100 --> 00:29:11.440 in heaven 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:12.700 we praise 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:12.900 you 00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:13.299 and thank 00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:13.460 you 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:13.860 for 00:29:13.860 --> 00:29:14.840 your grace 00:29:14.840 --> 00:29:15.440 that there 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:15.920 is 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:17.039 nothing 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.880 so gross 00:29:17.880 --> 00:29:18.740 that you 00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:19.200 won't touch 00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:19.360 it 00:29:19.360 --> 00:29:20.480 and that you 00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:21.320 come to us 00:29:21.320 --> 00:29:22.900 the untouchable 00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:23.440 and you 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:23.840 touch us. 00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:24.200 We ask 00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:24.420 that you 00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:24.840 would remind 00:29:24.840 --> 00:29:25.259 us of that 00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:25.759 this morning 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.140 that you 00:29:26.140 --> 00:29:26.580 would drive 00:29:26.580 --> 00:29:27.059 that grace 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:27.500 deep into 00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:27.900 our hearts 00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:28.140 that we 00:29:28.140 --> 00:29:28.519 would know 00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:28.799 it and 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:29.320 believe it 00:29:29.320 --> 00:29:30.080 more and 00:29:30.080 --> 00:29:30.440 more that 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:30.700 we would 00:29:30.700 --> 00:29:31.200 have greater 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:31.759 confidence 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.420 and faith 00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:32.880 in you 00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:33.340 that we 00:29:33.340 --> 00:29:33.640 would have 00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:34.299 the courage 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:35.320 to admit 00:29:35.320 --> 00:29:35.740 our need 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.840 and the joy 00:29:36.840 --> 00:29:37.880 that comes 00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:38.340 from seeing 00:29:38.340 --> 00:29:38.880 you meet it. 00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:39.940 We ask 00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:40.559 these things 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:42.039 in the name 00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:42.940 of Jesus 00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:44.399 who comes 00:29:44.399 --> 00:29:44.859 to us 00:29:44.859 --> 00:29:45.359 no matter 00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:45.799 how bad 00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:46.259 things are 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:46.679 and offers 00:29:46.679 --> 00:29:47.919 and is able 00:29:47.919 --> 00:29:49.000 to heal us. 00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:49.460 We ask 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:49.839 these things 00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:50.379 in his name. 00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:50.819 Amen.