Pastor Nam Park.
Luke 5:12 While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 13 And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And He ordered him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 15 But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.
Jesus has the power to cleanse. He is also WILLING to do so.
This man had a full and desperate need for cleansing since he was "covered" in leprosy.
Leprosy, aka Hansen's Disease, can be spread by touch or by breath. It is a decreasing of the nervous system. The person then becomes unable to feel pain.
He went face down in the dirt, begging Jesus to forgive him. He acknowledges that Jesus is fully capable to heal. Yet (in Greek) suggests that Jesus might not be willing to perform the healing.
- Are you willing? (focus)
- I KNOW you can heal. (fact)
Jesus didn't have to heal him. He recognized Jesus' ability but didn't impose his desires to be healed upon the Savior. There is humility in the format of his asking, similar to a request made by method of a prayer.
Background: Lepers had to live outside the camp and if anyone came near, they needed to shout: "unclean." They were separated from family and friends and only lived with other lepers. They lived similar to dead men, away from society.
- If a leper could chose to be blind or even lame, instead of leprous they would take the swap in an instant because at least they would be able to be with family and friends.
"Although the leper was not more sinful than others... he had the misfortune of being on the outside what everyone else already was on the inside; utterly sinful" (paraphrased quote).
In order to heal him, Jesus touched him. Jesus didn't have to touch him, but this action demonstrated His love and compassion. The healing was also immediate. The complete appearance of this man was restored back to normal.
Jesus instructs the man to tell NO ONE. The reason was possibly that it was the right process for him to be restored into society. This was an 8-day process. A testimony to the priesthood as well that Messianic times were upon them.
Luke 7:20 When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’” 21 At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. 22 And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Yet the healing Jesus repeatedly did was not the main focus, it was the PREACHING OF GOD's WORD. What is more amazing is that a person that was once dead in his transgressions could be saved/completely cleansed. That is the greater miracle.
Jesus also didn't have His head swell. Afterwards, He finds time alone to pray. Good prayer is a difficult discipline, yet important. Seek to find private strength from God the Father.
The deeper issue is not whether we have the health/blessing of this life, but whether the things in this life point us to the Savior.
Turn to the Lord. The only one with the compassion, the ABILITY, and the WILLINGNESS to cleanse us.
This man had a full and desperate need for cleansing since he was "covered" in leprosy.
Leprosy, aka Hansen's Disease, can be spread by touch or by breath. It is a decreasing of the nervous system. The person then becomes unable to feel pain.
He went face down in the dirt, begging Jesus to forgive him. He acknowledges that Jesus is fully capable to heal. Yet (in Greek) suggests that Jesus might not be willing to perform the healing.
- Are you willing? (focus)
- I KNOW you can heal. (fact)
Jesus didn't have to heal him. He recognized Jesus' ability but didn't impose his desires to be healed upon the Savior. There is humility in the format of his asking, similar to a request made by method of a prayer.
Background: Lepers had to live outside the camp and if anyone came near, they needed to shout: "unclean." They were separated from family and friends and only lived with other lepers. They lived similar to dead men, away from society.
- If a leper could chose to be blind or even lame, instead of leprous they would take the swap in an instant because at least they would be able to be with family and friends.
"Although the leper was not more sinful than others... he had the misfortune of being on the outside what everyone else already was on the inside; utterly sinful" (paraphrased quote).
In order to heal him, Jesus touched him. Jesus didn't have to touch him, but this action demonstrated His love and compassion. The healing was also immediate. The complete appearance of this man was restored back to normal.
Jesus instructs the man to tell NO ONE. The reason was possibly that it was the right process for him to be restored into society. This was an 8-day process. A testimony to the priesthood as well that Messianic times were upon them.
Luke 7:20 When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’” 21 At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. 22 And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Yet the healing Jesus repeatedly did was not the main focus, it was the PREACHING OF GOD's WORD. What is more amazing is that a person that was once dead in his transgressions could be saved/completely cleansed. That is the greater miracle.
Jesus also didn't have His head swell. Afterwards, He finds time alone to pray. Good prayer is a difficult discipline, yet important. Seek to find private strength from God the Father.
The deeper issue is not whether we have the health/blessing of this life, but whether the things in this life point us to the Savior.
Turn to the Lord. The only one with the compassion, the ABILITY, and the WILLINGNESS to cleanse us.
