Touched by Jesus?
Jesus Cleanses a Leper Matthew 8.1-4
1 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.”And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (ESV)
V2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”
So this man had an incurable disease and he knew only Jesus could help him.
- Our own sins make us like this man - like the leper are we willing to confess and cry out for help?
- “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” how about us today will we be willing to cry out “Lord make us clean”.
- Notice as well the leper says “if you will” to often we presume to know the will of God when if we’d only pray to the Lord “your will be done” and learn to be content with His answer.
V3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Friends Jesus response to us is always immediate!
- It's the touch of the master that makes us clean and fit for His work. He told Peter in John 13.5 He must wash him in order for him to be made clean.
At the touch of Jesus the leper was made clean and at the touch of Jesus we are made clean.
There has to be shedding of blood and there must be a substitution made on behalf of the one to be healed/delivered from the sickness. Jesus has done both at Calvary with a touch the leper was made clean, with a touch He made Peter clean [Jn 13.5] and with a touch He makes all toady clean who would cry out in their time of need to be made clean.
When was the last time you cried out for a touch from the master to be made clean fit to do His work.
Pastor J