WEBVTT 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:07.679 Our scripture reading this morning for the sermon comes from Mark chapter 1, verses 35 to 45. 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:11.679 We are in this new sermon series in the Gospel of Mark. 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:19.519 And we follow Jesus' journey through his earthly ministry of some three years. 00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:24.559 Reading from God's Holy Word. 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:36.079 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:43.679 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, Everyone's looking for you. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:52.159 And he said to them, Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out. 00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:58.000 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. 00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:06.879 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling, said to him, If you will, you can make me clean. 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:14.719 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, I will be clean. 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:18.640 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:22.079 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once. 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:32.079 He said to him, See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priests, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded for a proof to them. 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:47.280 But he went out and began to talk freely about it and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter. 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:52.959 This is the reading of God's holy, infallible, and errant word. 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:57.680 May we pray to the God who gave us this word. 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:02.000 Father, we thank you. 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:04.879 We thank you for the word that you speak. 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:13.360 Lord, we thank you for your powerful word to create, to heal, to cleanse, to forgive. 00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:20.400 May we experience the power, your power by your spirit as we listen to your word. 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:23.039 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:30.240 This morning we're looking at the rhythm of a gospel life. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:36.000 Did you know that there is a rhythm to a gospel life? 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:43.199 It was in the life of Jesus, and there is something for us to learn as well as we look at this gospel. 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:51.439 As we've seen, there's really two primary questions, at least as I think of them, as we study the gospel of Mark. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:55.120 The first question is: who is this one who calls us? 00:02:56.560 --> 00:02:58.400 Do you know the real Jesus? 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:02.560 I ask that question all the time. 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:04.240 I'm a pastor. 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:06.800 I have a lot of conversations with people. 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:09.199 Do you know the real Jesus? 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:11.360 I mean the real Jesus. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:17.680 Not the figment of your imagination, not the myth, the man. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:21.759 Do you know the real Jesus of Nazareth? 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:30.400 I find that many people today in our increasingly biblically illiterate society don't know the real Jesus. 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:35.280 Jesus wants you to know him as he really is. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:38.479 What does it mean, secondly, to follow him? 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:41.120 This is what this gospel is about. 00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:51.439 My prayer is that as we go through this sermon series, that you and I will both read the gospel of Mark with fresh eyes. 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:53.680 That's always a good thing. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:56.560 I've been reading the Bible since I could read. 00:03:57.360 --> 00:03:59.199 I've read a lot of Bible. 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:07.120 How I love it when the Holy Spirit opens my eyes to new understanding in this season of my life. 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:08.000 And he does. 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:09.919 And he can do that for you. 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:15.520 He can open your eyes to the things that you thought you knew that you didn't know. 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:20.639 And to understand and to see Jesus in a way that you did not see him before. 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:23.279 This is the power of the gospel. 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:27.120 We are called to be followers of Jesus. 00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:35.040 Jesus said in Luke 6, verse 40, that a disciple, when fully trained, will be like his teacher. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:42.480 We've talked about that recently over the last two years since we came into this building, this focus on discipleship. 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:45.920 What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:48.319 Are you a disciple? 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:50.639 Are you a follower? 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:53.279 Then you will study what he taught. 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:59.680 Then you will grow as you learn, and you will be transformed in your heart as you do. 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:03.279 So what was his rhythm? 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:08.639 What are we to learn after Jesus' pattern, the rhythm of his life, his ministry? 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:14.800 We see it perfectly laid out here once again in the text before us this morning. 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:17.920 Engage and withdraw. 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:22.160 Minister and step back. 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:23.360 Rest. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:25.279 Be refreshed. 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:26.959 Be renewed. 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:38.160 Mark chapter 1, verse 29 to 34, that Pastor Nathan preached on last week. 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:53.199 It says, That evening at sundown, they brought to Jesus in Capernaum all who were sick or grieved, oppressed by demons, and the whole city was gathered together at his door. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:57.040 Don't just read right past that. 00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:01.279 Get that picture in your mind. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:12.800 The whole town of Capernaum, once they hear that Jesus of Nazareth is there and he has this kind of power, he healed Simon's mother-in-law. 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:14.639 He had healed before. 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:16.800 The word is spreading. 00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:21.680 This man has power like no one else. 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:25.439 He has an authority when he teaches like no one else. 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:27.279 And so what do they do? 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:28.480 Naturally. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:34.000 If you were in Capernaum at that time and you heard these stories, what would you do? 00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:43.120 If you were sick, if you had an ailment, if you had a significant problem, you would have found yourself at that door also. 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:46.160 Jesus, would you just touch me? 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:50.319 Because when you touch people, people are healed. 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:52.639 Whatever it might have been. 00:06:54.240 --> 00:07:01.120 Jesus, this divine being in a human body, needed a lot of rest after that day. 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:04.000 It was a very busy day of ministry. 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:09.920 Some of you know what a very full, busy day of ministry looks like. 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:13.759 Or maybe you don't think of it perhaps as ministry. 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:16.079 You just know what a very full day is. 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:19.759 And you know what it's like to be exhausted at the end of the day. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:21.360 Well, this was Jesus. 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:23.439 He was in a human body. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:25.680 He wasn't Superman. 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:27.439 He got tired. 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:29.360 He needed rest. 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:34.240 I suspect he fell asleep quickly that night. 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:37.920 Because he knew he was going to get up early the next morning. 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:42.879 Because he needed to be alone with his father. 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:46.000 To obey the laws of humanity. 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:48.000 He needed rest. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:51.199 And he needed to be in solitude with his father. 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:53.759 And so do we, by the way. 00:07:54.240 --> 00:08:00.959 If we go and go without Sabbaths in our weeks, things break down. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:05.360 Some of us know that better than others. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:12.000 Things have a way of breaking down when you just go and go and go and you don't stop. 00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:17.040 Let's take a closer look at the rhythm of Jesus' life. 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:23.040 Again, after a very full, fruitful day of ministry, Jesus needs time alone. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:24.160 So what does he do? 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:29.439 Mark tells us he got up very early in the morning while it was still dark. 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:31.680 Interesting word that Mark uses. 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:34.000 He went into the wilderness. 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:40.960 We've already been looking at the wilderness motif so far in this sermon series. 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:47.919 It's the same word that we saw earlier when he went out into the rugged desert. 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:57.039 Well, he probably didn't go that far out into the rugged desert, but I find it interesting that he used the same word. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:03.279 This wilderness theme runs throughout the gospel of Mark. 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:10.320 While it was still dark, he went into this desolate place. 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:11.519 Why? 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:13.200 What did it say? 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:15.200 So he could pray. 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:22.639 So he could have his spirit refreshed, renewed by his father in meeting with his father alone. 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:29.759 The wilderness is a place that Jesus knew very well. 00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:33.840 We said it before, we'll say it again in the sermon series. 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:37.200 Jesus understands your wilderness. 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:40.080 He understands your desolate place in life. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:45.279 He understands where you feel like you are in barren space. 00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:49.360 He knows what it's like when you feel like you're thirsty. 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:54.080 He experienced it far more than you will ever experience it. 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:56.480 He knew his desert. 00:09:57.919 --> 00:10:03.519 I was thinking about this this week and how radically different this whole experience was. 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:06.320 The only thing he knew from eternity was what? 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:07.519 Heaven. 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:10.879 The only thing he knew from eternity was paradise. 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:19.600 And yet he chose to live his life on this earth, a ministry and his public ministry in the most desolate places. 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:31.600 This theme of Mark, a distinctive wilderness theology, could not have been more different from the paradise he knew. 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:38.960 A secluded place, a place to get away, a solitary place, to be alone with God. 00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:43.600 Jesus understood the need to get away, to be alone with his Father. 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:45.360 Do we? 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:48.159 Do we? 00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:51.200 If we do, we will practice this. 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:59.919 If we do know this, we will be disciplined, yes, to put this in our daily schedule. 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:03.519 But it's not just being disciplined, it's being desperate. 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:09.759 It's being desperate to know I need this time alone with my Father. 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:12.080 For the same reasons Jesus did. 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:14.799 And it kind of befuddles us, doesn't it? 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:19.360 Well, if anybody could sleep in and skip his devotions, it was Jesus. 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:21.200 You would think. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:23.679 Apparently not. 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:27.039 What did he need from his father? 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:30.080 The same thing that you need from your father. 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:34.480 He needed his daily assignments for the day. 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:37.519 How do you get your assignments for your day? 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:40.399 How do you get your assignments for your week? 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:44.000 I don't know that it should be any different than how Jesus did. 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:47.759 We meet with the Father. 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:50.639 We say, Father, this is your day. 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:52.639 This is not my day. 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:56.159 What are your assignments for me this day? 00:11:56.559 --> 00:12:11.360 The people that I'm going to meet with, I'm going to talk with, the meetings I'm going to be a part of, the meetings I'm going to lead, the interactions I'm going to have with co-workers, family, strangers. 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:16.639 This is how we start our day, friends. 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:19.519 It's how Jesus started his day. 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:24.080 And yet you're going to find, just like Jesus did, somebody's ready to interrupt you. 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:25.519 Who was it? 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:26.559 Peter. 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:29.919 Where did Mark get this gospel from? 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:31.519 Primarily, Peter. 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:33.759 Peter's telling on himself. 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:37.120 Peter was humbled by the gospel. 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:39.360 What does it say? 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:41.200 Peter takes a few with him. 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:42.399 They're not named. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:43.919 It could have been James and John. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:44.879 We don't know. 00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:47.360 But Peter gets up. 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:51.440 You know, Peter wakes up, you know, he yawns, he stretches, maybe he gets his breakfast. 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:53.120 I don't know what he did that morning. 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:54.799 But then he starts looking around. 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:56.240 Well, where's Jesus? 00:12:56.559 --> 00:12:59.120 Because Jesus has been staying in his house. 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:00.879 Where's Jesus? 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:07.519 It seems as though what Peter's thinking is, Jesus, yesterday was a fantastic day. 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:09.440 We got a lot done, didn't we? 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:12.720 Well, Jesus did. 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:17.759 It just seems like Peter's thinking, well, we've got work to do. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:18.799 Let's go. 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:21.039 Is that how you start your day? 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:23.759 We've got work to do. 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:24.799 Let's go. 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:28.399 That's not how Jesus started his days. 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:31.919 Peter finds him finally. 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:33.519 What does he say? 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:35.679 Everyone's looking for you. 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:38.720 As if, Jesus, what are you doing here? 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:45.039 Jesus, is this, are you really, is this the best use of your time? 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:56.720 When you're out in a secluded, solitary place, recharging your batteries, having intimate conversation with your Father in heaven? 00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:59.840 Is this really the best use of your time? 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:05.600 Peter, this is my work. 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:10.559 Peter, how do you think I get my work done? 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:15.440 Let that question reverberate in your mind this week. 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:20.799 How do we get the real work done in our lives? 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:25.360 My time with my father is not wasted time. 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:28.559 This is where I get my directions for my day. 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:30.639 This is where I get my strength for my day. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:35.759 This is where I get my fellowship with my father. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:42.000 Like the way Henry Nowen put it in an article that he wrote on solitude. 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:45.279 Solitude is being with God and God alone. 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:48.320 Is there any space for that in your life? 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:53.279 Why is it so important that you are with God and God alone on the mountaintop? 00:14:54.320 --> 00:15:00.000 It's important because it's the place in which you can listen to the voice of the one who calls you the beloved. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:06.240 To pray is to listen to the one who calls you my beloved daughter, my beloved son. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:10.639 To pray is to let that voice speak to the center of your being. 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:15.840 That voice to resound in your innermost person. 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:20.720 There are many other voices speaking loudly today, and we all know it. 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:22.320 Prove that you're the beloved. 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:24.320 Prove that you're worth something. 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:28.480 Prove that you have any contribution to make in this world. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:30.879 Do something relevant. 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:34.000 Be sure you make a name for yourself. 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:37.679 At least some people will then love you. 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:47.279 At least then some people will love you if you get out and get things done in life. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:51.120 Then some people will say, You're wonderful. 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:52.240 You're great. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:55.120 The voices in this world are strong. 00:15:55.600 --> 00:16:00.240 These were the voices that Jesus heard as well after he heard, You are my beloved. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:01.519 Prove yourself. 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:04.720 This is what the temptation of the desert was about. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:11.360 Jesus never felt the need to prove himself because he knew who he was. 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:13.919 He was the beloved Son of God. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:15.840 That was his identity. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:20.399 And friends, your identity is not in what you get done this week. 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:28.080 Your identity is not how well you perform at your office this week or school. 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:30.240 That's not your identity. 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:32.799 Sometimes we forget that. 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:41.679 Now it says if you keep that in mind, you can deal with an enormous amount of success without it going to your head. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:46.159 As well as an enormous amount of failure without losing your identity. 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:51.519 Because your identity is that you are the beloved of God the Father. 00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:58.799 Does that resonate? 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:05.279 How hard we work. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:13.680 How hard we try to prove to others that we're worthwhile. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:15.759 That we should be accepted. 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:17.839 That we should be loved. 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:20.799 That's not for you. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:23.680 You meet with your Father in the heaven. 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:25.279 Let him speak his words. 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.480 This is my beloved son. 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:29.279 This is my beloved daughter with whom I am well pleased. 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:30.319 In Christ. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:31.680 That's you. 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:34.480 This is what Jesus did. 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:36.720 This is what he's calling us to do. 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:42.799 As now and says, in solitude alone we get rid of our scaffolding. 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:55.279 John Ortberg put it like this: being hurried and rushed around in my life, in my schedule, is not only a disordered schedule, it really is more than that, a disordered heart. 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.960 I think he's right. 00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:07.119 When my heart is all torn in pieces, when I'm looking to prove who I am, I'm not at peace. 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:09.119 You're not at peace. 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:12.880 And we miss what the Father is offering us that day. 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:21.359 And so Jesus meets with the Father, and now he says to Peter and to the others that were there, okay. 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:23.920 I'm good. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:26.480 I got my orders. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:29.519 Remember Jesus said, I do nothing apart from the Father? 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:30.640 Nothing. 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:35.680 Jesus was far more dependent on his father than you and I are. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:38.160 That should speak to our souls. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:42.160 Jesus says, Okay, I'm ready now. 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:45.200 I know my assignment today. 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:46.400 Let's go. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:49.759 Let's go, gentlemen. 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:53.200 Let's go do the work that he's called us to do. 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:58.799 Let's go to the next towns that I may preach there also, for that is why I came. 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:04.400 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:09.519 This is benevolent power on display. 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:12.160 What we're going to see, what happens next, verse 40. 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:30.400 And they're walking along, and suddenly a leper came to him, imploring him, kneeling before him in total abject humility, a leper, and this leper has already crossed all the lines, all the boundaries. 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:38.079 Leviticus tells us in the Old Testament that if you were a leper and there was nothing worse than being full of leprosy. 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:42.640 Luke tells us in his gospel that this man was full of leprosy. 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:45.039 It was eating away his skin. 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:47.920 It was eating away his nerves. 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:51.599 He was losing sensitivity to pain. 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:56.880 He was supposed to stay far away. 00:19:57.039 --> 00:20:00.720 If you were a leper that day, stay far away from everybody else. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:03.200 You had to wear a covering over your mouth. 00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:06.559 It was a very contagious disease. 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:14.400 And you were supposed to, when you saw anybody coming near you, you were supposed to cry out, unclean, unclean. 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:16.640 Don't get near me. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:19.519 You were isolated. 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:22.559 You no longer had a family. 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:24.480 You lost your family. 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:26.799 You were losing your health. 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:30.640 You lost, you you became isolated. 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:33.039 You became marginalized. 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:35.759 It was your life was over. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:39.759 This man breaks those barriers. 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:46.480 And he comes running up to Jesus and then he kneels down, imploring him. 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:52.960 He says, Jesus, if you will, you can make me clean. 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:58.400 There's power in that truth. 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:01.279 This leper. 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:02.880 What is the gospel? 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:03.920 What does Mark tell us? 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:05.599 What did Peter see? 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.680 What did Peter see? 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:12.079 Jesus moved with pity, stretched out his hand and touched him. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:13.839 Jesus, you don't do that. 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:16.480 You're gonna get the disease. 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:21.680 Nobody touched a leper but Jesus. 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:31.440 He stretched out his hand and he touched him and he said to him, I will be clean. 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:37.279 And immediately the leprosy left him and he was made clean. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:44.960 In an instant, this man was cleansed. 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:55.359 It's interesting that in the New Testament accounts, there's only two accounts of a hep of a leper being healed. 00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:58.240 It doesn't say healed, it says cleansed. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:03.359 Two times in the Old Testament a leper was cleansed. 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:05.039 Two times in the New Testament. 00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:09.359 It didn't happen very often, at least not reported in the Gospels. 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:13.519 Why does it always say they were cleansed? 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:20.480 Well, we we know that leprosy in some ways was a symbol of sin. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:22.319 Full of sin. 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:24.079 What does a sinner need? 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:28.799 Even more than healing, what does the sinner need? 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.480 Cleansing. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:34.880 We are the lepers, are we not? 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.319 Born in sin. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:42.079 We are the lepers, the moral, spiritual lepers, and we are full of sin. 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:55.039 What we need most of all in our life is for the cleansing of Jesus Christ, to offer his cleansing, his healing power in that way. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:23:00.000 It says Jesus moved with pity, touched him. 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:11.279 You know, it's pretty hard to miss the pity in someone's eyes if they're compassionate. 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:16.799 This was the attribute of Jesus that is most frequently commented on in the Gospels. 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:25.599 Of all the things that is said about Jesus, what he was like, who he was, he was full of compassion, is said more than any other attribute. 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:30.960 Jesus didn't pass over people. 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:35.039 When he was with them, he was with them. 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:38.160 When he saw them, he saw into them. 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:46.720 You know, again, you see that I think when you're around somebody who's compassionate, don't you see it in their eyes? 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:50.640 Their eyes are not hard. 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:53.119 Their eyes are not harsh. 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:59.119 When you look into their eyes, somebody who's full of pity, they're not looking at their watch. 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:03.599 They're willing to be inconvenienced. 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:09.359 They're willing to stop their day because there's a need in front of them. 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:12.480 They see that need and they respond to that need. 00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:16.400 That comes from Jesus. 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:31.200 This leper must have heard of the healing power of Jesus, and he experienced his compassion and his pity, communicated through his voice, through his eyes. 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:36.160 I like the way Paul Miller said, Jesus gave God a face. 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:41.039 You know, God the Father doesn't have a body, you know that. 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:44.400 God the Father does not have a body. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:52.319 But we see God's face in Jesus like no one else, like nowhere else. 00:24:53.279 --> 00:25:02.960 Jesus brought it all, the fullness of God to earth to touch people that no one else wants to touch. 00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:09.200 Very interesting prayer that this leper prayed. 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:15.599 Jesus, if you will, I know that you can. 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:18.880 Where did he get this kind of faith? 00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:22.160 Do you have that kind of faith? 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:25.680 A little sneak preview. 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:28.720 In a few months we get down to Mark chapter 9. 00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:32.960 There's a father with a very sick, demonic child. 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:36.160 And this father comes begging to Jesus. 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:38.960 But do you know what he said to Jesus? 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:43.039 He didn't say, if you will, I know you can. 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:47.519 He said, if you can, will you? 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:50.799 Now which way do you think he wants us to pray? 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:55.839 He wants us to pray like the leper. 00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:59.599 Father, I know you can. 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:01.279 You have all power. 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:04.240 You are sovereign over everything. 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:06.160 Is it your will? 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:14.160 Father, if it's your will, please heal me, forgive me. 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:17.680 Change me. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:28.079 Jesus touched the untouchable then, and he's still touching the untouchables today. 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:35.440 I don't know if there's anything in your life that you feel like is off limits to talk about. 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:37.680 There might be. 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:58.400 Person said to me, Pastor, I've never said this to anyone in my life. 00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:01.839 I just, I have to tell someone. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:04.240 I have to tell someone. 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:06.559 And there's a place for that. 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:11.119 Even though Jesus ultimately is the only high priest. 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:24.400 Have you had that experience of really opening up and trusting somebody else with what's weighing deeply on you? 00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:27.279 I've done that. 00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:41.119 I have found at times it feels like a hundred-pound weight has been lifted off my shoulders when I have stepped out in honesty and transparency to just let somebody else know. 00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:43.839 Would you pray for me? 00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:46.799 Do you know what that looks like? 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:54.799 It can be powerful, but nothing as powerful as coming to the one who created you. 00:27:56.400 --> 00:28:02.079 He knows the parts of you that feel untouchable. 00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:05.359 He knows the parts of you that have been scarred. 00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:08.880 He knows the parts of you that feel nothing but shame. 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:13.839 And he has nothing but pity. 00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:21.359 He says, I know what happened to you. 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:25.599 And I hate it as much as you hate it. 00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:28.880 Let me heal it. 00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:30.799 Let me heal you. 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:32.880 Let me touch you. 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:39.519 The touch of Jesus Christ is as powerful today as it was on that day with that leper. 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:44.319 Have you experienced his healing touch in your life? 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:48.559 That's what we're talking about. 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:53.839 How did this leper know so much to approach Jesus in this way with such confidence? 00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:57.200 Surely he heard Jesus teach with authority. 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:59.920 Did he see the compassion on his face? 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:01.839 I think he probably did. 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:05.359 I think he probably did. 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:08.880 Did he know the promise of God? 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:10.319 I think he did. 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:13.200 He believed. 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.839 He believed. 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:18.880 And you can believe this morning. 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:23.599 Whatever it is that you feel like is off limits. 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:31.839 Whatever it is in your doubts and your struggles, whatever you feel like is off limits, that you can't tell anybody else, you can't tell Jesus. 00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:34.559 And he will listen and he will hear. 00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:38.640 What did the leper say to Jesus? 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:40.319 Unclean. 00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:42.960 Unclean. 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:51.440 Do you know that you will never receive the healing touch of Jesus until you acknowledge that yourself? 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:55.519