Dirty Hands, Clean Heart | Mark 1:40–45 | Pastor Ty Hayes

What happens when Jesus touches the people everyone else avoids? In “Dirty Hands, Clean Heart,” Pastor Ty Hayes walks through Mark 1:40–45 and the powerful story of Jesus healing a man with leprosy. This message explores compassion, surrender, healing, and how Jesus is still willing to meet us in our brokenness today. No matter your past, your pain, or your mess—Jesus isn’t afraid to reach into it and make you clean.

Transcript

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Good morning. We are continuing our series through the gospel of Mark today. We're going to be in Mark chapter 1, verses 40 through 45. Today we finish the first chapter. In verse 40, it says, A man with leprosy came and kneel in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean, he said. Move with compassion. Jesus reached out and touched him. I am willing, he said, Be healed. Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning. Don't tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priests and let them examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed. Let's pray. God, right now I thank you for who you are. I thank you for this time together. I pray as we dive into your word, God, that you would just help us not just read the scripture, but understand it and apply it to our life. God, help each and every one of us draw here closer to Jesus. We love you and we thank you. In your name I pray, Amen. Have any of you ever felt stuck before? Have any of you ever longed for freedom? I remember one of the times that it mattered most to me, I was swimming in a river with some friends, and we're going down this river that some of us have been to and some of us haven't. And some people are getting out of the river, some people are staying in, and I'm not the most um, I'm not one of the most, how should I put it? I'm not one of the most like smart on your feet people. And so when I see my friends getting out, I don't think maybe I should get out too. I don't really think through it. I just keep going, and all of a sudden, what was flowing through goes straight down into a hole, and I grab onto this rock and the water's going straight down into this cave that none of us know where it comes out at, and I am holding onto this rock for dear life. And I'm holding there and I have friends run up to me, and they're grabbing my arms. And I don't mean to be weird, but the water was so strong that I had to spread out my legs because it was literally ripping my shorts right off my legs. And so I'm standing there with my legs spread, holding on for dear life. My friends are like grabbing me, trying to wrench me out, and I'm feeling stuck, and I'm just laughing. I don't know how you guys respond to near-death experiences, but apparently I like to laugh and think it's funny. And I'm holding there, clutching this rock. More and more friends come, and slowly they begin to pull me out. I get out, I pull back my shorts, and I'm just thankful to be free. Another time I remember we're at a different river and we're swimming, and I dive under this rock thinking it's just gonna be swim underneath and be done. And the the cave just keeps going and going, going, and I'm running out of air, and I have to push against the rock, scrape my back against the sand, and luckily I come feast first out of the water. Man, in those moments, I was crying out to be free and for freedom. This man in this passage is covered in leprosy. He is struggling, his flesh is rotting, and he is crying out to Jesus for freedom. Let me ask you: have you ever felt trapped in your life? Have you ever looked for freedom in your life? Have you ever come to a place in your life where you needed Jesus to set you free like never before? Today in our passage, I have three steps, three observations, three ways that Jesus wants to bring you to freedom. So if you're looking for freedom for something in your life, whether you're struggling with an addiction, whether you're struggling with mental illness, whether you're struggling physically, relationally, financially, whatever it is, I have three steps that you can take to find freedom in Jesus today. Number one, if you're taking notes, make sure you write this down. It's to get honest. In verse 40, he says, A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean, he said. Notice this, the leopard doesn't walk up acting strong. He doesn't fake it. And come on, we all in church know what it's like to fake it. Somebody asks us how we are, what do we say? We say, good. He doesn't look to clean himself up first. He comes to Jesus as he is in his broken state and his trappedness, and he falls at the feet of Jesus and says, Jesus, I'm broken, I'm desperate, and I need your help. See, that's where freedom starts. Not when you get yourself polished, not when you get more religious, not when you act like you have everything together. Freedom starts when you can finally be honest about your condition and where you are. Me and my wife handle things very differently sometimes, and one of the things that illuminates us most is with our check engine light. Now I think there's two kinds of people. There's my wife who's super responsible, and as soon as the light comes on, she's taking it to the mechanic, she's getting it checked, she's getting everything changed just to be safe, and she's waiting for that, making sure that light's off and going down the road. Now, me on the other hand, whenever my check engine light comes on, I consider it more of a suggestion than actually something that's needed, and I'll take a piece of tape and cover that light so my wife can't see it because I don't want to deal with it. Sadly, many of us deal with our spiritual and physical needs that need to come to Jesus like I do my check engine light, where we try to cover it up so that others don't see it and we don't have to be embarrassed. But this leper was different. He knew exactly who he was. See, in their culture, wherever he went, he had to shout in front of people, unclean, unclean. Whenever he was around people, he had to shout this. See, some of us we live on the inside feeling like others see us as unclean, that others are away from us, that we are somehow pulled away from society and banished. But this man lived it physically. And not only that, but his greatest shame had to be shouted to everyone that he knew. Now, I don't know what kind of issues you have, but I know we all have them. And imagine having to take your deepest, darkest insecurity and shout it to everyone. Can you imagine walking in and announcing your shame to anybody and everybody? I remember being fired from a ministry position. And not only was I brutally fired, not only was I lied about, not only was my severance taken, not only was I in a jam, but the pastor had gone to each and every person in the church, told them these things about me that weren't true, and had them text me saying, Man, we're worried about you, man, we're praying for you, man, we're thinking about you. And I was so embarrassed. That something that embarrassed me, that I tried to hide that I didn't want to deal with, somebody was taking and putting in front of others so that they can constantly remind me. See, this man was living isolated, he was living rejected, he was living untouchable, he got no hugs, he got no handshakes, he got no family dinners, and he was done pretending. He didn't want to pretend anymore. Now think of the very first people of creation, Adam and Eve. See, the first reaction to their sin wasn't to go and repent, it wasn't to run to the Bible, it was hiding away. See, Adam and Eve covered themselves and hid in the trees. And can I tell you this reminds us that human nature has not changed. We still hide, we still hide our pain, we still hide our addiction, and we still hide our insecurities. But healing starts when the hiding comes to an end. And spiritually, that's the picture of every one of us apart from Jesus. Our sin isolates us, our sin destroys us, and our sin ultimately numbs us. And that's the most terrifying thing about leprosy. See, doctors discovered that the disease itself doesn't rot people away, it destroys their ability to feel pain. And so when someone has leprosy, they could burn themselves and they wouldn't even notice. They can cut themselves and they don't even know it. And they can destroy themselves and they won't even feel it. I remember getting my tooth pulled and they would numb my mouth. And that night I had a board meeting, so I got the tooth pulled, my whole mouth was numb, and I decided that I wanted to eat some delicious pizza. And so I put the pizza in my mouth, I'd chew it and didn't take much of it, didn't feel anything. And the next day I realized that my tongue was raw because I'd been biting my tongue instead of the pizza and chewed it up, but I could not feel it. See, that's what sin is like, and that's what it does to us. It deadens our conscience, it numbs our spirit, and it convinces you that everything is fine while your soul is dying. Can I tell you I've seen this so many times in church that people rather than coming clean about their issues, when they feel like they're being found out, when they feel like people are getting to know their issues, rather than stay and deal with them, they go running and hiding, going to the next church, going uh away from church, just running for their life. See, some people are so near spiritually numb that they sit in church every week and don't realize their need for Jesus. Others know they're broken, but they believe the lie that they've gone too far and that Jesus can't help them anymore. Can I remind you that both are lies? That even when one says, I don't need seaving, or the other says Jesus can't save me, the leopard believed neither. He said, I know I'm broken, but I believe Jesus can help me. And can I promise you something? The same Jesus that helped him is the same Jesus that wants to help you. Can I get an amen? Come on. See, let me remind you that you can't get clean until you quit pretending you're not dirty. Pride keeps people bound. Pride keeps more people bound than failure ever will. That miracles start when our excuses end, and then you can't heal what you won't reveal. So what are you still hiding in your life? What are you still pretending isn't there? Because freedom begins the moment that honesty shows up. Number two, everyone say, number two. Come on. It's get close. In verse 41, it said, Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. I am willing, he said, be healed. And this is the most shocking part of the story. Not the miracle, but the touch. See, because no one at that time or day would touch lepers. Touch meant risk, touch meant become ceremonially unclean and outcasting from society. And touch meant ultimately getting close to something ugly. Everyone in this day and age would back away and avoid this man. I remember I befriended this kid named Levon, my senior year of high school. And Levon was a weird kid, to say it plainly. He had a smell, he was socially awkward, he was very loud, he was kind of obnoxious, and people in high school would avoid him. I remember that in that moment I had felt a conviction that, hey man, I should go and befriend this kid that at the time it seemed like no one else would befriend. And so I'd go, and I remember one night I invited him to hang out, and he came to my house and we'd walk around the town and we'd do all the different things, and he was really loud, he was really weird, but you know, I was like, you know what, man? I'm loud, I'm weird, it's gonna work. And I didn't think much of it. We hung out that night, and this must have been a few years ago, almost, almost 20 years later, he reached out to me on Facebook and he said, Hey man, you wouldn't know this, but that night that we hung out, I want you to know that in that season of my life, I was thinking of taking my life. And your small act of friendship changed everything for me. See, when this leper was at this moment where he's begging Jesus for help, he is isolated, he is struggling. And most people were running away, they were avoiding, but Jesus stepped towards him. Jesus could have healed him simply with his words. Jesus had done this in the past, he'd healed people far away from him, he'd healed people just by saying, Go do this or go do that. But Jesus didn't have to touch him. But he wanted him to feel something that he hadn't felt in years. And many of us think that the best thing that we can do is solve somebody's problem, but honestly, sometimes what people need most is compassion, love, and connection. See, this touch by Jesus said, I'm not afraid of you, that I'm not avoiding you, and I'm not done with you. And some of you need to hear this today. Jesus is not intimidated by your mess, he's not repulsed by your addiction, he's not exalted, exhausted by your failures, he's not stepping away from your pain, and he steps towards broken people like you and like me. Can I tell you the good news? That's the gospel of Jesus Christ. That seeing our wickedness, seeing our brokenness, seeing our sinfulness, he didn't step backwards, he stepped towards us. That Jesus took hold of our humanity, he entered our mess, he touched our sin-stained world, and the holy touched the unholy, so the unholy could become holy. And if we're gonna be like Jesus, we've gotta stop, we've gotta stop loving people from a distance and start walking near. Can I tell you? It's easy to post our opinions, it's easy to criticize culture, it's easy to argue theology, but Jesus touched hurting people. Can I tell you, there's many people in this world that they don't need another lecture, they don't need another bashing, they simply need someone willing to sit with them, willing to pray with them, willing to cry with them, and willing to walk with them. One touch can do more than a thousand arguments. See, Jesus will step into what everybody else steps away from. What disgust others draws compassion out of Jesus. You'll never help people you refuse to get close to, and ministry happens at that point of contact. So let me ask you who in your life needs more than just your opinion? Who needs your presence? And maybe the bigger question here is this have you been close enough to Jesus to experience real transformation, or are you just close enough to know things about him? Can I tell you, we know a lot of things about a lot of people. We live in a day and age where we have access to more information than ever before. But there's a difference between knowing and being. There's a difference between knowledge and wisdom. And can I tell you, knowing is not enough. You've got to experience the transforming power of God. Amen. Come on. Last, number three, come on, can I get an amen? Praise God. Number three, we get believing. We got honest. Now we're gonna get believing. In verse 42, it says, instantly the leper seed disappeared and the man was healed. Noticed, there was no delay, there was no process, and there was no probation period. Immediately the scripture says, and can you imagine that moment? That the man's fingers began growing back, that his skin was restored, that strength was returning, that the crowd would gasp, and that the disciples would stare. And suddenly the man who was screaming to everyone, I'm unclean, I'm unclean, and was being avoided, now was shouting, I am clean. And can I tell you, that's what Jesus does. What sin destroys, Jesus restores. What shame buries, Jesus resurrects. What hell meant for death, Jesus transforms into life. Many of us were trapped because of what we have going on in here. You know that in the circuses that they would tie baby elephants with chains to a stake. And these baby elephants would pull and pull and pull and pull until they figured out they couldn't be released. But when it came to the adult elephants, they would simply tie a rope to their leg that was attached to nothing. Because of how long, as babies, these elephants were held to this chain and to this stake, they had developed this idea that they could never escape. And so even though there was nothing holding them back from getting up and leaving and going wherever they want, mentally they were still trapped. And some of us live the same way. We think that freedom is impossible. You've been fighting too long, you've been failing too long, and you've been carrying shame too long. But can I promise you that one moment with Jesus can change everything? Now listen carefully, real quick. I want you to understand this. That growth, growth takes time. That discipleship, that takes time. And that maturity, physically and in your faith, it takes time. But salvation and the touch of God happens in an instant. That when Jesus saves you, he doesn't just partially forgive you, he doesn't halfway cleanse you, that he makes you new. The leopard believed Jesus could do it. Not religion, not behavior modification, and not self-help. He believed in Jesus. And some of you are at the moment where you are one belief away from freedom. See, Jesus doesn't do partial healing. One touch from Jesus can undo years of damage in your life. Chains break fast when Jesus steps in, and freedom begins where faith rises. See, this leper did three things. He got honest, he got close, and he got believing. And Jesus from there did the rest. So here's a question for you today. You carried the shame long enough. You've worn the mask long enough. You've battled the addiction long enough. You've hidden the pain long enough. Are you ready for freedom today? Are you ready for freedom today? Maybe the freedom you need is physically like this leper. Maybe the freedom you need is spiritually. You've been broken in sin. Maybe the freedom you need today is from addiction. Maybe you need freedom from broken relationships. Maybe you need a financial change in your life. Maybe you need an emotional change, a mental change in your life. Whatever is holding you captive today, can I tell you that if you'll do these three things and place them in yourself at the feet of Jesus, that Jesus can heal you and set you free today. With every head bowed and eyes closed, I want to ask you two questions. The first question is this Are you here and not following Jesus? Have you been listening to this message and you felt broken and you felt lost and you felt captive and you're ready to be set free by following Jesus? If that's you, I want to give you that opportunity. And on the count of three, we as a church are gonna pray a prayer with you. And if you believe it, you are saved. One, this is the most important decision of your life. More important than who you marry, where you live, where you work, your relationship with God is everything. Two, many of us think that we have all the time in the world. Can I tell you, we don't know how much time we have? Give your life to Jesus today. Three, if that's you, would you just slip up your hand and let's believe for God together? Church, would you just pray this prayer with me and with those raising their hands today? God, thank you for saving me, for loving me, for pursuing me. Help me to be bold, to be patient, to be wise, to be loving. To be powerful. Tell me to follow you. All the rest of my life. Amen. The second question I want to ask is for those that are following Jesus. Maybe you have been following Jesus, but there is a part of your life that still needs freedom. Maybe you've got a sin issue you just can't break. Maybe there's some relational tension. Maybe there's a financial burden. Maybe there's an emotional or mental block. And you're ready to be set free today. And like that leper, you're ready to cast aside your shame and you're ready to put yourself at the feet of Jesus and say, Jesus, I'm tired of yelling unclean. I'm tired of being held captive. I'm tired of being separated from those around me. I am ready for restoration. If you're ready to see a miracle of God in your life, would you just slip up your hands? I want to pray for freedom for you today. God, right now you see these hands and you know these lives. I pray for each and every one of us that we would step out of here in freedom. That whatever bonds, whatever chains hold us captive, that you would break them right now. That God, we would see immediate restoration, we would see physical healing. We would see spiritual freedom. We would see emotional and mental well-being. God, that we would see addictions broken, that God, we would see financial miracles, we would see relationships restored. And God, we could not help but praise you. That God, wherever we go, we'd be able to, like this man, go from yelling unclean to clean in the name of Jesus. God, set us free. We love you. We thank you. Your name might we pray. And everyone said today Amen. Amen.