WEBVTT 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:12.720 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:29.199 One thing we have all in common today is that we came into the world because of our mothers. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:42.880 Whether we have uh vivid memories or faint memories of our own mothers, uh, nevertheless, uh I can honestly say that I believe I had the best mother in the world. 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:45.520 I have the best mother in the world. 00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:55.200 And uh I think of the times that she so tirelessly labored to ensure that I make good choices. 00:00:56.079 --> 00:00:58.240 A proverb comes to mind. 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:03.600 Hear my son, your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching. 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:19.840 And I remember the days that my mom would take a little Bible verse and she would put it on my desk, and she would always take my Bible wherever I put it, and she would put it in a place where I would see it and go back to it. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:26.480 I remember the time that my mother would so faithfully, no matter what, she would take me to Sunday school. 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:35.840 And so today I want to just honor my own mother and thank her for uh what she has done. 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:45.280 Or as the proverb says, my son, observe the commandment of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother. 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:47.280 So thank you, Mom. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:50.480 She is probably watching me. 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:54.640 She faithfully tunes in there in South Africa. 00:01:54.879 --> 00:02:00.159 And I have to thank you, Mom, that you did not give up in spanking me. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:06.560 Because there was so much foolishness that needed to be driven from my heart. 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:15.919 And whether it was the strap or the buckle, I don't always remember, but it certainly helped driving foolishness uh from my heart. 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:21.039 So, mom, I love you, and I uh thank you for being a good mother. 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:30.319 Mothers can uh spank us and discipline us, and often we still do things our own way. 00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:39.599 She can tirelessly labor to teach us the way of God, and we still do things our own way. 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:45.759 Title of my message this morning, I will do it my own way. 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:55.680 And it comes from Matthew's Gospel, chapter 8, and it's the very first miracle that Jesus would do in Matthew's gospel. 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:05.919 And it's about a man who comes out from the shadows of isolation and alienation and separation. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:09.360 He certainly knows something about that. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:19.840 We indeed have been given a generous dose, not of some medication, but of isolation. 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:31.039 Separation from people seems to be the norm in society, and you may be healthy and well, and you are isolated. 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:46.080 But in biblical times there were many individuals who were separated and isolated, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and those were the lepers. 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:59.039 The story is very significant, for it's the first of the miracles that Jesus would do for an individual. 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:03.360 Let me read for you Matthew's Gospel, chapter 8, verse 1. 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:09.439 It says that when Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:20.079 And a leper came down to him and bowed before him and said, Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean. 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:28.160 Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, I am willing, be cleansed. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:32.319 And immediately the leprosy was cleansed. 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:50.079 And Jesus said to him, See that you tell no one, but go, show yourself to the priest, and present the offering of Moses as a testimony to them. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:55.600 I have a simple outline for this message this morning. 00:04:55.839 --> 00:05:00.639 It is about two persons, two postures, and two pleas. 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:13.040 The person that approaches Jesus here emerges from his morbid isolation as a social outcast. 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:20.319 He approaches Jesus, the one who is a physician of the soul. 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:22.639 And he begs him for mercy. 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:30.639 We want to make a note of this first miracle. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:42.959 It stands out to us as a person who ended up in this place in life because he certainly wanted to do things his very own way. 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:48.720 And that is the title of my message, as I said, I will do it my way. 00:05:50.480 --> 00:06:03.759 We will learn something here about the readiness and the abundance of mercy that this Son of God is to give to all who come to him, needy and desperate. 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:19.040 However, if we want to interpret this miracle correctly, we must certainly observe the uniqueness of this first miracle. 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:26.800 In the Gospel of Matthew, this stands out, and it certainly has a greater spiritualization. 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:38.079 It goes beyond a cure, it goes beyond a simple healing simply because it is not a simple healing, a simple illness, a simple disease. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:50.800 And therefore, it's critical to interpret what is happening here within the context of, firstly, the preceding text, which is the teaching and preaching of Jesus. 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:56.399 But also we cannot interpret this without looking at the Old Testament. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:15.120 The preceding text here is that of Matthew 7, and in particular, it culminates in verse 21 of Matthew 7, teaching about obedience to the word of Jesus Christ. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:27.120 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter. 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:40.480 Like any text, it is important to look at the preceding context, but we can go even a little further into the preceding context of the Old Testament. 00:07:42.560 --> 00:08:02.000 If we want to see and learn something about Jesus here and his authority over the judgment of God and also over the Old Covenant, then we need to spend a little time thinking about lepers and leprosy. 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:09.040 And especially thinking of those Israelites in the Old Testament. 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:17.279 They certainly believed that leprosy was a physical mark of God's displeasure on a person. 00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:20.240 It was a mark of displeasure. 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:24.560 In fact, we can see why they thought so. 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:40.879 Every Israelite recorded in the Bible for us that was struck with leprosy, Miriam, Gehazi, and Uzziah, all experienced leprosy as a sign of God's displeasure on them. 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:42.159 They sinned. 00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:47.759 And they encountered God's displeasure. 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:54.720 Miriam was an instigator who wanted her leader to do things her way. 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:59.200 And so she rebelled against Moses, and God struck her with leprosy. 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:01.600 That's Numbers 12 for you. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:15.919 King Uzziah went into a quarrelsome altercation with the high priests because he wanted to do temporal worship his own way, and God struck him with leprosy. 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:18.720 That's 2 Chronicles 26. 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:23.519 And then Gahazi was a greedy servant of Elisha. 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:30.720 And he decided not to follow his master's instructions, but rather do things his own way. 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:35.519 And God struck him with leprosy, 2 Kings 5. 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:42.799 So what am I saying to you based on the context of the Old Testament? 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:54.639 No one just contracted leprosy like they would contract the common coal, but indeed they were smitten or struck by God with leprosy. 00:09:55.039 --> 00:10:05.600 God was the one who meted out leprosy in an instant, and only God could retract leprosy in an instant. 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:12.399 It was never contracted, but always struck with leprosy. 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:21.360 In fact, the the writers of the Old Testament was very careful in their usage of words when it spoke about leprosy. 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:29.600 They used the Hebrew term nega, which basically means to be stricken or to strike something. 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:33.679 Old Testament scholar Dr. 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:36.320 Lennet Copes explains it this way. 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:48.159 He says, one cannot but help thinking that leprosy to God was not a neutral disease, but was a form of punishment. 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:55.919 Because people were always, quote unquote, struck with leprosy. 00:10:56.639 --> 00:11:25.200 I found it very interesting, even that Isaiah 53, verse 4, in the Orthodox Jewish Bible, I'm giving you a rough translation of that, it speaks of the suffering servant of God as one who is being viewed here as the object of God's displeasure, and it says there, yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted as a leper. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:42.320 The third thing to consider from the Old Testament is that while leprosy was ubiquitous in the land of Israel, none of the Israelites ever got cured of leprosy. 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:49.279 From the time of Moses onwards, there was no cleansing of a leper. 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:51.120 Luke 4.27. 00:11:51.519 --> 00:12:00.159 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophets, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman. 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:03.120 But Naaman was a Syrian, he was not an Israelite. 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:06.639 So we have to make some deductions here. 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:16.799 Literacy had a function, and it had a function within the covenant community of God's people, the Israelites. 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:28.480 There was a specific ceremony prescribed in Leviticus 13 and 14 about the ritual cleansing of a leper. 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:36.799 Not a single priest ever performed this ritual. 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:46.720 Not a single priest ever witnessed the cleansing of a leper, and hence never performed that ceremony prescribed by Moses. 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:55.600 No, I find it also very interesting that leprosy just disappears into thin air. 00:12:55.919 --> 00:13:02.159 The last record of leprosy is Matthew 11, that's the last mention in Luke 7. 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:06.480 None of the apostles ever dealt with leprosy. 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:08.240 It disappeared. 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:21.919 And I have to ask then, does this not fit in with God's dealings with the Israelites within the old covenant? 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:26.960 It had a specific function within the old covenant. 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:46.799 Nevertheless, in time of Jesus, when Jesus came, and here's the first example of a leper cleansed of leprosy, the biblical authors, the gospel authors are very particular how they phrase it. 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:54.320 Matthew 10, 8 says, heal the sick, but cleanse the lepers. 00:13:55.039 --> 00:14:09.039 It uses different terminology because it does not see it as a illness or a disease, but rather the outward manifestation of someone who is under the judgment of God. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:41.519 If we simply look at this healing here as a physical ailment, as a disease that is contracted by coming in contact with what people would say is Hansen's disease or somebody coming in contact with Mycobacterium lipre, then this whole portion of scripture loses its vividness and its color. 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:56.159 But if we look at the context of the Old Testament and we bring the context of the teachings of Jesus in here, it certainly speaks of the authority of Jesus. 00:14:56.399 --> 00:15:06.720 Not firstly here, the authority of Jesus over illness and disease, but primarily Christ's authority in terms of God's judgment. 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:14.960 And it has to do with God's judgment here and Christ's authority in that. 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:28.320 And so, as Matthew brings two persons into the divine spotlight, he moves from the crowds to the individual. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:36.559 On this stage, on the drama of redemption, there are two persons, two postures, and two pleas. 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:40.559 And I will work through that, and in the end, I'll wrap it up for you. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:42.399 So you have to stay with me. 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:47.679 And if you are at home, uh follow along with us from scripture. 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:54.960 I hope you can see the slides, but nevertheless, let me begin explaining this to you. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:56.320 The two persons. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:16:00.159 One, a grossly deformed leper. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:06.399 The other person is Jesus Christ, the perfect savior. 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:18.799 The one person represents all of humanity and all its deformity and distortions brought on because of God's displeasure over the sinner. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:28.320 On the other hand, we have a person who is known as the Son of God, in whom God is well pleased. 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:35.200 And he here stands in the gap to make atonement for God's displeasure. 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:48.000 The one person is under the judgment of God's law, and the other person is fulfilling God's law. 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:50.559 We have two postures here. 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:58.080 The one is a posture of worship, but maybe a posture of desperation. 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:04.640 On the other hand, we see a posture here of tender mercy. 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:07.599 There are two pleas. 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:17.680 The one plea is that to be cleansed, while the other plea is for silence and obedience to the word of God. 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:21.119 Let's begin working through this. 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:27.119 Firstly, the two persons. 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:46.559 We have Jesus, who is the Son of God, and he will show here today to us through this miracle that he indeed has the authority to retract divine judgment. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:53.839 And instead of giving judgment, he can meet out mercy rather than judgment. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:57.200 We see the leper. 00:17:57.599 --> 00:18:03.359 The leper is one who is under the direct judgment of God. 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:11.279 He seeks cleansing, but he also seeks deliverance from divine displeasure. 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:28.480 The leper here particularly correlates with Christ's dealing with those who are under the displeasure of the wrath of God. 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:39.359 This leper not only would prove to us the marring consequences of sin, but also the alienation brought on by the judgment of God. 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:47.920 We cannot minimize the isolation, separation, and alienation that a leper would bear. 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:59.359 People were afraid of socializing with lepers, particularly because they carried some mark that shows the displeasure of God. 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:21.759 There was a telltale sign, a scar, a disease, or a condition rather, that showed the marks of God's displeasure, and so they did not fear contagion, but rather they feared God's judgment and punishment would become on them too. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:32.559 Matthew Henry said that leprosy is to be viewed as a disorder of the soul? 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:57.039 If indeed this was a disease, ordinary healing of some ailment, a medical ailment, quote unquote Hansen's disease, then why does Jesus send them to the priests and say, perform a certain ritual and ceremony? 00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:03.200 Why does he not say it to the other people whom he also healed? 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:18.480 But this man is told to go to the priests of Israel because they have never witnessed the cleansing of a leper. 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:21.839 And so this is a story about two people here. 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:49.279 The one soul is burdened with grief and sorrows, burdened under the judgment of God, and the other person is willing to take on the other person's leprosy, and instead take on the judgment of God and give mercy instead. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:54.160 Let us look at the postures of the two persons here. 00:20:54.960 --> 00:21:01.680 It says here that the leper came to him in verse two and bowed down before him. 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:11.200 The Greek is very clear, very specific, that this man fell down on his face. 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:19.680 He prostrates himself in the presence of the Lord. 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:25.200 He even calls him Kurios, which means Lord. 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:37.440 Is this a display of true worship or is this a grandiose display of worship because of desperation? 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:47.359 He addresses him as Lord, not as rabbi, which seems fitting for a moment of worship. 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:57.680 Perhaps a true expression of the heart and soul manifested through his physical posture. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:03.599 Now let's think at the posture of Jesus Christ. 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:18.799 While this man is flat on his face before the King of Kings, it says there in verse 3 that Jesus stretched out his hand and he touched him. 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:26.079 The posture of Jesus here speaks a thousand words. 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:33.200 He reaches out, he reaches down to touch the untouchable. 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:45.599 Whether a critic or admirer of Jesus Christ before each and every person, he touches that which is unclean, vile, and loathsome. 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:53.599 But in his posture, the Savior declares to all that all is welcome. 00:22:55.519 --> 00:23:01.200 That God desires for all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth. 00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:10.319 Jesus did not put his hand out and say, Stop! Don't you come near to me, you too vile and loathsome. 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:16.319 Your sin is too big and too aberrant. 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:20.960 But his touch is a touch of invitation. 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:26.799 Touching the untouchable is an invitation and a call for all. 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:33.359 Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:39.200 The word all comes to play here. 00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:45.920 Even the most loathsome of people are part of the all. 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:51.519 All you are wary and burdened and I will give you rest. 00:23:53.599 --> 00:24:11.839 The posture of stooping down and touching the lepra shows, no matter how vile, no matter how loathsome the sinner, no matter how aberrant the sin, it's never too great for the Lord to give mercy. 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:19.519 For the Son of Man did not come to judge, but to seek and save the lost. 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:32.559 The Savior's touch and posture expresses the heart of God who freely and copiously will give mercy to all who comes. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:43.440 No one is too vile or too fell or too loathsome to be beyond the saving mercies of the living God. 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:57.359 My dear friend, you who are sitting here today, and those of you who are at home, have you come to the Lord and asked him for mercy? 00:24:58.160 --> 00:25:09.359 Or do you say to yourself, I am too loathsome, my life is too awful, I cannot bear to come into the presence of the living God. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:19.519 But does our Savior not express the heart of God here who seeks for all to be cleansed of their sin? 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:30.480 To repent and to live is the desire of God, for God has no pleasure that the wicked should perish. 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:33.440 Here are two pleas. 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:40.400 Verse three it says, I am willing. 00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:46.000 Verse two, rather. 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:50.640 He says, They Lord, if you are willing, that's the first plea. 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:56.799 The second plea is I'm willing, but you must obey. 00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:58.799 Two pleas. 00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:01.839 If you are willing, cleanse me. 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:07.680 The second plea, I'm I'm willing, but you must obey. 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:14.640 The loathsome prodigal's plea is if you are willing. 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:22.720 If did this man not read his Bible? 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:29.680 Does it not say in Ezekiel 18, I have no pleasure in the deaths of the wicked? 00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:34.079 Rather that people should repent from their ways and live. 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:38.480 God is always willing. 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:43.359 We do not say, if you are willing to save me, will you save me? 00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:52.000 The readiness of God is always there to seek and save the lost and to give mercy without measure. 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.920 It is not if. 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:06.319 Does he really believe that the Savior might not give him mercy because he's too loathsome? 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:09.039 His rebellion too great. 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:15.839 Certainly he was bearing the scars of God's displeasure all over him. 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:32.640 But if he had a true knowledge and understanding of who God is, God had no pleasure in striking him with leprosy, but God desired for his repentance. 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:40.720 I wonder if we cannot say the words of Jesus in another way. 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:44.079 He says, I am willing, be cleansed. 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:48.880 Maybe we can say that, of course, I am willing. 00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:50.400 What did you think? 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:52.319 Of course I'm willing. 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.440 Be cleansed. 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:57.440 You don't need to sing and dance here to get my mercy. 00:27:58.559 --> 00:28:04.480 You don't need to prove yourself deserving and worthy of my mercy. 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:07.759 Of course, my father is willing. 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:16.240 I will ask my father to retract his displeasure from you and give you mercy, rather. 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:18.000 Be cleansed. 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:23.759 What's the result in verse three? 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:30.480 And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:32.400 Immediately. 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:42.559 Well, a very short and succinct statement of the outcome of things here. 00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:48.720 It amounted to nothing short than what 2 Corinthians 5.21 speaks about. 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:59.039 He made him who knew no sin to be sinned on our behalf, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:02.400 You see, here's a transaction that took place. 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:09.119 Christ took on his leprosy, and Christ cleansed him. 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:22.319 You see, this man's sin and his uncleanness could not contaminate the righteousness of Christ. 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:38.720 In a similar way, there is no sin that you have committed that could contaminate the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, which he imputes to those who believe. 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:45.359 In an instant he is cleansed. 00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:51.839 In an instant the leprosy leaves him. 00:29:52.960 --> 00:30:02.480 A wonderful example that God's wrath and displeasure is lifted in an instant when mercy is given. 00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:06.079 It doesn't fade away. 00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:14.160 There's not a gradual, gradual disappearance of the displeasure of God. 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:15.599 It is instant. 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:22.319 It's instant because it's atoned for. 00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:26.720 God doesn't just say, okay, I've changed my mind here. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:41.359 God's displeasure will be demonstrated on Golgotha, where he would atone and satisfy the wrath of God. 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:55.599 This is a very difficult passage to interpret correctly because there's so many things here, and yet the information is so little. 00:30:55.759 --> 00:31:01.440 I went to Jason this week, I said to him this week, just take this away from me, Jason. 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:03.519 This is way too complex. 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:07.200 It's so complex because it's so simple. 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:11.200 But look at verse four. 00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:18.000 Jesus just says a few simple things to him. 00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:25.759 He instructs him, he commands him, he says, see that you say nothing to anyone. 00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:33.039 But go show yourself to the priest. 00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:41.440 And offer the gift that Moses commanded for a testimony to them. 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:49.039 For a testimony to him, or as the ESV says, as proof to them. 00:31:50.720 --> 00:32:05.039 Now this is where we have to look back into the context of the Old Testament, where no Israelite priest ever has performed what is said here. 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:07.920 Go show yourself to the priest. 00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:10.799 No priest has ever seen a leper being cleansed. 00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:19.119 Secondly, no priest has done the things here that Moses commanded in Leviticus 14. 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:26.240 But they will witness one today. 00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:36.480 That very day they will see a leper cleansed, and they will perform the ritual commanded by Moses. 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:46.880 This is absolutely profound. 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:49.759 This is a historical first. 00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:56.400 This will be a first for the priests of Israel. 00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:00.319 Why? 00:33:01.359 --> 00:33:09.200 Because it's God's desire that all come to the knowledge of truth. 00:33:09.359 --> 00:33:12.480 1 Timothy 2, 4. 00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:16.720 For God desires all people to be saved. 00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:20.799 The leper and the priest. 00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:27.519 The clean and the unclean to come to the knowledge of truth. 00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:33.279 You see, Jesus is very particular here, what he wants. 00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:36.640 He doesn't say, oh, now you have been given mercy. 00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:39.279 Just go enjoy yourself. 00:33:39.440 --> 00:33:40.240 Go have fun. 00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:42.960 I don't want to be a killjoy here. 00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:44.960 Just go do your thing. 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:52.079 God desires for all to be saved, but to come to the knowledge of truth. 00:33:52.160 --> 00:33:55.519 And what is the knowledge of truth, dear brothers and sisters? 00:33:55.759 --> 00:34:01.440 What is that knowledge of truth that God so desperately desires for all people to understand? 00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:03.680 It's the gospel, right? 00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:05.680 It is called the gospel. 00:34:07.119 --> 00:34:15.440 An apt response to the demonstration of God's mercy and grace is to respond to the gospel. 00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:23.599 Jesus' desire for this man who comes in sheer desperation to him. 00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:28.159 Yes, he wants him cleansed, but he also wants him transformed. 00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:33.679 And the only way that he will be transformed is if he understands the gospel. 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:43.199 You see, many people desire the mercy of God, but they want a temporal mercy, not saving grace. 00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:46.639 They don't want the grace that comes through the knowledge of the gospel. 00:34:46.800 --> 00:34:50.960 They just want Jesus, take away the consequences of my sin. 00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:55.920 I want to still do my sin, but please take away the consequences of my sin. 00:34:57.599 --> 00:35:00.159 I wonder if it's not the case here. 00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:13.199 Nevertheless, we should not forget that this man was an object of God's displeasure for whatever sin he committed. 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:20.000 It required an atoning sacrifice and the involvement of the priest. 00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:35.679 But within this offering that is to be presented in accordance to the laws of Moses in Leviticus 14, there is a message of the knowledge of truth. 00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:39.039 Let's break it down for a minute here. 00:35:39.840 --> 00:35:42.800 There's three instructions here. 00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:46.320 He says, go and show yourself. 00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:51.440 Very emphatic, go show yourself to the priest. 00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:57.199 Secondly, he commands him to zip it up. 00:35:57.760 --> 00:35:59.840 And Jesus is very intentional. 00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:05.519 He says, basically, make sure you keep your mouth shut. 00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:10.559 Make sure he says, behold or see to it. 00:36:11.039 --> 00:36:16.400 Keep yourself in check that you do what I told you to do, and that is to keep it zipped up. 00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:19.599 Make your way to the priest. 00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:25.920 Do not pass go, do not collect$200, go directly to the priest. 00:36:28.320 --> 00:36:31.679 And do what the priest instructs you to do. 00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:37.280 In accordance to the law of Moses. 00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:42.559 What was his response? 00:36:42.719 --> 00:36:48.559 What was the only proper and fitting response to the mercy that was given to him? 00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:54.800 A simple instruction that requires a simple obedience. 00:36:55.119 --> 00:37:00.159 The proper and fitting response to mercy is obedience. 00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:06.719 A proper faith responds in a proper obedience. 00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:17.840 A simple faith requires a simple obedience. 00:37:20.320 --> 00:37:23.440 How do we know how this story ends? 00:37:23.760 --> 00:37:25.280 It ends kinda. 00:37:27.679 --> 00:37:29.199 It just ends. 00:37:29.440 --> 00:37:31.119 You're in Matthew four. 00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:34.320 Kind of abrupt. 00:37:36.960 --> 00:37:48.639 It doesn't distract from the very thought that Jesus gave him something to do, to obey. 00:37:50.480 --> 00:38:01.679 And it fits in well with the context because isn't Matthew seven largely dealing with obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ? 00:38:02.079 --> 00:38:09.039 Matthew seven, verse thirteen and fourteen. 00:38:10.159 --> 00:38:17.440 Speaks of the narrow gate and the narrow way and the wide gate and the wide way. 00:38:19.440 --> 00:38:21.280 He speaks of fruit. 00:38:25.760 --> 00:38:28.079 He speaks about obedience. 00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:36.880 Many on that day will say, Lord, Lord, did we not? 00:38:37.199 --> 00:38:43.280 But then he says, I will say to them, I never knew you. 00:38:43.679 --> 00:38:44.880 I never knew you. 00:38:45.199 --> 00:38:47.760 Because you practiced lawlessness. 00:38:47.920 --> 00:38:49.519 What is lawlessness? 00:38:50.159 --> 00:38:55.840 It is an absolute disregard for the commandments of God. 00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:13.519 And so within this context of Jesus and his authority, and a proper response to his authority is obedience, I want to take you to Mark chapter one. 00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:25.039 Because I think Mark can help us understand a little more about the gravity of the situation here. 00:39:27.679 --> 00:39:31.119 Man is given a very simple instruction. 00:39:31.519 --> 00:39:34.400 Keep your mouth shut, don't say a thing. 00:39:34.639 --> 00:39:38.400 Make your way to the priests, do what they tell you to do. 00:39:38.719 --> 00:39:48.880 This will be good for you, and it will be good for the priests, because if you obey me, I will advance my kingdom. 00:39:51.840 --> 00:39:55.599 But let's read what Mark 145 says there. 00:39:56.639 --> 00:40:02.159 Some translations would be very emphatic with the word but. 00:40:05.360 --> 00:40:07.760 Or instead is another way of saying. 00:40:08.079 --> 00:40:16.079 Instead, he went out and began to proclaim. 00:40:18.719 --> 00:40:20.320 Help me out here. 00:40:22.719 --> 00:40:25.840 Am I just, is this open for interpretation? 00:40:26.159 --> 00:40:30.000 Is the instructions of Jesus just open for interpretation? 00:40:30.159 --> 00:40:34.880 Because you see, instead, he did it his way. 00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:37.280 He did obey. 00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:40.800 He went away, but he did it his own way. 00:40:43.280 --> 00:40:45.679 Jesus says, keep silent. 00:40:46.559 --> 00:40:47.840 And he speaks. 00:40:51.679 --> 00:40:57.280 Jesus says, proclaim the gospel of Matthew 28, and what do we do? 00:40:57.519 --> 00:40:58.960 We keep silent. 00:41:00.480 --> 00:41:04.880 We are not creatures who do naturally what we are told to do. 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:07.920 We do things our own way. 00:41:08.719 --> 00:41:12.800 This man decided to go because Jesus told him to go. 00:41:12.960 --> 00:41:19.440 But from there on he followed through in a way that he thought would be better. 00:41:22.239 --> 00:41:24.960 Charles Spurgeon said this. 00:41:26.320 --> 00:41:34.639 He says this man was not told to spread the news about his cure. 00:41:35.280 --> 00:41:37.840 He was disobedient to Christ. 00:41:38.079 --> 00:41:44.480 But perhaps we might think this was very natural and an excusable thing. 00:41:47.440 --> 00:41:59.199 For this man might have judged by himself, saying, I will do it this way because it's more profitable, and I will do it this way because it's more beneficial for the kingdom of God. 00:42:00.880 --> 00:42:12.000 But Spurgeon says, but rather consider whether such and such a course of action is in accordance with the word of the Lord. 00:42:15.840 --> 00:42:24.079 You see, the the the leper left the presence of Jesus and he said, Okay, I've got a simple instruction here. 00:42:24.239 --> 00:42:28.639 I need to go, show, and do. 00:42:30.960 --> 00:42:36.159 And he goes, I will do it, but I'm gonna do it my way. 00:42:36.639 --> 00:42:39.039 I'm gonna do it in a better way. 00:42:39.199 --> 00:42:40.719 My way is always the better way. 00:42:40.880 --> 00:42:50.960 I'm gonna decide here in the instructions that Jesus Christ gave me that I'm gonna do what he says to me, but I'm gonna pick what is essential and what is not essential. 00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:55.679 I'm gonna decide what is good for my spirituality and what's not good for my spirituality. 00:42:55.920 --> 00:42:59.599 What makes me feel good and what doesn't make me feel good, I will decide. 00:43:02.079 --> 00:43:09.039 And so he proceeds from there doing things his own way. 00:43:09.679 --> 00:43:13.679 You might wonder why did he end up with leprosy in the first place? 00:43:14.960 --> 00:43:21.840 Does it indicate that this was a man who did things God's way or his very own way? 00:43:27.519 --> 00:43:29.760 Now let's reason through this. 00:43:31.280 --> 00:43:34.480 We don't want to be too hard on this gentleman here. 00:43:34.639 --> 00:43:38.239 Of course, this is a momentous occasion. 00:43:38.559 --> 00:43:42.880 Being cleansed of leprosy certainly may have stirred some excitement. 00:43:43.199 --> 00:43:47.599 He couldn't contain his compassion, so it got the better of him. 00:43:55.039 --> 00:43:59.199 But his passion, not rooted in the obedience of Jesus Christ, a proper passion? 00:44:01.440 --> 00:44:05.760 You may say, well, he was overwhelmed with love. 00:44:06.000 --> 00:44:13.440 He was just so in love, just exuberant love stirring up in him because Jesus drove his leprosy away. 00:44:14.719 --> 00:44:16.320 But is it real love? 00:44:19.360 --> 00:44:25.039 Does the Bible not tell us if you love me, you will keep my commandments? 00:44:25.679 --> 00:44:27.599 John 14, 15. 00:44:30.719 --> 00:44:33.760 He may have said to himself, Yeah, I've kept the commandment. 00:44:34.000 --> 00:44:36.320 I just modified it a little bit. 00:44:36.719 --> 00:44:38.000 I improved on it. 00:44:38.159 --> 00:44:41.280 I decided what is essential and what is peripheral. 00:44:42.719 --> 00:44:51.840 And Spurgeon says, This man may have left there talking himself into this. 00:44:53.039 --> 00:44:56.400 If I just steal other people, I will do more good. 00:44:56.800 --> 00:45:02.719 If I just proclaim the word, it will be better for the name of Christ. 00:45:02.960 --> 00:45:08.000 I will help out Jesus here by rather speaking to everyone in the streets. 00:45:08.639 --> 00:45:12.480 But Spurgeon says, but he had no business to think that. 00:45:12.960 --> 00:45:17.760 His business was to obey the command of Christ. 00:45:19.760 --> 00:45:21.440 He may have reasoned by himself. 00:45:21.519 --> 00:45:33.039 Look, we in an era where these rituals and ceremonies and the law of Moses and all these bells and whistles are becoming archaic. 00:45:33.440 --> 00:45:35.920 They are fading out, you know. 00:45:36.960 --> 00:45:39.440 I'm gonna just get down to the basics. 00:45:39.679 --> 00:45:46.719 Be passionate for Jesus and love Jesus and talk a lot about Jesus, but forget about Leviticus 14. 00:45:48.079 --> 00:45:49.519 Let's forget about that. 00:45:49.760 --> 00:45:54.719 It's a needless overly ritualistic ceremony. 00:45:56.400 --> 00:46:03.440 But remember, I told you God's desire is for all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth. 00:46:03.920 --> 00:46:11.440 You can take your own time at time by yourself later today and read Leviticus 14. 00:46:11.840 --> 00:46:19.360 And you'll scratch your head there because it's very intricate and very complicated and very elaborate. 00:46:20.239 --> 00:46:28.159 But I guarantee you, you will walk away there and say, This is a picture of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:46:28.480 --> 00:46:29.679 This is so vivid. 00:46:29.840 --> 00:46:36.239 I mean, you've got two birds there, one being sacrificed, blood all over the place. 00:46:36.400 --> 00:46:41.280 You've got a cedar plank with a yarn, a scarlet yarn. 00:46:42.159 --> 00:46:45.679 One bird is sacrificed, the other one is let free. 00:46:50.320 --> 00:46:55.760 It's a three-dimensional demonstration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:46:57.679 --> 00:47:06.719 As one author says, and he may be, I wouldn't say he's incorrect, but he but he's got a point here. 00:47:07.199 --> 00:47:08.880 There's something to learn here. 00:47:09.039 --> 00:47:13.280 He says the one bird is slain and it pictures the death of Christ. 00:47:13.440 --> 00:47:18.239 The other bird is released and pictures the resurrection of Christ. 00:47:18.400 --> 00:47:27.519 Putting the one bird into the jar pictures the incarnation of Christ when he took on human form and that he might die for us and be buried. 00:47:27.760 --> 00:47:30.719 The cedar plank and the scarlet yawn. 00:47:31.440 --> 00:47:34.559 Well, that certainly speaks of the cross of Christ. 00:47:35.760 --> 00:47:50.719 And then there is the application of the blood of one of the birds to the ear of the leper, to the thumb of the leper, and the toe of the leper, which certainly has something to say about obedience and personal faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:47:50.880 --> 00:48:04.480 And of course, then oil is brought into the picture, and it certainly could speak of the Spirit of God that must enter a person before there is a saving trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:48:08.400 --> 00:48:14.960 Whether the guy ever made this, made it this far is unclear. 00:48:16.880 --> 00:48:21.440 Whether the priest ever performed this ceremony, we don't know. 00:48:23.119 --> 00:48:32.000 At least from Mark's gospel, we are left to say the moment was lost. 00:48:33.440 --> 00:48:41.519 You see, in this guy, obeying, but obeying in his own way, he forfeited the opportunity to do what? 00:48:43.280 --> 00:48:48.000 See and hear and experience the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:48:48.400 --> 00:48:54.079 The only fitting and proper response to mercy would have been obedience. 00:48:54.800 --> 00:48:56.320 And think of this. 00:48:57.360 --> 00:49:04.719 No priest has ever seen nor perform the ritual and ceremony evolved in the cleansing of a leper. 00:49:04.960 --> 00:49:07.599 What a wonderful testimony. 00:49:08.000 --> 00:49:09.920 What a wonderful testimony. 00:49:10.079 --> 00:49:14.719 Remember when John the Baptist doubted whether Jesus was the Messiah? 00:49:15.280 --> 00:49:16.960