I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. – Hosea 12:10 (KJV)
When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him – Matthew 8:1 (NIV)
Recognized that Jesus was his (v.12)
Covered with Leprosy (NAS), Full of Leprosy (CWSB)
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers (lepra) – Matthew 10:8 (CWSB)
Leprosy is a picture of
Why should you continue to be punished? Why do you continue to turn against him? Your whole head is hurt, and your whole heart is sick. There is no healthy spot from the bottom of your foot to the top of your head; you are covered with wounds, hurts, and open sores that are not cleaned and covered, and no medicine takes away the pain. – Isaiah 1:5-6 (NCV)
Sin is deeper than
The priest shall look at the mark on the skin of the body, and if the hair in the infection has turned white and the infection appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is an infection of leprosy; when the priest has looked at him, he shall pronounce him unclean. – Leviticus 13:3-4 (NASB95)
Sin brings separation of (God/others)
“Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp. – Leviticus 13:45-46 (NKJV)
But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. – Isaiah 59:2 (NASB95)
Sin always
The priest shall look, and if the scab has spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is leprosy. – Leviticus 13:8 (NASB95)
The leprous covering ultimately winds up
…the mark is a leprous malignancy, it is unclean. “So he shall burn the garment, whether the warp or the woof, in wool or in linen, or any article of leather in which the mark occurs, for it is a leprous malignancy; it shall be burned in the fire. – Leviticus 13:51-52 (NASB95)
Jesus’ response to sin (leprosy) is (v.13)
Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man – Mark 1:41 (NIV)
To be declared “Clean” required a (v.14)
Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed …hyssop, and shall dip them…in the blood of the bird that was killed …and he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, – Leviticus 14:4-9 (KJV)
No one was ever declared until
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing.
– Leviticus 14:1-4 (KJV)
The leprous man had to recognize his
The leprous man had to recognize his to be not
The Trigger: He came and Jesus as
…a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” – Matthew 8:2 (NKJV}
The Point: When I come to Him, recognizing my need, worshiping Him as Lord, asking to be cleansed
He is already (v.13)
Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, saying… – Matthew 8:3 (NASB)
Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, and said – Mark 1:41 (NASB)
Faith was evidenced by a desire to (v.14)
Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. – Mark 1:45 (The Result, v.17)