“An Encounter With The Healer”
Sermon Title: An Encounter With The Healer
Scripture: Mark 1:40 - 2:12 ESV
Introduction
A leper, a paralytic, and Jewish scribes encountered Jesus, but what was their response to their encounter with Jesus? The leper and the paralytic responded with happiness, but the Jewish scribes and Pharisees with anger. As modern readers, this is a reasonable response, but for the first century readers, the encounter with the leper and the paralytic was scandalous. These were the outcasts of the community, and you were not to touch nor be around them (especially the leper). It was the scribes and Pharisees who were highly honoured and respected and the elite of Jewish society. What’s surprising is that it was not the so-called elite religious leaders, but the outcasts and marginalized who responded to the kingdom of God with happiness. Why is it so?
Jesus encounters a leper – “And a leper came to him, imploring him… (v.40)”
Luke shares more details of Mark’s account of Jesus’ encounter with the leper (Luke 5:12). Leprosy was the common word for many ancient fatal and contagious skin diseases. Today, anyone with this disease would require quarantine or social distance of at least 10m.
· God had given the Israelites instructions of quarantine as an act of love towards the community, especially since they were wandering through the desert in close proximity. It was to prevent the spread of the contagion from becoming a pandemic (Lev. 13:45-46). However, leprosy, along with other bad things that happen to you, became a stigma of God’s angry displeasure with you. You would be scorned as a sinner and were socially and at times, literally cast out (that was never God’s intention).
· The leper was full of leprosy, he was forced to isolate himself from family and friends, he was scorned and shunned by society, there were no hospitals, and he was helpless. This leper came to him, knelt down, and begs Jesus, “If you will, you can make me clean (v.40).” This was in the middle of a crowded city, but his determination was to reach Jesus; with a humble and desperate heart, he went to Jesus with confident faith in who Jesus is and what he can do.
· We know already how Jesus responds to the leper, but Jesus’ response would be a scandalous and disgusting act in the eyes of the scribes and Pharisees; Jesus touches the leper. It is difficult to understand what this leper must have felt, after so many years, to be touched by another human being, and to hear Jesus say, “I will. Be clean (v.41b).” And he was clean! Jesus expresses his desire to come near your uncleanness, shame, flaws, and loneliness, and he wants to touch you and make you clean!
· The man who was a leper shows us how we are to come to Jesus to be cleansed. Many people come to Jesus thinking that they’ve been a good person, that they are not deserving of their troubles, that they deserve better. The man came to Jesus and humbled himself on his knees and with empty hands, confesses his need for Jesus, and submits to Jesus. We too are to come with a desperate, humble, and faithful heart.
Jesus encountering the paralytic
“And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them (Mark 2:1-2).”
· Jesus’ growing reputation caught the scornful ill attention of the religious authorities to see if Jesus was the real deal. In a house in Capernaum, Jesus preached the message of the kingdom (Mark 1:15). A paralytic, a man paralyzed from the waist down, was brought to Jesus by four men (2:3). Unlike today, life was much more unbearable for a paralytic in the first century that lacked medical support, technology, and no entertainment. However, he was blessed with friends who were determined to bring their him to Jesus despite a crowd who would not make way for them. His friends chose a truly bold (and crazy) method to reach Jesus. They made their way to the roof and took it apart to lower their friend down to Jesus (2:4). What determination!
· Unexpectedly, Jesus says to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven (2:5).” Perhaps, Jesus had spoken what the paralytic needed to hear rather than what he wanted to hear.
· If God gave you a choice between forgiving your sins or fixing your circumstances, which would you choose? Which would make you happier? Your answer will tell you what you believe about God and what you believe about yourself.
· The scribes reacted with angry and they believed that Jesus was speaking blasphemy because for Jesus to forgive the sins of someone who had done him no harm or sin meant that Jesus was saying that the paralytic’s sins were his business and he had been wronged by the paralytic’s sins. The warped theology was that misfortune such as paralysis was God’s punishment for a person’s sins and Jesus was claiming that he had been wronged by that person’s sins. In other words, Jesus was claiming to be God.
· Jesus replies, “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’ (2:9)?” For us, forgiving someone would be the easier thing to say, but would healing be hard for Jesus who can control the storm and raise the dead to life? Is it hard for Jesus, who is God, to forgive then? Did you know that there’s nothing that compels God to forgive and He doesn’t have to forgive and He doesn’t owe us forgiveness?
· God does not let sin go unpunished because it is against His goodness, holiness, righteousness, and justice. This is why sin is a big problem for all of us – if God is truly just, how can God not send people to hell for their sins? However, in our twisted worldview, people ask how a good and just God let bad things happen to good people, but the question should be: How can a good and just God let good things happen to sinners? In a human court of law, we would be outraged if a judge were to set free a criminal, so why should we expect a good and just God to do that very thing?
· Was it easy for Jesus to forgive? No, it cost Jesus his life. We all have sinned against God (Rom. 3:22b-23), but through Jesus we are justified by his grace (Rom. 3:24), meaning by his blood that was spilt on the cross in our place (Rom. 3:25)! It wasn’t easy for Jesus, but he was willing to forgive us.
· We don’t realize how great God’s forgiveness is because it is given to us as a free gift, but it was done through Jesus, “to show his (God’s) righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:26). On the cross, Jesus fully displayed God’s nature of justice and righteousness, but at the same time, He has justified those who place their faith in Jesus. Jesus took all our sin and brokenness and in exchange he gave us his life, righteousness, inheritance, glory, and honour.
· As a stamp of authority to forgive, as proof of who he is, Jesus heals the paralytic. The healed man immediately got up, rolled up his mat and went home (2:12), glorifying God (Luke 5:25). When you truly encounter Jesus, you can’t help but glorify him in extreme happiness because he loves you, forgives you, and heals you!
The scribes and the Pharisees
The religious leaders and scribes would have been the first to understand the significance of Jesus’ words and actions, and in response, they should have fallen down before Jesus and asked for forgiveness as well.
· The scribes and religious leaders instead shook their heads in rejection and responded with anger. Their hearts were hardened with pride and jealousy that they refused to accept this truth despite having witnessed a miracle right before their eyes. Sometimes, we too respond in similar ways to our encounter with Jesus (through preaching, the Bible, other Christians, etc.) because of our pride.
· The scribes and religious leaders, throughout the New Testament, deny and reject Jesus despite the evident truth. Rather than responding with joy and happiness, they respond with anger because they are fine with the way things are and don’t want things to change, and they don’t want a king over them. They prefer to be kings over their own lives. These were the people who believed God, who claimed to love the Bible, and attended church, yet they refuse to humble themselves and submit to Christ. Many people both believers and non-believers are the same.
· Church attendance, serving in the church and in the community, how much offering you give, how well you know the Bible, all of these pale in comparison to a humble heart that submits and surrenders to Jesus and accepts him as King!
Reflection and Response
An encounter with Jesus demands a response. What will your response be today? Will you respond with a humble and submissive heart, or will you respond in anger, bitterness, frustration, or annoyance, with heart full of pride and self-righteousness that rejects Jesus Christ as your King? Those who humbled themselves before Jesus were cleansed, forgiven, and healed.
· Are there areas of your life – addictions, habits, pain (mental, physical, spiritual) that you needs cleansing, forgiveness, and healing?
· Are there areas of your life in part or in whole that refuses to submit to Jesus and his Word and denies his kingship over your life? Are there areas of your life where you said, “Jesus, I don’t want you to touch this area of my life”?
· Is Jesus Christ truly King over your life? Are you living a life of submission to Christ?