Monday, March 21, 2016

Appearances & Realities: Impossibilities?

And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat.  When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.

Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness.  Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?  But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.

“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. (Luke 11:37-42)
 
He didn't ceremonially wash before dinner.

That was the charge, or would have been, had they opened their mouths first. But Christ was using this as a teaching moment.

The expectation was that all could see him wash. Not that the washing was effective. Who is to say he was not clean. He was of course. What goes in the body does not make a man unclean (Matt 15:11).  It is the heart of a man which needs daily cleansing.  There a man finds a spring of filth (Jer. 17:9).

Yet here in this passage we see it is only the outside of a person which the Pharisees were concerned in. External cleansing may be helpful but if it does not reflect the reality within – it is worthless.

Remember how Christ washed the disciple’s feet. In John 13:2-10 we read of the washing of the disciple’s feet by Christ. In that account Peter objected to Christ washing his feet like a common servant. Yet this outward washing metaphorically represented the cleansing of sin in the lives of people. Peter, hearing Christ's explanation that if He did not wash Peter’s feet, he will have no part with him, says to Christ, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.” (vs. 9)

It isn’t that one only needs cleansing one time for sin (salvation), but we must come daily to him for confession, lest we develop a hardening of the heart toward the Lord. So the daily ritual washing of the hands in Luke 11 was not wrong per se, but the understanding one has of its purpose and intent is what is important.  

The Pharisees had left the purpose in favor of the outward act. In doing so, they led the people to seek outward conformity to an external standard as a way to measure their faith toward God. The external evidence is not without meaning and is valuable, but it derives its value from the spiritual realities behind it. If we fail to recognize this, then we will fail in understanding our God's love and actions for us. Furthermore to place a greater value upon the outward actions then the inward reality we become idolaters –for we trust in the act more than the Lord whose love and action give the act substance. Only then are we able to seek God rightly.
But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you. (41)
2 alternative translations:
Literally – Rather give alms of what is inside; then indeed
MacArthur – Rather give that which is within as your alms; then indeed
As you can see what we are to give is the internal worship – much like David expressed Psalm 51:15-17:

O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.


“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. (42)
On the one side the Pharisee or the Legalistic Fundamentalist.

On the other side the New Evangelical, or the Antinomian.

Who is it who is right?

Christ says both parties are missing something huge. Can anyone do all which is required of them? Clearly in our passage we are to do all the law, even to tithing of mint and herb; yet in Micah 6:8 we read that we must not neglect other matters:

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

There is only one means to do all this. It is in the power and strength of the blood of Christ. In ourselves we have nothing, but in Christ we can do all things; Love, Mercy, and even Law.

Amen

Monday, March 14, 2016

The Light of the World


The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.  Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. (Luke 11:34-35)

In all men, their eye is bad until Christ – the Light of the world, comes in. (John 8:12)

The whole body is full of darkness – yet consider when the Good Shepherd comes in, how it is that the whole body is full of light. The smallest candle dispels all darkness in a dark room.

But can darkness overcome light? It cannot. Darkness is not positive in nature and can produce no change in state, but the smallest light does have effect. All those around see it. Even the poorest Christian, if truly so, has power to dispel the darkness.

But those in darkness, whose minds have not been enlightened to know the Lord, remain in the darkness, even if light is present.  But though he does not understand this light – he sees it and is affected by it. Darkened minds and hearts know something, just not salvation. This is why Paul tells us in Romans 10 that they need a preacher to help them understand this flicker of light they see.

Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.

Christ is telling us that we ought to be thinking about our state, are we light or not. “Take heed” is a warning statement! Because of the negative nature of sin and darkness, we could actually be deceived to think the darkness in us is really light! Paul tells us in 2nd Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed you are disqualified?

Examination takes effort. It requires one to measure the works of a man – to see if they line up to the works found in a regenerate man. True faith is a positive matter, there is always fruit to be found. Look at the fruit, is it genuine gospel fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control? Do these characterize the fruit? Do they characterize you?

Take heed!  To be deceived about the darkness within is to be deceived indeed.



 


Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Humility and Suffering (I Peter 3:8-12)

(This message was preached Sunday, Dec. 15th 1996 at Leavitt Street Bible Church, Chicago)

Theme: Even when we live as humble people for the Lord’s sake, we will encounter suffering. In a Nutshell - Humility does not prevent suffering.



Humility does not prevent Suffering.

Vs. 8-9  To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;  not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead;

        Lists of good and bad behavior like this are common in the Bible.


Gal. 5:19-23 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,  envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Eph. 5:9-12 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

Eph. 5:18-20 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;  always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;  and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Phil. 2:1-5 If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.

Phil. 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.

Col. 3:12-17 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Col. 4:5-6 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.

1 Thes. 4:10-11 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you; so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.

1 Thes. 5:12-22 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances.  But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.

1 Tim 4:12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

Heb. 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.

Jam. 1:21 Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

1Tim 1:5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Our behavior is instructed.

Why do we need instruction?  Isn't it by grace we have been saved through faith?

When I was growing up I remember art class being one class I always looked forward to, even when I was an older kid.  One thing every one of us kids would make was something with clay.  Funny thing, we all made what we each desired.   Some made bowls, some necklaces, some made knickknacks and some made ashtrays.  I made a coffee cup for my Mom.  Isaiah 64:8 reads, "But now, O Lord, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand."  Paul says in Romans "On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, 'Why did you make me like this,' will it?  Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use, and another for common use?" (Rom 9:20)

Why do we need instruction?  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2:8-10)

Where do we accept instruction today?  From School, parents,     work, church, God's Word?  Are we willing to actually live by HIS instructive word? 


        It means accepting a certain kind of behavior.


We are to accept a certain kind of behavior for ourselves, as Christians.  But we should not expect non-Christians to follow us in this example.


        It means rejecting another kind of behavior.


At this point I need to speak to the point -- We are not to judge non-Christians.  God has already condemned them for their sin as he did you and I.  We ought to pray for them, care for them, love them, so that they are no longer our enemies.  The behavior we are to reject is to be within ourselves. Do you see this in your life?


        It means humbling ourselves before the one instructing you  and obeying the command or accepting the correction whatever the case may be. 


Your parents say go to bed at 10:00 pm

Your teacher says read through chapter 13.

Your boss tells you to finish this job by Friday.

Your God says Be Holy for I Am Holy. (I Peter 1:16)

Humility is accepting instruction.

Humility does not prevent Suffering.


Few of us really understand what this means.  Take as an example the movies.  Your Mom tells you she does not want or allow you to go to the movie "Brave Heart".  You might say to yourself, "O.K., she doesn't want me to be watching such a violent movie." But what if she told you not to go to the movie "Alice in Wonderland"!  It sounds ridiculous!

Would you HUMBLY accept such instruction...or would you complain, grumble, or even completely disobey her?

Humility is accepting instruction.

Zephaniah 2:3 says "Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger.

Jesus tells a parable in Matthew about two brothers, who were asked to work in their fathers’ vineyard.

Matt 21:28 – 32 "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go work today in the vineyard.' "And he answered and said, 'I will, sir'; and he did not go. "And he came to the second and said the same thing. But he answered and said, 'I will not'; yet he afterward regretted it and went. "Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The latter." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that the tax-gatherers and harlots will get into the kingdom of God before you. "For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax-gatherers and harlots did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him. 


Take heart -- The son who said he will not work was the one accepted into the kingdom.


Mark 9 22-24 "And it has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!" And Jesus said to him, "'If You can!' All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the boy's father cried out and began saying, "I do believe; help my unbelief."

Humility Brings Honor.


Humility does not prevent Suffering.


How is this so?

How is this so when Proverbs 16:7 says "When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him."?

Look at the example of Job:


Job  1:5  And it came about, when the days of feasting had completed their cycle, that Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually.

1:8 And the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil."

2:3 And the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to ruin him without cause." 

42:10-12 And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold. Then all his brothers, and all his sisters, and all who had known him before, came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought on him. And each one gave him one piece of money, and each a ring of gold. And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning, and he had 14,000 sheep, and 6,000 camels, and 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.


In Job's situation Satan was at work actively, but that is not always the case.  There may be situations that Satan simply cannot be blamed for.  What about them?


John 13:14-18 "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. "For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. "Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master; neither is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. "I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.'

John 15:19-21, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.


 I Peter 3:9b – 12, "for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.  Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.  He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."



Humility does not prevent Suffering.


Our Lord suffered throughout His life and especially in His death on the cross for our sins. He lived a perfect life of humility, accepting the instruction of God & parents.   He even told us we will suffer.

Seeking Signs?

“And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.  For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.  The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.  The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.” (Luke 11:29-32)

The charge is that in seeking a sign, one neglects the evidence before him, all the while looking for more miraculous evidence.  Yet didn't Christ actually give such signs?
Yes!

Seeking signs?
He did indeed give miraculous signs –  Recall the very things John the Baptist asked of Christ, as to whether He was the One:
Ø  The blind see
Ø  The lame walk
Ø  The deaf hear
Ø  Lepers are cleansed
Ø  The dead are raised
Ø  The poor have the Gospel preached to them

In Luke 7 we read of this account.  Note that before Jesus verbally answered John's disciples, he gave them this very evidence (Luke 7:21) before their eyes.  John's disciples believed and told John of the good news. Isaiah 35:5-7 & 61:1-3 are just two of the many Messianic passages which attest to the evidence they were to seek.

Yet here in our account we have a people who has heard and seen the very same things, but still seeks another sign?!
Incredible!

They are like the rich man's brothers who, though having the evidence before them, still remain in unbelief (Luke 16:19-31).

When Christ speaks of this generation as an evil generation, what defines 'evil'? In seeking an answer, it seems plain that it is unbelief.  The sin of unbelief is the sin at the heart of all sins.  For Christ did give many signs.  He even gave the very signs expected of the Messiah!  He would yet give them another sign, that last great sign is his death and resurrection.  

Yet many did not believe, even upon the fact of his rising and being seen of more than 500 at a time (1 Cor. 15:6).  He continued with them for 40 days (Acts 1:3) before ascending on high to take his seat at the right hand of the Father.

But unbelief is a blindness which sees no evidence as compelling.  It writes off all potential.  It steals away all hope.  Better to be like the man who cries out, "Lord, I believe - Help my unbelief!"

May we seek not a sign, but believe what is already before us!  Amen.

Monday, March 7, 2016

Who are you anyway?!

I again heard the comment from a respected friend, “I just don’t like labels”.  So I’d like to say a word about the use of terms, definitions, and labels.  The context of their comment to me was in respect of the historical prevalence of Calvinists in early American Baptist churches.  I do understand the reluctance to take the term Calvinist, as it refers to a man.   Interesting to note, however, that Calvinism as it is now taught was formulated after John Calvin had passed on to glory.  I prefer the title Reformed - but you can call me a Calvinist!

In dealing with history, labels are absolutely required.  To say otherwise is to deny the facts.  I do understand the sentiment, however.  Too many ascribe to the title much more than really is.  People are a mixed -bag.  Stereo-typing isn't right - I think we all admit that. 

But the fact of the practice doesn't mean we give up all semblance of definitions.  We are more than a word.  Certainly, I am more than a fundamentalist, for example.  But such a term better describes me, than if I were to say I am a Biblicist.  What defines a 'Biblicist' anyway? (Kind of reminds me of the liberal battle cry, “The Bible is my creed” – which really says nothing!)  

And while I may not hold to all the tenets of fundamentalism, or to all of them equally, at least you have a starting place to know something of the man, Dave Cox. 
I think many don't like titles because they are afraid of being stereo-typed.  I wouldn't worry about that.  Those who stereo-type, are too narrow minded to begin with.  Take a look at my stand in reference to fundamentalism, here.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

The Christ that Cleanses

(This message was preached Wed eve, March 2, 2016 at Heritage Baptist Church: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=32162033450)
THESIS: The cleansing power of Christ is available to any who would but come – no matter how vile they are.

Good Evening!  Please turn to Mark Chapter 1. We’ll be looking at verses 40-42.  Please follow along as I read. 

40 “And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.” (Mark 1:40-42)

Let me begin by saying that there is one central theme to be found here.  Christ receives sinners!  Now this is such a simple and straight forward comment – it might fly right by you.  Christ receives sinners.  Notice that it is Christ who is receiving the sinner, not the other way around.  So let’s start some discovery, by asking a few questions.  I think you will come to the same conclusion, that Christ receives sinners! 

One question I might ask relates to Mark’s Roman audience.  How might the fact that Mark is considering Romans, outright pagans from the Jewish point of view, as his primary audience play into the fact of his inclusion of this account in his gospel?

Another question – Why does Mark record that Jesus was, “moved with compassion”? It’s more significant than you might think!  Only Mark makes this emotive reference – though the account is also found in Matthew & Luke.

What is the nature of leprosy and why do we care?  This is supremely important since it is central to understanding the account rightly.  If we get this wrong, the whole intent of the account will be lost on us, and we’ll think of it as nothing more than another account of Christ healing someone.

Let’s consider this leper – He approached Christ, so near that Jesus could reach out and touch the man.  This is an amazing and bold step.  You know how leprosy was looked upon.  The leper was the ‘untouchable’ of the ancient world.  He was so feared and repulsive that they had to form their own communities apart from the rest of the world. 

Let’s do a short review of the Bible’s historical accounts of lepers and see if we can learn anything.  There is of course Moses’ leprous hand as a sign to Pharaoh (Ex. 4:6).  Miriam in her rebellion against Moses and the Lord (Num. 12:10).  Leprosy is part of the curse by David of Joab who murdered Abner (2 Sam. 3:29).  The account of Naaman’s leprosy is fairly well known, but sometimes we overlook the subscript to the story – Gehazi’s acquiring of it!  The account is found in 2 Kings 5:1-27. Gehazi it seems was displeased that Elisha cleansed Naaman and would take of him nothing – even when Naaman pressed him.  But Gehazi pursued this man and received 2 talents of silver and some clothing – and his leprosy!

One lesser known account to me, was that of King Uzziah.  He was one of the kings which it is said, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah did.” (2 Chr. 26:4-5)  We’re even told of him that God made him prosper.  But that was his undoing, it seems.  For in verse 16 of the same chapter we are told how he “his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense.”  For this sin he was made a leper for the rest of his days.

Leprosy clearly was not a good thing at all.  But what is it, after all?  If you read in Leviticus 13-14 we read of the law of leprosy.  Chapter 13 deals primarily with its identification, and if identified, the lepers status as unclean.  In fact the word unclean appears 21 times in that chapter! Verse 45 tells us he had to identify himself as unclean crying it aloud.  Chapter 13 identifies at least 5 kinds or possibly degrees of leprosy. 

If we look to the word leper in the Greek we see that it means scaly or scaly-ness – which might have something to do with its appearance on someone.  Leviticus 14 deals with identifying the leper as having been cleansed, and if so, what the offering should be.  The law of cleansing is interesting, once you get past the minutia of it.  There are actually several distinct offerings the leper had to make.  There was an offering for the cleansing (v. 1-9), a sin offering, a trespass offering (v 12), a burnt offering, and a grain offering.  Does that surprise you?  How is it that someone infected with a plague of leprosy is treated, like a sinner for his infection?  That sounds a bit harsh doesn’t it? 

Yet if we look more closely, you will see that the leper is not afflicted by chance.  Consider the account of Miriam – she was made a leper.  Turn to Numbers 12:10.

And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.  11 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.  12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb.

We see two things here – leprosy was accounted rightly as a consequence of sin. And she was compared to one dead.  This is significant.

As I was studying leprosy I ran across this idea which is summed up in the following quotation from the Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, “To the rabbis the cure of a leper was as difficult as raising a person from the dead.[1] Leprosy, in the Scriptures, appears to be only healed in miraculous ways.  Otherwise it is a curse to be endured for life. 

In today’s account, we have a man with this death sentence upon him, apparently so caught up with his confidence that Christ could heal him, he disregards the law completely, and coming near enough for Christ to reach out and touch the man.  Now it’s apparent the man was not disrespectful of our Lord, for he came kneeling and begging to him.  Yet he did disregard the requirements of the law, in at least 2 points.  The approach was too close and we have no record of his crying out, “Unclean, unclean.” (Lev. 13:45)

Consider the request, “If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.  The request itself was not one filled with doubt.  This man had every expectation that Christ could cleanse him of his plague.  The request was based upon Christ’s willingness to heal him.  And remember the question I asked about Christ’s compassion?  It’s this compassion, I believe, which was a driving force for this leper to come.  Christ receives sinners! 

John Gill writes, “And thus it is with poor sensible sinners under first awakenings; they can believe in the ability of Christ to justify them by his righteousness, cleanse them by his blood; and save them by his grace to the uttermost: but they stick at, and hesitate about his willingness, by reason of their own vileness and unworthiness.[2]  But let me remind you Christ receives sinners because he loves them!  Such love is demonstrated in Christ’s willingness to take the cup of suffering on our behalf – because he knew we could not bear it!

As for why Mark includes this, if we consider the audience Mark has in mind, the Roman gentile world, isn’t that just the thing they might be compelled to grasp? Christ is compassionate and heals even lepers!  Matters of the law, not so much. 

How Christ cleanses the man is remarkable – in that he touches the man, BEFORE the cleansing, and speaks the word, and the man is cleansed.  This touch conveys more than compassion.  It is the means which the cleansing was communicated to the man.  Like the burning coal off the altar which touched the mouth of Isaiah, and his unclean lips were cleansed, Christ cleanses a man by his touch.  In Frederick Farrar’s Life of Christ we read the following, “The hand of Jesus was not polluted by touching the leper's body, but the leper's whole body was cleansed by the touch of that holy hand. It was even thus that He touched our sinful human nature, and yet remained without spot of sin.”[3]

Here is a perfect place to comment – the nature of leprosy is that it is representative for sin.  It is a kind of physiological breaking out of sin upon the very flesh of the person afflicted.  No one thus afflicted can hide their sin once stricken.  But this man, not hiding his leprosy, approaches Christ!

How could he?!  Didn’t he know – this great rabbi doesn’t have time for a filthy vile wretch as one so afflicted?!  But Christ does have time for him.  He does have compassion for him.  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world does have regard for the sinner!

Don’t we sometimes forget this?  Don’t we, in our shame of sin, in trying to hide it, not approach the king?  He’s the very one who can make us whole!  This leper was not afraid to approach Christ – even though he was an untouchable leper!  Did you know that some of the rabbi’s said that if you were down wind of the leper, you had to stay at least 150 feet away?[4]

As many of you know I blog.  My most recent blog entry is on a passage in Luke 11, immediately after Christ gives the Lord’s Prayer.  Please turn there, Luke 11:5-13.  Follow along as I read, “And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;  6 for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?  7 and he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.  8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.  9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?  12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

There is a certain responsibility laid upon the petitioner to ask, even to ask out of season, when the need arises, and in expectation. This expectation is not a fatalistic hope – but the reasonable expectation of a good and loving Father. Yet this leper approached Christ – near enough to be touched, and he only knew of this healer.  Beloved – we actually know the Lord! 

Often the idea of one’s prayers to the Lord convincing Him to open the store houses of blessing seems foreign to us because we think so highly of God's ordered and planned world. Who are we to break in and disturb Him!? And what need is enough to justify the interruption?  Isn’t it the case that our sin so often separates us from the Savior simply because in our shame of it, the Devil takes his foothold, and convinces us that we cannot now approach him!  The very thought of it, is repulsive – but it is an evil thought!  For our Lord receives sinners! 

The picture we are presented with in Luke is not predetermined. Here we see a friend unwilling to help his friend because of the time of day, yet persuaded to help because of persistence. Often it is presented therefore that we ought to persist in prayer.  Persistence is good – but it is not persistence which persuades our loving Lord. But it is faith. A faith rooted in a relationship. Look at verse 13 again, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? 

This leper came to Christ before his cleansing.  Yet even outside of the relationship – Christ has compassion!  This is an absolutely stunning revelation.  In the same way which the Devil tells believers their sin is too great to now approach the Savior, he does likewise with those unbelievers who think, maybe – if I can just come to Him…   Christ receives sinners!  Come now – drink of the water of life freely – it’s available you know!

Beloved, we who know Him, and the kind generous Father that He is – ought we not call upon Him in faith, persistently, as needs arise?

Shouldn't we trust him to answer?

Will he give a stone, or a serpent, or a scorpion?




[1] Referencing I.H. Marshall’s Commentary on Luke. Page 208.
 
[2] Gill, John. An Exposition of the New Testament. Vol. 1. London: Mathews and Leigh, 1809. Print. The Baptist Commentary Series.
[3] Farrar, Frederick. Life of Christ, V. 1 p. 275. E. P. Dutton & Company. New York. 1891