Helping a Leper

Matthew 8:3,4 "...And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them...”

Mark 1:41,44 "...Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean ... and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them...”

Luke 5:13,14 "...And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them...”

Context:

- leprosy was a host of skin diseases that were as destructive at that time as cancer is in our day.

- the priests made the final determination of clean or unclean.

- an unclean person was isolated, required to wear torn clothes, and walked around crying out "unclean".

What did this leper believe?

- that Jesus could make him clean.

What did Jesus do?

- first, He was moved with pity (Mark 1:41).

- second, He touched the untouchable and he was healed immediately. [a new dispensation: OT avoid unclean because it makes you unclean, NT touch the unclean and make it clean]

- third, He gave Him instructions.

Why tell no one?

Why go show to the priest?

     - Jesus was faithful to the requirements of the law.

Storm Stopping

Mark 4:35,39,40 "...On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side ... And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm ... He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?...”

Luke 8:22, 25 "...One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out ... He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?...”

Matthew 8:26 "...And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm..."

Context:

- the disciples are in a boat.

- a great storm is about to swamp the boat.

- Jesus is sleeping.

Whose decision was it to cross the lake? [Jesus]

Will Jesus lead you into dangerous places?

What does He expect of us?

- obedience, courage, and faith.

All three accounts of this storm are followed by an encounter with demon possession.

Do you think the weather gets a bit stormier when you're about to face down a demon or two?

Do we exercise faith when the waters are calm or when a storm is raging?

Demons in Gerasa

Context:

- the disciples weathered the storm (with little faith).

- they now land on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

- they have moved from a Jewish to a Gentile region (Jews wouldn't raise pigs).

- the villages Gadara and Gerasa are in this region, so it is sometimes called the land of the Gadarees (Matthew), but sometimes the land of the Gerasenes (Mark,Luke).

- demon possession has led to fierce and uncontrollable behavior.

- the presence of Jesus changes an unchangeable situation.

- the demons recognize the Son of God and are afraid that their time of torment has come.

Mark 5:8,9 "...For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many...”

Luke 8:30 "...Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him..."

What was his name?

- Legion, many demons.

- Roman legion was 5,400 foot soldiers and 120 horseman.

What did Legion request?

Matthew 8:31 "...And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs...”

Mark 5:10,12 "...And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country ... and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them...”

Luke 8:31,32 "...And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission..."

Do demons know their final destiny? What is it? [the abyss]

What was Jesus response?

Matthew 8:32 "...And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters..."

What then happened?

- they went into the pigs (about 2 thousand Mark 5:13).

- they went down the steep bank and drowned in the waters.

How did the herdsmen respond?

- fled and told both city and country what happened.

How did the townspeople respond?

- they came and saw the man clothed and in his right mind.

- they were afraid. Why?

- they asked, no begged, Jesus to leave. Why?

Why are people more willing to live in their current torment than to move forward, following Jesus?

How did the one delivered respond?

- he wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus would not allow it.

Mark 5:19 "...And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you...”

Luke 8:39 “...Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him..."

When is it wrong to follow the supernatural movement of God on the earth?

- when God wants us proclaiming His goodness elsewhere.

Rabbinical literature cites four characteristics of madness:

1. Running about at night.

2. Staying overnight in burial places.

3. Tearing apart one's clothes.

4. Destroying what one has been given.

Is there any madness in our society?

Is there any demon possession?