The Miracles of Jesus

Meaning:  A special display of God's power

 Title: Jesus ability to transform a destitute life  

Text: Mark 1:40-42 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.   And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.  And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

Purpose:  The drama of a leper being healed is so visual.  The change so dramatic.  You might say, if only a conversion to Christ today was more tangible it would be more convincing.  Well I am glad to tell you that the change that takes place when a person trusts Christ as Savior is as dramatic and transforming as any leper that Jesus healed by His touch and with His Word.  Consider the 7 year old child that trusts Jesus in a Sunday school class or a Vacation Bible school.  The youngster may pray in the presents of unbelieving parents with faith that stands 10 feet tall.  The child's faith is not timid or doubtful, and certainly without pretence.  You witness the faith of a child, and the transforming power of Jesus is more convincing then a trial lawyer's closing arguments. 

 Consider the teenager that has known the Lord for several years now.  The teen is not at all like the teens you might see on a sitcom.  No this teen is committed to obedience to authoritie, purity, and service to the Lord. This teen prays at the pole, witnesses to classmates, is involved in their youth group, works all summer to pay to go on a mission trip.  Yes, Jesus does radically transform lives today.  Consider the couple that is committed to the Lord, to each other, to their children, to their church.  They are honorable citizens, they are caring neighbors, they are faithful employees or employers, they are involved in their local church & Christian school, and committed to missions. 

Their homes and lives are guided by their constant intake of the Bible.  The guiding principle in their lives is to please the Lord.  As the writer, Robert Frost wrote, they are “on the road less traveled.”  They are the salt of the earth.  They are a living testament of God's transforming power.  Consider the ailing saint that has loved and served the Savior for some 50, 60 or maybe 70 years.  They lie peacefully on their death bed.

 There last earthly breathes are just hours, and then just minutes away.  They lie there with a twinkle in their eye.  There is no yelling, cursing or anxiety as it many times is with the unbeliever as they go off into a Christless eternity (that can never be reversed).  No the believer lies their with only praise on their lips.  Looking forward to seeing their Savior Jesus, face to face.  Yes, my friend Jesus does still dramatically transform lives today.

 Principle:  This passage demonstrates a few points.  First the leper called on the Lord. 

 The leper saw his need to be cleansed, and sought the cleansing from Jesus.  The leper was also convinced that Jesus could cleanse him of his leprosy.  Secondly we see Jesus' compassion for people and their need.  Jesus responded immediately to the faith of the leper.  Jesus' touch is powerful and transforming.  He transformed a leper into a man with as it were, a clean bill of health.  Jesus transforming touch does more then cleanse a leper, Jesus cleanses sins of the heart.  It is of far more value to be clean inside then to be clean outside and dirty inside.  You can clean the outside yourself, but only Jesus can clean the inside.  Has Jesus cleaned your inside?  Let Him cleanse you today!