I am willing

Luke 5:12-16

Key verse 13

“Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Introduction:

In this passage, Jesus healed a man of leprosy. Leprosy has been known to be one of the incurable diseases and it disfigures the nature of human body and character and it makes the

afflicted one to be most wretched state and many people thought the leper to be the cursed and they were banned from the community. In this hopeless situation, the man with leprosy came to Jesus by faith and he believed that only Jesus could make him clean, if he is willing. The merciful Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man’s wounds and scars and he made him clean. We can see that anyone can be clean, if he/she comes to Jesus by faith, however wretched his/her situation is.

1. Read verses 12 Who approaches Jesus? (12a) What metaphor could leprosy possibly represent in your life? According to the law, what were the restrictions for those with leprosy? (Lev. 13) What does the man with leprosy do when he sees Jesus? (12b) How can this man’s request relate to your life?

1-1. Read verses 12

“While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

1-2. Who approaches Jesus? (12a)

“A man came along who was covered with leprosy” A man with leprosy.

the author, Luke had a background as a physician and the way of description here in Luke 5 is differed from Mark. Mark 1:40 shows "a man with Leprosy," while Luke 5:12 "a man came along who was covered with leprosy." Luke the physician described him more carefully as a man covered with leprosy. In RSV, he is a man "full of Leprosy."

According to Wikipedia:

Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a chronic infection caused by the bacteria mycobacterium leprae. Initially infections are without symptoms and typically remain this way for 5 to as long as 20 years. Symptoms that develop include granulomas of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This may result in a lack of ability to feel pain and thus loss of parts of extremities due to repeated injuries. Weakness and poor eyesight may also be present. Until recently, it has been considered incurable disease, although it is currently curable disease by long term drug therapy and it severely disfigures the human being as this disease progresses. Because it attacks nerve endings, the patient sometimes loses pain sensation. Since the ancient time, the people have considered the lepers to be cursed by God and are afraid of them. They were abandoned by the family and forced to be separated from the community and had to live in the isolated area.

We are made to serve the living God, without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our

days (Lk 1:74b-75). But this man was unable to serve God.

1-3.What metaphor could leprosy possibly represent in your life?

A leper can be compared to the sinners in the Bible in that leprosy begins as nothing, grows slowly, numbs the senses, causes wasted and deformed, and results in disgusting appearance.

A leper becomes the wretched and alienated state due to separation from God, however, they don’t even feel the pain and sometimes, they do not know that they are sinners.

Sin is like leprosy in that it is inside of us, deeper than the skin(Leviticus 13:3), spreads(13:8), always defiles and isolates(13:45-46) because it is infectious.

Just as leprous patients' garment MUST be burnt up(13:52-57), it is sins that lead to eternal condemnation and the second death with fire when Jesus comes as the Judge.

1-4. According to the law, what were the restrictions for those with leprosy? (Lev. 13)

According to the law, the priest examined the sores and proclaimed to be clean or unclean. The true leprosy was considered to be a ceremonially unclean and they must have been isolated(quarantined) from the camp.

When they approached the people, they had to warn them by saying, “unclean, unclean.” Anyone who touches them becomes unclean too, so they would avoid them.

Leviticus 13: 45, 46

45 “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt,[c] cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ 46 As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.

Leprosy was also regarded as a punishment by God.

Historically, God had struck Miriam, Gehazi, and Uzziah with leprosy as a curse for their sins (Nu 12:10; 2 Ki 5:27; 2 Ch26:16-21).

*It is hard to imagine how much this man had suffered with leprosy.

He must have been one of the most miserable people on earth.

1-5. What does the man with leprosy do when he sees Jesus? (12b)

“When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Although the leprosy was considered to be an incurable disease, he believed that Jesus could heal him completely if he is willing.

He fell with his face to the ground and begged him. He shows respect to Jesus.

In addition, this is the first place in this gospel where Jesus is called Lord but Peter.

Who knows? The leprosy might have read Leviticus 13 and 14. “The LORD said to Moses and Aaron” is repeated several times. The LORD is Yahweh. He may have known who Jesus is.

“If you are willing, you can make me clean.” He does not force Jesus to do what he needed. Rather he believes that Jesus is more than able to clean him.

So at issue was whether Jesus is willing to heal him. He humbly asked Jesus’ mercy.

1-6. How can this man’s request relate to your life?

No matter how desperate your situation might be, you can still be cured if you come to Jesus and ask his mercy.

In this passage it must have been hard to overcome his despair. He must have fought against leprosy, fatalism, despair, loneliness and sorrow, and so on.

He may have thought of committing suicide many times. He was hopeless, helpless and powerless.

But one day he heard of Jesus, who accepted anyone who came to him and healed them. It was really good news to him.

It gave him hope. This man’s request means a lot in that he came to Jesus by faith despite all negative thoughts.

He could have been stoned to death on the way to Jesus.

However he had personal faith in Jesus until he came to Jesus.

2. Read verse 13. What do you think is significant about Jesus touching the man with leprosy? (13a) What do you think can be learned about Jesus from what he says to him? What happens when Jesus speaks? (13b)

2-1. Read verse 13.

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

2-2. What do you think is significant about Jesus touching the man with leprosy? (13a)

The man with leprosy was considered to be unclean and if anyone touches him, he becomes unclean too.

The leprosy can be transmitted to others by bodily fluid and wounds, so it is a great risk to be infected by touching the person with leprosy.

But Jesus was willing to be unclean himself by touching this man with leprosy. Jesus, though he is God in nature, came to this world as a human form to save us.

Jesus also choose to touch him although he does not have to do so. Praise Jesus for his great mercy and compassionate heart.

2-3. What do you think can be learned about Jesus from what he says to him?

“I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”

He is always willing to heal us, no matter how desperate we are in, so we must come to him with our problems anytime by faith.

According to Mark 1:41 and its footnote(NIV), Jesus was filled with compassion.

Jesus did not say, “Keep distance from me and my disciples.” Rather knowing how much this man had suffered, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him.

Jesus accepted him “AS HE IS.”

Just as he has seen a Samaritan woman as the princess of heavenly kingdom, he sees this man as the precious man of God having God’s image.

May the Lord help us to see young students with compassion and love and accept them AS HE/SHE IS.

Also Jesus did not heal this man out of obligation. Jesus was willing.

Being willing makes a difference!

If we serve out of obligation, the result may not good. We can not blame something else.

When we are willing, students feel loved and respond well.

Even though the contents of Bible study are not perfect, they continue to come.

On the other hand, if we are not willing, Bible students are burdened and do not come back again.

Thus having a willing heart is what really counts.

Jesus is willing to sacrifice himself for our sins.

He said, “Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, my God”

(Heb 10:5-7).

Jesus is more than willing to go to the cross in order to please God and to save us.

Jesus made a decision to do so when he fight the good fight against the devil(Luke 4:1-13).

Jesus is the exact representation of God himself(Hebrew 1:3)

Jesus’ willingness reveals God’s love for us.

God also took an initiative to love us(1 John 4).

Praise Jesus! Just as he has shown us his love and his willing heart, we are willing to love others!

2-4. What happens when Jesus speaks? (13b)

“And immediately the leprosy left him.”

It shows the absolute power of Jesus’ word, which created the Universe. Please talk notice the word

“immediately.” Luke the physician must have impressed by this miracle.

Although it is a miracle in an instant, still it is based on what God has done through Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 9:14 says, “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we can serve the living God.”

Many of us look fine outwardly, but inwardly we are as sick as a man with leprosy. We are filled with shame and guilt and suffer from sins.

God wants to cleanse our repulsive sins. God wants to restore his holy image in us.

We should come to Jesus honestly, just as we are.

1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

3. Read verses 14-16. After the man is healed, what does Jesus tell him to do? (14) What happens after this event? (15) Despite crowds coming to Jesus, what does he often do? (16)

3-1. Read verses 14-16.

Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

3-2. After the man is healed, what does Jesus tell him to do? (14, Lev 14)

Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

According to Lev. 14, the cleaned person should go to the priest and the priest examined him and declares to be cleaned.

Then, he must offer the sacrifices according to the Moses’ law and can go back to the community. So Jesus commanded him to follow the regulation and laws.

Also it might be another reason why Jesus commanded him to not tell anyone about this.

2 kings 5:15-16 read,

“Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.”

Only God can cure leprosy. Jesus must have ordered him to not tell this story for it may not be a stumbling block for his ministry.

3-3. What happens after this event? (15)

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.

3-4. Despite crowds coming to Jesus, what does he often do? (16)

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. It shows that he is seeking his Father’s will.

Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God. (2 chronicles 27:6)

Throughout the book of 2 Chronicles, the king Jotham was able to keep his personal faith before God. through walking steadfastly before the Lord his God.

Likewise Jesus shows a good example in terms of walking steadfastly on earth by asking his Father and continue to synchronize with his Father and the Holy Spirit.

In conclusion:

When the man with leprosy came to Jesus and asked for his mercy, Jesus was willing to make him clean again. Jesus touched him with his hands and became unclean himself, but He never abandoned anyone who comes to Him by faith, no matter how wretched sinner he or she is. Jesus accepts any sinners who come to Him by faith. Praise Jesus who accepts us as we are. Amen

One word: I am willing

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