3. An introduction to His power…An introduction to His power…
••In Chapters 1In Chapters 1--4, we were introduced to4, we were introduced to
the “Person of the King”, Jesus Christthe “Person of the King”, Jesus Christthe “Person of the King”, Jesus Christthe “Person of the King”, Jesus Christ
••During the Sermon on the Mount, 5During the Sermon on the Mount, 5--7,7,
Jesus taught us the “Principles of the King” isJesus taught us the “Principles of the King” is
showing us the differences between trueshowing us the differences between true
righteousness and phony religionrighteousness and phony religionrighteousness and phony religionrighteousness and phony religion
••Now through Chapters 8Now through Chapters 8--9, He will show us9, He will show us
that He indeed has the “Power of the King”that He indeed has the “Power of the King”
4. An introduction to His power…An introduction to His power…
••So we begin the study of His miraclesSo we begin the study of His miracles
from Matthew’s perspectivefrom Matthew’s perspective
Before we can do that however, weBefore we can do that however, we••Before we can do that however, weBefore we can do that however, we
must pause to answer the obvious question:must pause to answer the obvious question:
••Why did He perform miracles?Why did He perform miracles?–– three reasonsthree reasons
••He wanted to meet peoples’ needs as creatorHe wanted to meet peoples’ needs as creator••He wanted to meet peoples’ needs as creatorHe wanted to meet peoples’ needs as creator
••They were also proof of his call as MessiahThey were also proof of his call as Messiah
••He wanted to reveal “SavingTruth” to usHe wanted to reveal “SavingTruth” to us
5. When Jesus came down from the mountain, largeWhen Jesus came down from the mountain, large
crowds followed Him.crowds followed Him. 22 And a leper came to HimAnd a leper came to Him
and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, ifYouand bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, ifYou
are willing,You can make me clean.”are willing,You can make me clean.” 33 JesusJesusare willing,You can make me clean.”are willing,You can make me clean.” 33 JesusJesus
stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “Istretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I
am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately hisam willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his
leprosy was cleansed.leprosy was cleansed. 44 And Jesus *said to him,And Jesus *said to him,
“See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to“See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to“See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to“See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to
the priest and present the offering that Mosesthe priest and present the offering that Moses
commanded, as a testimony to them.”commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Matthew 8:1Matthew 8:1--4 (NASB)4 (NASB)
6. Cleansing the LeperCleansing the Leper
••Vs 1Vs 1--2, Jesus tries to minister quietly,2, Jesus tries to minister quietly,
but the crowds follow anywaybut the crowds follow anyway
7. When Jesus came down from the mountain,When Jesus came down from the mountain,
large crowds followed Him.large crowds followed Him. 22 And a leperAnd a leper
came to Him and bowed down before Him,came to Him and bowed down before Him,came to Him and bowed down before Him,came to Him and bowed down before Him,
and said, “Lord, ifYou are willing,You canand said, “Lord, ifYou are willing,You can
make me clean.”make me clean.”
Matthew 8:1Matthew 8:1--2 (NASB)2 (NASB)
8. Cleansing the LeperCleansing the Leper
••Vs 1Vs 1--2, Jesus tries to minister quietly,2, Jesus tries to minister quietly,
but the crowds follow anywaybut the crowds follow anywaybut the crowds follow anywaybut the crowds follow anyway
••Lepers were required to avoid folksLepers were required to avoid folks
and cry out “Unclean!” wheneverand cry out “Unclean!” whenever
they were around others so the disease wouldthey were around others so the disease would
not spreadnot spread–– this man did the opposite; why?this man did the opposite; why?
they were around others so the disease wouldthey were around others so the disease would
not spreadnot spread–– this man did the opposite; why?this man did the opposite; why?
••First understand that leprosy is an illustrationFirst understand that leprosy is an illustration
of sinof sin–– it infects, spreads, rots, destroysit infects, spreads, rots, destroys
9. Cleansing the LeperCleansing the Leper
••Next, understand that this was aNext, understand that this was a
testimony to the man’s great faithtestimony to the man’s great faith
that he would run up to Jesusthat he would run up to Jesus––that he would run up to Jesusthat he would run up to Jesus––
notice he didn’t ask if Jesusnotice he didn’t ask if Jesus couldcould healheal
him, he asked if Jesushim, he asked if Jesus wouldwould heal himheal him
••Jesus’ response is shows us exactly who HeJesus’ response is shows us exactly who He••Jesus’ response is shows us exactly who HeJesus’ response is shows us exactly who He
waswas–– he was the man who would become sinhe was the man who would become sin
for us, that we might be savedfor us, that we might be saved
10. Cleansing the LeperCleansing the Leper
••What do you mean, PD?What do you mean, PD?
••Look now at vs 3Look now at vs 3
11. 33 Jesus stretched out His hand and touchedJesus stretched out His hand and touched
him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Andhim, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Andhim, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Andhim, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And
immediately his leprosy was cleansed.immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 8:3 (NASB)Matthew 8:3 (NASB)Matthew 8:3 (NASB)Matthew 8:3 (NASB)
12. 33 JesusJesus stretched out His hand and touchedstretched out His hand and touched
himhim, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Andhimhim, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And
immediately his leprosy was cleansed.immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 8:3 (NASB)Matthew 8:3 (NASB)Matthew 8:3 (NASB)Matthew 8:3 (NASB)
13. Cleansing the LeperCleansing the Leper
••What do you mean, PD?What do you mean, PD?
••Vs 3, Jesus reached out and touchedVs 3, Jesus reached out and touched
the Leper, not the other way ‘roundthe Leper, not the other way ‘roundthe Leper, not the other way ‘roundthe Leper, not the other way ‘round
••When Jesus touched the guy, JesusWhen Jesus touched the guy, Jesus
became infected with leprosy! Get it?!?!?!?became infected with leprosy! Get it?!?!?!?
••Jesus came down here and poured Himself outJesus came down here and poured Himself out••Jesus came down here and poured Himself outJesus came down here and poured Himself out
so that he couldso that he could become our sinbecome our sin, and save us, and save us
from ourselves and Hell!from ourselves and Hell!
14. Cleansing the LeperCleansing the Leper
••In the very first miracle MatthewIn the very first miracle Matthew
records for us, Jesus illustrates whatrecords for us, Jesus illustrates whatrecords for us, Jesus illustrates whatrecords for us, Jesus illustrates what
He will ultimately do for us!He will ultimately do for us!
••2 Peter 3:9 says God is “…not willing2 Peter 3:9 says God is “…not willing
that any should perish…”, but that all shouldthat any should perish…”, but that all shouldthat any should perish…”, but that all shouldthat any should perish…”, but that all should
be saved!be saved!
••Verse 4 has confused many…Verse 4 has confused many…
15. 44 And Jesus *said to him, “See that you tell noAnd Jesus *said to him, “See that you tell no
one; but go, show yourself to the priest andone; but go, show yourself to the priest andone; but go, show yourself to the priest andone; but go, show yourself to the priest and
present the offering that Moses commanded,present the offering that Moses commanded,
as a testimony to them.”as a testimony to them.”
Matthew 8:4 (NASB)Matthew 8:4 (NASB)
16. Why did Jesus shush him?Why did Jesus shush him?
••Vs 4, Jesus tells the man to goVs 4, Jesus tells the man to go
show himself to the priests, thatshow himself to the priests, that
he may be declared clean andhe may be declared clean andhe may be declared clean andhe may be declared clean and
return to normal lifereturn to normal life
••Why? I don’t knowWhy? I don’t know–– the man didthe man did
not obeynot obey–– in Mark and Luke, thein Mark and Luke, thenot obeynot obey–– in Mark and Luke, thein Mark and Luke, the
story goes on to say he told everyone he knewstory goes on to say he told everyone he knew
••Reverse psychology maybe?Reverse psychology maybe?
17. Take Home!Take Home!
••This story is a message of Jesus’This story is a message of Jesus’
desire to save lost folksdesire to save lost folksdesire to save lost folksdesire to save lost folks
••He took the leper’s disease upon Himself, soHe took the leper’s disease upon Himself, so
that he might cure it and then impart that curethat he might cure it and then impart that cure
to the man with leprosyto the man with leprosy–– sinsinto the man with leprosyto the man with leprosy–– sinsin
••Jesus is willing and waiting today to come toJesus is willing and waiting today to come to
you where you are, and take your sin awayyou where you are, and take your sin away
••Will you let Him?Will you let Him?
