The Desire of Ages--27--"Thou Canst Make Me Clean"

[Richard Myers]

"Thou Canst Make Me Clean"

Listen to  "Thou Canst Make Me Clean"

         



Of all diseases known in the East the leprosy was most dreaded. Its incurable and contagious character, and its horrible effect upon its victims, filled the bravest with fear. Among the Jews it was regarded as a judgment on account of sin, and hence was called "the stroke," "the finger of God." Deep-rooted, ineradicable, deadly, it was looked upon as a symbol of sin. By the ritual law, the leper was pronounced unclean. Like one already dead, he was shut out from the habitations of men. Whatever he touched was unclean. The air was polluted by his breath. One who was suspected of having the disease must present himself to the priests, who were to examine and decide his case. If pronounced a leper, he was isolated from his family, cut off from the congregation of Israel, and was doomed to associate with those only who were similarly afflicted. The law was inflexible in its requirement. Even kings and rulers were not exempt. A monarch who was attacked by this terrible disease must yield up the scepter, and flee from society.
     Away from his friends and his kindred, the leper must bear the curse of his malady. He was obliged to publish his own calamity, to rend his garments, and sound the alarm, warning all to flee from his contaminating presence. The cry, "Unclean! unclean!" coming in mournful tones from the lonely exile, was a signal heard with fear and abhorrence. 
     In the region of Christ's ministry, there were many of these sufferers, and the news of His work reached them, kindling a gleam of hope. But since the days of Elisha the prophet, such a thing had never been known as the cleansing of one upon whom this disease had fastened. They dared not expect Jesus to do for them what He had never done for any man. There was one, however, in whose heart faith began to spring up. Yet the man knew not how to reach Jesus. Debarred as he was from contact with his fellow men, how could he present himself to the Healer? And he questioned if Christ would heal him. Would He stoop to notice one believed to be suffering under the judgment of God? Would He not, like the Pharisees, and even the physicians, pronounce a curse upon him, and warn him to flee from the haunts of men? He thought of all that had been told him of Jesus. Not one who had sought His help had been turned away. The wretched man determined to find the Saviour. Though shut out from the cities, it might be that he could cross His path in some byway along the mountain roads, or find Him as He was teaching outside the towns. The difficulties were great, but this was his only hope. 
     The leper is guided to the Saviour. Jesus is teaching beside the lake, and the people are gathered about Him. Standing afar off, the leper catches a few words from the Saviour's lips. He sees Him laying His hands upon the sick. He sees the lame, the blind, the paralytic, and those dying of various maladies rise up in health, praising God for their deliverance. Faith strengthens in his heart. He draws nearer and yet nearer to the gathered throng. The restrictions laid upon him, the safety of the people, and the fear with which all men regard him are forgotten. He thinks only of the blessed hope of healing. 
     He is a loathsome spectacle. The disease has made frightful inroads, and his decaying body is horrible to look upon. At sight of him the people fall back in terror. They crowd upon one another in their eagerness to escape from contact with him. Some try to prevent him from approaching Jesus, but in vain. He neither sees nor hears them. Their expressions of loathing are lost upon him. He sees only the Son of God. He hears only the voice that speaks life to the dying. Pressing to Jesus, he casts himself at His feet with the cry, "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean." 
     Jesus replied, "I will; be thou made clean," and laid His hand upon him. Matthew 8:3, R. V. 
     Immediately a change passed over the leper. His flesh became healthy, the nerves sensitive, the muscles firm. The rough, scaly surface peculiar to leprosy disappeared, and a soft glow, like that upon the skin of a healthy child, took its place. 
     Jesus charged the man not to make known the work that had been wrought, but straightway to present himself with an offering at the temple. Such an offering could not be accepted until the priests had made examination and pronounced the man wholly free from the disease. However unwilling they might be to perform this service, they could not evade an examination and decision of the case. 
     The words of Scripture show with what urgency Christ enjoined upon the man the necessity of silence and prompt action. "He straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; and saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them." Had the priests known the facts concerning the healing of the leper, their hatred of Christ might have led them to render a dishonest sentence. Jesus desired the man to present himself at the temple before any rumors concerning the miracle had reached them. Thus an impartial decision could be secured, and the restored leper would be permitted to unite once more with his family and friends.
     There were other objects which Christ had in view in enjoining silence on the man. The Saviour knew that His enemies were ever seeking to limit His work, and to turn the people from Him. He knew that if the healing of the leper were noised abroad, other sufferers from this terrible disease would crowd about Him, and the cry would be raised that the people would be contaminated by contact with them. Many of the lepers would not so use the gift of health as to make it a blessing to themselves or to others. And by drawing the lepers about Him, He would give occasion for the charge that He was breaking down the restrictions of the ritual law. Thus His work in preaching the gospel would be hindered.
     The event justified Christ's warning. A multitude of people had witnessed the healing of the leper, and they were eager to learn of the priests' decision. When the man returned to his friends, there was great excitement. Notwithstanding the caution of Jesus, the man made no further effort to conceal the fact of his cure. It would indeed have been impossible to conceal it, but the leper published the matter abroad. Conceiving that it was only the modesty of Jesus which laid this restriction upon him, he went about proclaiming the power of this Great Healer. He did not understand that every such manifestation made the priests and elders more determined to destroy Jesus. The restored man felt that the boon of health was very precious. He rejoiced in the vigor of manhood, and in his restoration to his family and society, and felt it impossible to refrain from giving glory to the Physician who had made him whole. But his act in blazing abroad the matter resulted in hindering the Saviour's work. It caused the people to flock to Him in such multitudes that He was forced for a time to cease His labors. 
     Every act of Christ's ministry was far-reaching in its purpose. It comprehended more than appeared in the act itself. So in the case of the leper. While Jesus ministered to all who came unto Him, He yearned to bless those who came not. While He drew the publicans, the heathen, and the Samaritans, He longed to reach the priests and teachers who were shut in by prejudice and tradition. He left untried no means by which they might be reached. In sending the healed leper to the priests, He gave them a testimony calculated to disarm their prejudices. 
     The Pharisees had asserted that Christ's teaching was opposed to the law which God had given through Moses; but His direction to the cleansed leper to present an offering according to the law disproved this charge. It was sufficient testimony for all who were willing to be convinced.
     The leaders at Jerusalem had sent out spies to find some pretext for putting Christ to death. He responded by giving them an evidence of His love for humanity, His respect for the law, and His power to deliver from sin and death. Thus He bore witness of them: "They have rewarded Me evil for good, and hatred for My love." Psalm 109:5. He who on the mount gave the precept, "Love your enemies," Himself exemplified the principle, not rendering "evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing." Matthew 5:44; 1 Peter 3:9. 
     The same priests who condemned the leper to banishment certified his cure. This sentence, publicly pronounced and registered, was a standing testimony for Christ. And as the healed man was reinstated in the congregation of Israel, upon the priests' own assurance that there was not a taint of the disease upon him, he himself was a living witness for his Benefactor. Joyfully he presented his offering, and magnified the name of Jesus. The priests were convinced of the divine power of the Saviour. Opportunity was granted them to know the truth and to be profited by the light. Rejected, it would pass away, never to return. By many the light was rejected; yet it was not given in vain. Many hearts were moved that for a time made no sign. During the Saviour's life, His mission seemed to call forth little response of love from the priests and teachers; but after His ascension "a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." Acts 6:7. 
     The work of Christ in cleansing the leper from his terrible disease is an illustration of His work in cleansing the soul from sin. The man who came to Jesus was "full of leprosy." Its deadly poison permeated his whole body. The disciples sought to prevent their Master from touching him; for he who touched a leper became himself unclean. But in laying His hand upon the leper, Jesus received no defilement. His touch imparted life-giving power. The leprosy was cleansed. Thus it is with the leprosy of sin,--deep-rooted, deadly, and impossible to be cleansed by human power. "The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores." Isaiah 1:5, 6. But Jesus, coming to dwell in humanity, receives no pollution. His presence has healing virtue for the sinner. Whoever will fall at His feet, saying in faith, "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean," shall hear the answer, "I will; be thou made clean." Matthew 8:2, 3, R. V. 
     In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought. But in the case of leprosy, no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask, but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin. It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. Christ "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." Galatians 1:4. And "this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." 1 John 5:14, 15. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.
     In the healing of the paralytic at Capernaum, Christ again taught the same truth. It was to manifest His power to forgive sins that the miracle was performed. And the healing of the paralytic also illustrates other precious truths. It is full of hope and encouragement, and from its connection with the caviling Pharisees it has a lesson of warning as well. 
     Like the leper, this paralytic had lost all hope of recovery. His disease was the result of a life of sin, and his sufferings were embittered by remorse. He had long before appealed to the Pharisees and doctors, hoping for relief from mental suffering and physical pain. But they coldly pronounced him incurable, and abandoned him to the wrath of God. The Pharisees regarded affliction as an evidence of divine displeasure, and they held themselves aloof from the sick and the needy. Yet often these very ones who exalted themselves as holy were more guilty than the sufferers they condemned. 
     The palsied man was entirely helpless, and, seeing no prospect of aid from any quarter, he had sunk into despair. Then he heard of the wonderful works of Jesus. He was told that others as sinful and helpless as he had been healed; even lepers had been cleansed. And the friends who reported these things encouraged him to believe that he too might be cured if he could be carried to Jesus. But his hope fell when he remembered how the disease had been brought upon him. He feared that the pure Physician would not tolerate him in His presence. 
     Yet it was not physical restoration he desired so much as relief from the burden of sin. If he could see Jesus, and receive the assurance of forgiveness and peace with Heaven, he would be content to live or die, according to God's will. The cry of the dying man was, Oh that I might come into His presence! There was no time to lose; already his wasted flesh was showing signs of decay. He besought his friends to carry him on his bed to Jesus, and this they gladly undertook to do. But so dense was the crowd that had assembled in and about the house where the Saviour was, that it was impossible for the sick man and his friends to reach Him, or even to come within hearing of His voice. 
     Jesus was teaching in the house of Peter. According to their custom, His disciples sat close about Him, and "there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem." These had come as spies, seeking an accusation against Jesus. Outside of these officials thronged the promiscuous multitude, the eager, the reverent, the curious, and the unbelieving. Different nationalities and all grades of society were represented. "And the power of the Lord was present to heal." The Spirit of life brooded over the assembly, but Pharisees and doctors did not discern its presence. They felt no sense of need, and the healing was not for them. "He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away." Luke 1:53. 
     Again and again the bearers of the paralytic tried to push their way through the crowd, but in vain. The sick man looked about him in unutterable anguish. When the longed-for help was so near, how could he relinquish hope? At his suggestion his friends bore him to the top of the house and, breaking up the roof, let him down at the feet of Jesus. The discourse was interrupted. The Saviour looked upon the mournful countenance, and saw the pleading eyes fixed upon Him. He understood the case; He had drawn to Himself that perplexed and doubting spirit. While the paralytic was yet at home, the Saviour had brought conviction to his conscience. When he repented of his sins, and believed in the power of Jesus to make him whole, the life-giving mercies of the Saviour had first blessed his longing heart. Jesus had watched the first glimmer of faith grow into a belief that He was the sinner's only helper, and had seen it grow stronger with every effort to come into His presence. 
     Now, in words that fell like music on the sufferer's ear, the Saviour said, "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." 
     The burden of despair rolls from the sick man's soul; the peace of forgiveness rests upon his spirit, and shines out upon his countenance. His physical pain is gone, and his whole being is transformed. The helpless paralytic is healed! the guilty sinner is pardoned! 
     In simple faith he accepted the words of Jesus as the boon of new life. He urged no further request, but lay in blissful silence, too happy for words. The light of heaven irradiated his countenance, and the people looked with awe upon the scene.
     The rabbis had waited anxiously to see what disposition Christ would make of this case. They recollected how the man had appealed to them for help, and they had refused him hope or sympathy. Not satisfied with this, they had declared that he was suffering the curse of God for his sins. These things came fresh to their minds when they saw the sick man before them. They marked the interest with which all were watching the scene, and they felt a terrible fear of losing their own influence over the people. 
     These dignitaries did not exchange words together, but looking into one another's faces they read the same thought in each, that something must be done to arrest the tide of feeling. Jesus had declared that the sins of the paralytic were forgiven. The Pharisees caught at these words as blasphemy, and conceived that they could present this as a sin worthy of death. They said in their hearts, "He blasphemeth: who can forgive sins but One, even God?" Mark 2:7, R. V.
     Fixing His glance upon them, beneath which they cowered, and drew back, Jesus said, "Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins," He said, turning to the paralytic, "Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house." 
     Then he who had been borne on a litter to Jesus rises to his feet with the elasticity and strength of youth. The life-giving blood bounds through his veins. Every organ of his body springs into sudden activity. The glow of health succeeds the pallor of approaching death. "And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion." 
     Oh, wondrous love of Christ, stooping to heal the guilty and the afflicted! Divinity sorrowing over and soothing the ills of suffering humanity! Oh, marvelous power thus displayed to the children of men! Who can doubt the message of salvation? Who can slight the mercies of a compassionate Redeemer?
     It required nothing less than creative power to restore health to that decaying body. The same voice that spoke life to man created from the dust of the earth had spoken life to the dying paralytic. And the same power that gave life to the body had renewed the heart. He who at the creation "spake, and it was," who "commanded, and it stood fast," (Psalm 33:9), had spoken life to the soul dead in trespasses and sins. The healing of the body was an evidence of the power that had renewed the heart. Christ bade the paralytic arise and walk, "that ye may know," He said, "that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins." 
     The paralytic found in Christ healing for both the soul and the body. The spiritual healing was followed by physical restoration. This lesson should not be overlooked. There are today thousands suffering from physical disease, who, like the paralytic, are longing for the message, "Thy sins are forgiven." The burden of sin, with its unrest and unsatisfied desires, is the foundation of their maladies. They can find no relief until they come to the Healer of the soul. The peace which He alone can give, would impart vigor to the mind, and health to the body. 
     Jesus came to "destroy the works of the devil." "In Him was life," and He says, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." He is "a quickening spirit." 1 John 3:8; John 1:4; 10:10; 1 Corinthians 15:45. And He still has the same life-giving power as when on earth He healed the sick, and spoke forgiveness to the sinner. He "forgiveth all thine iniquities," He "healeth all thy diseases." Psalm 103:3.   
     The effect produced upon the people by the healing of the paralytic was as if heaven had opened, and revealed the glories of the better world. As the man who had been cured passed through the multitude, blessing God at every step, and bearing his burden as if it were a feather's weight, the people fell back to give him room, and with awe-stricken faces gazed upon him, whispering softly among themselves, "We have seen strange things today." 
     The Pharisees were dumb with amazement and overwhelmed with defeat. They saw that here was no opportunity for their jealousy to inflame the multitude. The wonderful work wrought upon the man whom they had given over to the wrath of God had so impressed the people that the rabbis were for the time forgotten. They saw that Christ possessed a power which they had ascribed to God alone; yet the gentle dignity of His manner was in marked contrast to their own haughty bearing. They were disconcerted and abashed, recognizing, but not confessing, the presence of a superior being. The stronger the evidence that Jesus had power on earth to forgive sins, the more firmly they entrenched themselves in unbelief. From the home of Peter, where they had seen the paralytic restored by His word, they went away to invent new schemes for silencing the Son of God. 
     Physical disease, however malignant and deep-seated, was healed by the power of Christ; but the disease of the soul took a firmer hold upon those who closed their eyes against the light. Leprosy and palsy were not so terrible as bigotry and unbelief.
     In the home of the healed paralytic there was great rejoicing when he returned to his family, carrying with ease the couch upon which he had been slowly borne from their presence but a short time before. They gathered round with tears of joy, scarcely daring to believe their eyes. He stood before them in the full vigor of manhood. Those arms that they had seen lifeless were quick to obey his will. The flesh that had been shrunken and leaden-hued was now fresh and ruddy. He walked with a firm, free step. Joy and hope were written in every lineament of his countenance; and an expression of purity and peace had taken the place of the marks of sin and suffering. Glad thanksgiving went up from that home, and God was glorified through His Son, who had restored hope to the hopeless, and strength to the stricken one. This man and his family were ready to lay down their lives for Jesus. No doubt dimmed their faith, no unbelief marred their fealty to Him who had brought light into their darkened home.

[Richard Myers]

Have you considered the condition of many leaders in the church? Have you been discouraged by the large number who who have gone so far as to rebel against God, His Word, and His church? Have you been tempted to write them all off? We know this is wrong since we cannot judge the heart in regards to what is really going on in it. Tomorrow it may be fully given over to Christ.

Paul who was a murderer became strong in the faith. In this chapter, we read of something that will give encouragement as we go through the "shaking". "The priests were convinced of the divine power of the Saviour. Opportunity was granted them to know the truth and to be profited by the light. Rejected, it would pass away, never to return. By many the light was rejected; yet it was not given in vain. Many hearts were moved that for a time made no sign. During the Saviour's life, His mission seemed to call forth little response of love from the priests and teachers; but after His ascension 'a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.'" Acts 6:7. 

So it may be in our day. We do not know the future in this regards, but in a Laodicean church, when the gospel message is discovered, some will be moved by it and fall in love with Jesus. No matter what is being taught in the church, believe the power of grace is strong enough to clean even worst of sinners.

[Richard Myers]

Some today are sick, very sick. Why? Here is something to consider:

There are today thousands suffering from physical disease, who, like the paralytic, are longing for the message, "Thy sins are forgiven." The burden of sin, with its unrest and unsatisfied desires, is the foundation of their maladies. They can find no relief until they come to the Healer of the soul. The peace which He alone can give, would impart vigor to the mind, and health to the body. 

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

I appreciate how closely our spiritual health is connected with the physical in the plan of God. I remember hearing about a woman who had high blood pressure for years, and the lifestyle evangelist asked her when it started--and she came to recognize it was about the time that she had had a falling out with her sister, and that they had not spoken since that time. As a result, her blood pressure got to the point that her doctor put her on medication for high blood pressure. As the lifestyle evangelist was working with her and realized that otherwise she was doing all the "right" things (exercise, diet, etc.) he wanted to help her get to the bottom of the issue--and then she admitted the falling out with her sister. Praise the Lord she was willing to make things right with her sister, and as a result her doctor immediately told her to get off the medication--as she did not need it anymore! God heals! While the paralytic in this chapter of Desire of Ages may well have been sick from his own sins, there are many people who face sickness because of cherishing an unforgiving spirit or a grudge. How well it is to live as far as possible in peace with all men!

I love how this chapter reveals Jesus' love for the sinner, and that there is no condemnation in His act of healing. But the healing He works is by His creative word (and the act of God in creation and redemption is an act of love!):

"It required nothing less than creative power to restore health to that decaying body. The same voice that spoke life to man created from the dust of the earth had spoken life to the dying paralytic. And the same power that gave life to the body had renewed the heart. He who at the creation "spake, and it was," who "commanded, and it stood fast," (Psalm 33:9), had spoken life to the soul dead in trespasses and sins. The healing of the body was an evidence of the power that had renewed the heart. Christ bade the paralytic arise and walk, "that ye may know," He said, "that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins."  {DA 270.1}

I love how Christ has power to renew hearts. Some Christians go about mourning that "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9), when Jesus wants us to believe that if we have made a complete surrender to Him, and allowed Him to do a divine work of grace in our lives by His creative word, that He has given us a "new heart" and a "new Spirit" (Ezekiel 36:26). While the deceitfulness of the unregenerate heart is always our default experience disconnected to Christ, we can rejoice that in covenant relation with Jesus, by living by faith upon Him in a surrendered connection, He fills us with all the fruits of the Spirit--and not one will be missing! Just picture this experience in the life of the forgiven, healed paralytic! This is what Jesus offers us today by His grace!

[Richard Myers]

Amen, Pastor Sean!   It is made so plain in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. The "new heart" is indeed a new heart. When Christ takes possession of it, we are "new creatures" in Christ Jesus. The deceitful heart and the carnal mind have been cleansed and will remain so as long as we are fully surrendered to Jesus. The moment we allow our minds to wander away from Jesus, we like Peter, cannot walk on water. We need Jesus not just this morning, but we must be connected with Him continually in order to resist the smallest temptation. When abiding in Christ and He in us, then we can do all things, for it is Christ, not I that has the power.

In today's reading, it is again made very clear. The truth about the power of grace is so revealed that the great deception about conversion is unmasked. All may understand our need of Jesus and how long it takes to be born again when the will is surrendered fully to Jesus. It does not take a lifetime to be cleansed from sin. It is true that conversion is the end of a long protracted process of wooing by the Holy Spirit. And it is true we need to continually surrender, but it is not true that we are never cleansed of sin. The flesh remains sinful, but the heart is holy and clean when truly converted, even though it may have been as scarlet. Jesus has power to make the carnal heart as white as snow.

   In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought. But in the case of leprosy, no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask, but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin. It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. Christ "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." Galatians 1:4. And "this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." 1 John 5:14, 15. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

It is such a blessing, Richard, to see how the Holy Spirit will guide us as a church into unity of spirit and doctrine, as we unitedly behold the loveliness of Jesus and the foundation truths of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. What a blessing to be able to see Jesus revealed as the healer--first of the soul, then of the body!

The paralytic found in Christ healing for both the soul and the body. The spiritual healing was followed by physical restoration. This lesson should not be overlooked. There are today thousands suffering from physical disease, who, like the paralytic, are longing for the message, "Thy sins are forgiven." The burden of sin, with its unrest and unsatisfied desires, is the foundation of their maladies. They can find no relief until they come to the Healer of the soul. The peace which He alone can give, would impart vigor to the mind, and health to the body. 

Peace that comes as a result of surrendering all of our sin to Christ (and the new heart experience He gives us in spiritual restoration) is one of the fruits of the Spirit--and when we have one of His fruits because we have Christ, it will be accompanied by all of the rest (since no TRUE peace from Christ is possible apart from all the other graces/fruits of the Spirit). We need to point souls to Christ as the only source of spiritual healing, and help them to anchor their faith there.

I am so thankful for Jesus who heals the heart/mind as well as the body. God is love!

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

As I am again blessed by this wonderful chapter this Sabbath morning, I am encouraged to see how Jesus heals all--His forgiveness is so connected to His healing, that in His miracles He used the power to heal as an illustration of His power to cleanse from sin.

 Jesus came to "destroy the works of the devil." "In Him was life," and He says, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." He is "a quickening spirit." 1 John 3:8; John 1:4; 10:10; 1 Corinthians 15:45. And He still has the same life-giving power as when on earth He healed the sick, and spoke forgiveness to the sinner. He "forgiveth all thine iniquities," He "healeth all thy diseases." Psalm 103:3.  

I am so thankful that with Jesus there is no "incurable" disease--no matter what man may say! My personal testimony of God's healing in my life is that after my parents died, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had experienced the throes of unrest in manic phases and major times of depression. But I praise God that through His simple natural remedies (NEWSTART: Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunshine, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust in God), and stepping out to put God's promises in the place of my false thinking, God has fully healed me from this, and now for over five years I have been free from any mind-altering medications and have clear thinking to be able to praise God and testify of His power to save, comfort, and heal! Truly, He has fulfilled His word:

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7)! God heals! I am alive and well today because of Jesus and the promises He has made to me (and they are extended to each of us--the weakest of the weak!), and I choose to continue by faith to walk in His healing and behold the loveliness of Jesus morning by morning. May you step out in faith to testify of God's healing in your life, and how He has forgiven you your sin and made you whole through His abiding presence by the Spirit. The joy I share in Christ today is that by living faith in Him, He fills my heart and mind with all of the fruits of His Spirit so that not one is missing--and He will do this to the weakest of His children who simply trust Him fully! Hallelujah!!

[Richard Myers]

Amen, Pastor Sean! Many do not believe they can be healed from sin. Because we come into this world with a fallen nature, they do not understand the heart can be made holy. And, I like so much the truth that we need not wait when we come to the point where Saul was when he said "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Romans 7:24. On the road to Damascus Jesus answered his prayer and Saul was converted. He accepted Jesus as God.

    In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought. But in the case of leprosy, no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask, but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin. It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. Christ "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." Galatians 1:4. And "this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." 1 John 5:14, 15. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.

[Dorine]

Thank you Pastor Sean for your testimony. There are so many of our people that are being put on drugs to help them cope with life. They look at you with bewilderment at the suggestion that there is healing in God's natural laws for these maladies that plague them. They would rather pop a pill into their mouth and go around dazed. I see more and more of our beautiful, talented young people in this condition.

Many are relatives who are addicted not only to these medications but to video games, pornography, and worldly pleasures of all kinds and yet profess to love Jesus. 

If my heart aches for these folks how much more does Jesus yearn to heal them.  I talk to these parents and they say....Oh but they have been diagnosed.....In other words this is beyond anything God can handle.

I love how this leper was determined to find Jesus; ignoring the horrified people around him and pressing his way within hearing range to say "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean." What faith!

And then those beautiful sweet words of Jesus..."I will; be thou made clean."

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

This statement has so much encouragement and light for us as a people:

  In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought. But in the case of leprosy, no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask, but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin. It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. Christ "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." Galatians 1:4. And "this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." 1 John 5:14, 15. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.

When the soul is cleansed from sin, by the impartation of the Holy Spirit who comes to indwell the child of God, we are enabled to "live a holy life"! What a privilege! But such an experience can only take place when the entire heart is yielded to Jesus, and when we give Him all of our sin, so that He can give us a new heart and mind! The same power of God that cleansed the leper is the same power that will fulfill this promise in your life today as you behold the loveliness of Jesus and let Him work in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure!

Ezekiel 36
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

[Richard Myers]

Such a promise!!  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. I:tr is the greatest miracle God can perform. Yet, so many refuse to believe, and many others reject this truth and teach against it leading many away from Christ and salvation.

    The work of Christ in cleansing the leper from his terrible disease is an illustration of His work in cleansing the soul from sin. The man who came to Jesus was "full of leprosy." Its deadly poison permeated his whole body. The disciples sought to prevent their Master from touching him; for he who touched a leper became himself unclean. But in laying His hand upon the leper, Jesus received no defilement. His touch imparted life-giving power. The leprosy was cleansed. Thus it is with the leprosy of sin,--deep-rooted, deadly, and impossible to be cleansed by human power. "The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores." Isaiah 1:5, 6. But Jesus, coming to dwell in humanity, receives no pollution. His presence has healing virtue for the sinner. Whoever will fall at His feet, saying

In this statement we find not only cleansing, but the truth about who we are when we come into this world. This truth also meets with much opposition.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

What a contrast emerges in this chapter--the healed and the ones who refuse healing, the transformed and those who despise the One who can transform. May we ever have hearts surrendered to Jesus that as He does His gracious work of healing hearts and renewing sinners to become partakers of the divine nature, that we may not have hard hearts of unbelief. Only Jesus can save the soul that comes to Him in humble faith. Look and live! Walk by faith in Him!

 In simple faith he accepted the words of Jesus as the boon of new life. He urged no further request, but lay in blissful silence, too happy for words. The light of heaven irradiated his countenance, and the people looked with awe upon the scene.

This man's countenance bore the effects of having become a partaker of the divine nature! Next paragraph, what a contrast of response:

    The rabbis had waited anxiously to see what disposition Christ would make of this case. They recollected how the man had appealed to them for help, and they had refused him hope or sympathy. Not satisfied with this, they had declared that he was suffering the curse of God for his sins. These things came fresh to their minds when they saw the sick man before them. They marked the interest with which all were watching the scene, and they felt a terrible fear of losing their own influence over the people. 

The rabbis have anxiety and fear, because they have not been treating souls the way Christ would have Him treat them. May we remember that in all we do, that if we name the name of Christ, we are to reflect His character to those sick and suffering ones who need hope and help. They may have committed the very sins that led them to such a case--but Jesus shows us how to treat such--to give them hope and pardon through finding acceptance in Christ, as the soul surrenders entirely to Christ. Without a full-heart surrender, we are liable to go on like the rabbis--professedly serving God, but in heart lost. Oh, let us choose Christ as by beholding His loveliness we are being drawn to Him!!

[JimB]

The rabbis have anxiety and fear, because they have not been treating souls the way Christ would have Him treat them. May we remember that in all we do, that if we name the name of Christ, we are to reflect His character to those sick and suffering ones who need hope and help. They may have committed the very sins that led them to such a case--but Jesus shows us how to treat such--to give them hope and pardon through finding acceptance in Christ, as the soul surrenders entirely to Christ. Without a full-heart surrender, we are liable to go on like the rabbis--professedly serving God, but in heart lost. Oh, let us choose Christ as by beholding His loveliness we are being drawn to Him!!

Amen pastor Sean! In today's society it's often hard for people to have a little sympathy for those who are victims of their own choosing but as you said Christ is our example in how to treat these people. Then look at the rabbis. They were not afraid because of the results of their bad influence on the people but because they were loosing their influence. They offered this man no hope. Almost to like the caste system in India. No sympathy for those in a lower caste because obviously you're suffering under god's curse   how sad.

[Richard Myers]

There are two lessons that I especially like in this chapter. Grace has power to cleanse the heart fully from sin. This is the requirement for salvation. Whose heart can be cleansed completely? Many do not believe the leadership of conferences can be transformed, they do not believe God can bring about a reformation in His organized church. But, in our reading today, we see otherwise. Even among these priests, "whited sepulchers", the grace of God will find some whose hearts will be cleansed as white as snow.

look at the rabbis. They were not afraid because of the results of their bad influence on the people but because they were loosing their influence.

Only Jesus can save the soul that comes to Him in humble faith. Look and live!

Amen!! By looking upon Christ uplifted on the cross, many of the priests were radically transformed in nature. Grace has power to cleanse the heart just as Jesus cleansed the leper.

     The work of Christ in cleansing the leper from his terrible disease is an illustration of His work in cleansing the soul from sin. The man who came to Jesus was "full of leprosy." Its deadly poison permeated his whole body. The disciples sought to prevent their Master from touching him; for he who touched a leper became himself unclean. But in laying His hand upon the leper, Jesus received no defilement. His touch imparted life-giving power. The leprosy was cleansed. Thus it is with the leprosy of sin,--deep-rooted, deadly, and impossible to be cleansed by human power. "The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores." Isaiah 1:5, 6. But Jesus, coming to dwell in humanity, receives no pollution. His presence has healing virtue for the sinner. Whoever will fall at His feet, saying in faith, "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean," shall hear the answer, "I will; be thou made clean." Matthew 8:2, 3, R. V.
     In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought. But in the case of leprosy, no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask, but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin. It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. Christ "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." Galatians 1:4. And "this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." 1 John 5:14, 15. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.

This promise includes all, including apostate pastors and priests. Let us be firm in reproving sin, but loving and forgiving to those who are at the moment the enemy of God and man.

     During the Saviour's life, His mission seemed to call forth little response of love from the priests and teachers; but after His ascension "a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." Acts 6:7.  Even one such as the great persecutor, Saul, can be transformed in nature by the grace of God.

     During the Saviour's life, His mission seemed to call forth little response of love from the priests and teachers; but after His ascension "a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." Acts 6:7. 

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

I appreciate how powerful God's grace is, as revealed in the life and character of Jesus. It is His loveliness beheld, believed in, received into the soul, and experienced by the power of the Holy Spirit, that has power to change the sick head and faint heart to be one of newness and completeness in Jesus!

  The work of Christ in cleansing the leper from his terrible disease is an illustration of His work in cleansing the soul from sin. The man who came to Jesus was "full of leprosy." Its deadly poison permeated his whole body. The disciples sought to prevent their Master from touching him; for he who touched a leper became himself unclean. But in laying His hand upon the leper, Jesus received no defilement. His touch imparted life-giving power. The leprosy was cleansed. Thus it is with the leprosy of sin,--deep-rooted, deadly, and impossible to be cleansed by human power. "The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores." Isaiah 1:5, 6. But Jesus, coming to dwell in humanity, receives no pollution. His presence has healing virtue for the sinner. Whoever will fall at His feet, saying in faith, "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean," shall hear the answer, "I will; be thou made clean." Matthew 8:2, 3, R. V. 

To be clean from sin means that we receive a new heart, a new mind, and the transformation is as POWERFUL and COMPLETE as that of the cleansed leper. No longer did he retain ANY leprosy. We are to believe that at conversion we receive a new heart, a new mind, and though we still retain fallen flesh, our thoughts, purposes, and aims, when we are abiding in Jesus, will spring from His "divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4) which we become partakers of by receiving Him through the promises of the word of God. I love Jesus and I love how powerful His grace is to transform the sin-sick soul into His image! That image is revealed at conversion with all of the fruits of the Spirit so that not one is missing. Such perfection of character will be continued as long as the soul abides in Christ, and will develop the character into greater maturity of perfection through the experience of trial and suffering, so that we may draw others to God and ourselves be a part of having the curse of sin forever sealed from entering the universe again (see Nahum 1:9)! Praise God!! 

[JimB]

Amen pastor Sean! where sin abounds Grace much more abounds!

Oh, wondrous love of Christ, stooping to heal the guilty and the afflicted! Divinity sorrowing over and soothing the ills of suffering humanity! Oh, marvelous power thus displayed to the children of men! Who can doubt the message of salvation? Who can slight the mercies of a compassionate Redeemer?
     It required nothing less than creative power to restore health to that decaying body. The same voice that spoke life to man created from the dust of the earth had spoken life to the dying paralytic. And the same power that gave life to the body had renewed the heart. He who at the creation "spake, and it was," who "commanded, and it stood fast," (Psalm 33:9), had spoken life to the soul dead in trespasses and sins. The healing of the body was an evidence of the power that had renewed the heart. Christ bade the paralytic arise and walk, "that ye may know," He said, "that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins." 

Can't really it better than this. What a Savior we serve!

[Dorine]

No one after reading this chapter can feel that they are too sinful to be forgiven. We see the right arm of the gospel in action here. First Jesus took care of the physical conditions and then cleansed them from their guilt of sin.

Another interesting observation is how faith and works were put into action here. These men in their affliction were determined to come into the presence of Jesus to ask an impossible (in human thinking) favour. Their journey to find Him was filled with obstacles.

God wants to heal the sin sick soul just as much today but many give up too soon not willing to make the sacrifices (faith and determined action) needed in coming to him.

Jim that is the very quote that spoke to me. His love melts my heart. He is my dearest friend.

[Richard Myers]

Amen, amen, and amen!  I wanted to take some time to post on this chapter, but here it is way past when I wanted to be in bed. So, I will save it until another day.  The point that impresses me is that Romans seven, Paul's explanation of the period of time when he discovered he was a sinner and could not keep the law, also reveals the very last question he asked God before he was converted, reveals who we know this. Nowhere I have found a statement that Paul was converted shortly after he prayed "O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"

But in today's reading we find this: "In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought. But in the case of leprosy, no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask, but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin. It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. Christ "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." Galatians 1:4. And "this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." 1 John 5:14, 15. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.

Saul (Paul) prayed to be delivered from the bondage of sin. He was doing what he did not want to do and was not doing what he ought to do. When he cried out to God, "O wretched man that I am" he was at the end of self. He did not know anyone who could help him overcome sin. How did God answer his prayer?  Did he delay the answer? "When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask, but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin. It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life." Then when did Saul pray the prayer?

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

I love how Jesus reaches people of all ranks and classes--and I learned today in doing further study that the leper Jesus cleansed in Matthew 8 was "a man of high distinction" before he had to flee society and be an outcast. I see a parallel today. There are many people in positions of trust who are afflicted with mental illness, and they can no longer do what their position requires--they may be hospitalized and shut away from society, or be medicated with no prospect of full recovery. I think of my experience. I was afflicted with bipolar depression after losing my parents and went through many trying experiences, not being able to find recovery from doctors or facilities. But Jesus showed me mercy and healing love. He won my heart. He forgave my sins and pardoned my unbelief, intemperance, and the root cause of my malady--sin--and gave me a new heart and mind and has completely healed me from bipolar disorder, using the simple principles of NEWSTART: Nutrtion, Exercise, Water, Sunshine, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust in God. He turned my mind to the truth that God can heal and forgive any sin and any disease. I praise God that I have been well from that loathsome disease for over 6.5 years--no longer needing medication, I only need to continually abide in Jesus!

"There was one leper who had been a man of high distinction. It was with the greatest grief that he and his family had become convinced that he was a victim to the fatal disease. Physicians of note had been consulted, and they had examined his case thoroughly, and anxiously searched their books to obtain further knowledge; but they were reluctantly compelled to acknowledge that their skill was baffled, the disease was incurable. It was then the duty of the priest to make an examination; this resulted in a decision that his was the worst form of leprosy. This verdict sentenced him to a living death separated from his friends and the society in which he had held so lofty a position. But now those who had courted his favor and accepted his hospitality fled from his presence with horror. He went out an exile from his home." {The Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 2, page 227, paragraph 2}

But when things feel hopeless, look to Jesus and surrender your heart for grace and power to be made whole, to be cleansed from sin!

"Jesus came to 'destroy the works of the devil.' 'In Him was life,' and He says, 'I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.' He is 'a quickening spirit.' 1 John 3:8; John 1:4; 10:10; 1 Corinthians 15:45. And He still has the same life-giving power as when on earth He healed the sick, and spoke forgiveness to the sinner. He 'forgiveth all thine iniquities,' He 'healeth all thy diseases.' Psalm 103:3. {The Desire of Ages, page 270, paragraph 2}

[Richard Myers]

Amen Pastor Sean, what a God we serve!! Thank you for sharing that testimony. It will be an encouragement to many who read it.

I love this chapter. It ought to convince all that those who deny the power of God to cleanse from sin, are false shepherds. It reveals that "Thou canst make me clean" from sin. It is not the flesh that is cleansed, we will retain fallen evil flesh until by God's grace we receive glorified bodies at His soon coming. It is the heart that is cleansed as white as snow. When? At conversion. The great lie Satan has brought into the church is that God canst not make me clean.

     The same power that gave life to the body had renewed the heart. He who at the creation "spake, and it was," who "commanded, and it stood fast," (Psalm 33:9), had spoken life to the soul dead in trespasses and sins. The healing of the body was an evidence of the power that had renewed the heart. Christ bade the paralytic arise and walk, "that ye may know," He said, "that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins."
     The paralytic found in Christ healing for both the soul and the body. The spiritual healing was followed by physical restoration. This lesson should not be overlooked. There are today thousands suffering from physical disease, who, like the paralytic, are longing for the message, "Thy sins are forgiven." The burden of sin, with its unrest and unsatisfied desires, is the foundation of their maladies. They can find no relief until they come to the Healer of the soul. The peace which He alone can give, would impart vigor to the mind, and health to the body.
     Jesus came to "destroy the works of the devil." "In Him was life," and He says, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." He is "a quickening spirit." 1 John 3:8; John 1:4; 10:10; 1 Corinthians 15:45. And He still has the same life-giving power as when on earth He healed the sick, and spoke forgiveness to the sinner. He "forgiveth all thine iniquities," He "healeth all thy diseases." Psalm 103:3.  

The purpose of this chapter is to encourage sinners that God will forgive our sins and cleanse the heart from all sin. He will convert the carnal heart to a "new heart" which is holy and undefiled. How can this be? It is the greatest miracle God can do. It is through the Holy Spirit taking possession of the heart because the sinner has made a full surrender and invited Jesus in. None will make that full heart surrender until they love Jesus with all the heart, soul, and mind. Thus, we have a part to play in our own salvation. We must learn of Him who gave all for us. Then, we will love Him supremely. It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour each day contemplating His life, especially the closing scenes where we see Him lifted up because of my sins. What love! Wonder O heavens and be astonished O Earth!!