Sunday, March 11, 2007
“Be Thou Clean”
Text: Matthew 8: 1 – 4
Today we examine the second step in our walk with Jesus. Last week Jesus suggested to us to Come and rest awhile. This week he commands us to Be Thou Clean.
Many of us misunderstand the commands of God. His commands are non-negotiable. That is the reason we find ourselves collectively as a society and individually as a person in trouble so often. We act as if God will make compromises with His word. God says I am a God who changes not. If there are to be any changes they must be in our actions that are brought into conformity with His Word. God’s commands are non-negotiable.
Jesus says with a clear voice. Be Thou Clean.
Given the current political debate I was tempted to change the title of this sermon.
You may remember that on the national scene Senator Specter made the comment that Senator Barrack Obama was clean. Immediately there was a response from African American Leaders all over America asking him exactly what did he mean? Rev. Al Sharpton was on national television proclaiming that he takes a bath every day.
I was concerned that today’s message may get caught up in the trivialization of the current political debate.
Jesus is commanding in this text that some specific actions be taken by saying, Be Thou Clean.
An important element in this text that you must understand is that Jesus’ command to be clean is after the man with leprosy has come to worship him.
The nature of God’s prevenient grace is that you can come to God just as you are.
We sing it so often, Just as I am – Thou will receive, will welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve, because thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come.
That why you cannot forsake the assembly of the saints. It really doesn’t matter the condition you are in, God wants you to come and worship him. Too often we think we have to get ourselves together before we come to God. God wants you to come first, then with him you will get yourself together. That’s why the Revelation text says, I stand at the door and knock and if anyone opens, I will come and sup with them. God is always available to you all you need to do is to come and worship him.
What is interesting is that the man did not wait for a convenience time or place. Jesus had just come down from the mountain teaching the Beatitudes, explaining righteous living, expounding on the parables to communicate God’s will.
Jesus had just completed those series of teachings and the man with leprosy stops Jesus with his worship and because of his worship Jesus listens to his concern.
Worship is not to attract God’s blessings. Worship is to attract God’s attention. Because when God makes his face to shine upon you, then you are blessed.
Something about true worship attracts God’s attention. God loves worship. God seeks those who worship him. God will response to those who worship him.
The man brings his concern to Jesus. He is unclean. He has leprosy. Leprosy by definition is one with a condition that would make them unclean and therefore, unfit to enter the temple.
Too many people feel that they are unclean and unfit to enter the temple. Don’t you realize that there are people within a stones throw from here who think that they are unclean and unfit to enter the temple. They will come during the week, but on Sundays they feel unclean and unfit.
Is it because they have leprosy or is it because they are treated as if they have leprosy.
It is a shame and a sin, if we who are members of the fellowship of faith cause those who need Jesus the most not to come because we make them feel unfit or unclean.
It is an undeniable fact that if one doesn’t have physical leprosy; at one time of another we have all had spiritual leprosy.
This is the spiritual condition that renders one unfit or unclean. But, Jesus who paid it all and he looks beyond all of our faults and sees our need; and he touched us and he healed us.
In II King 5 you find one of the first cures for leprosy. Naaman a captain in the Syria Army needs to be cured of the disease. Through his wife Israelite maid, he finds out that there is a prophet named Elisha who can call upon the name of the Lord and cure his disease. Naaman travels to Elisha’s tent and stands outside,
Elisha sends him a note that tells him to go wash in the waters of Israel. Naaman’s first thought is the Israel waters are dirty and why can’t he wash in cleaner waters in his own land.
Then he is reminded that he had been asked to do a great thing he would have done it. Why now are you balking over a little thing, if it will cure your disease?
I could stop right here and talk about all the people who sit frozen in their seats when the doors of the church are open. It’s a little thing to walk down the aisle and give your life to Jesus Christ. The same person can travel all over the world to previously unknown lands, but a little walk down the aisle they feel they are unable to do.
The great captain of the Syrian Army dips himself seven times in the water and is cured of his disease.
That story was famous throughout the land. Why didn’t Jesus tell this leper to dip seven times in the water? Good question, because Jesus is the living water. He is the well from which all healing flows.
When you encounter Jesus for yourself, you don’t need a prayer cloth, or televised holy water, or olive oil anointing from another sinner just like you. All you need to do is come to Jesus just as you are and he can heal you and he can save you.
After the man worships Jesus and presents his concern to him. He presents his concern in an interesting way. He says if thou will, thou can make me clean. Jesus touches the man and immediately heals him.
I believe in the miraculous. I recognize the mysterious. There is nothing too hard for God.
Not only did Jesus change condition. Jesus also changed his position to the church by changing his attitude about church.
Heretofore, the man would never go into the temple to see the priest because he felt unclean and unfit. But after being touch by Jesus he has the confidence that he has been made brand new.
Many people come to church looking to get their needs met, unless they change their attitude about church; about God - I firmly believe that all the help, all the assistance, and all the advocacy on their behalf is for naught. It’s difficult one to change their condition unless they also change their position which is their relationship to God and the church.
Jesus is not only concern that you are changed from. Jesus is concerned that you are changed to. That’s salvation.
Therefore, this man, who previously did not go into the temple; now feels confident because he met Jesus for himself and the Master of the Universe had pronounced that he was clean, when Jesus set you free; you are free indeed.
That’s the power of God that when you encounter him you should leave feeling confident that you can do all things through Christ that strengthens you.
The man goes to the temple and sees the priest and the priest is compelled to perform the cleansing ritual over him.
Leviticus 14 outlines the ritual which involves a wave offering, a burnt offering, a sin offering, and a trespass offering. As in all rituals of that day, there is a sacrifice of a lamb and his blood becomes a symbol of atonement.
This ritual adds a new dimension to Jesus’ command to be thou clean.
In the ritual the blood of a lamb is placed on the tip of the right ear. It is placed on the thumb of the right hand. And it is placed on the great toe of the right foot.
If Jesus has already pronounced him clean why did he send him to church to have blood placed on his right ear, his right thumb, and his right big toe?
Why, because Jesus not only wanted him to be clean; he also wants him to stay clean
Be thou clean - The blood on his right ear lobe was to consecrate his ear and protect him from hearing words, thoughts, or ideas that would be sinful.
If you think about it so much filth and mess enters our minds and spirit from what we hear. To be clean we need to hear clean words, thoughts and ideas that enrich our spirits and enhance our minds and improve our condition and position with God.
Be thou clean – the blood on the right thumb was to consecrate his hand and in that day the hands where essential to work. That why Jesus says that if anyone places his hand to the plow and looks back they are not fit for the kingdom. Where you put your hands reflect the work that you do.
Be thou clean – the blood on your big toe is to consecrate your walk. Because in that day your walk reflected your character.
Be thou clean from the condition that would cause you to be unclean and unfit. Be thou clean and turn to the position that God desires where you have a consecrated ear, a consecrate hand, and a consecrated walk.
Be thou clean is not a suggestion, but a command.
