Faith, Obedience, and the Power of Christ's Grace

As we gather at the start of a new month, it’s a joy to reflect on God’s faithfulness—both in the changing seasons and in our lives as a church family. This week, we explored the story of Jesus healing a man with leprosy, a miracle recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Leprosy, a devastating and isolating disease, left its victims not only physically afflicted but also socially outcast. Yet, in this encounter, we see a man with the courage to approach Jesus, believing in His power to heal. Jesus, moved with compassion, reaches out and touches the untouchable, declaring, “I am willing. Be clean.” Instantly, the man is healed.

But Jesus’ instructions to the healed man are curious: He tells him not to tell anyone, but to go and show himself to the priest and offer the sacrifices Moses commanded. This act was more than ritual; it was a testimony to the community and a fulfillment of the law. We looked back to Leviticus to understand the depth of this command, realizing how much more accessible grace is for us today because of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. No longer do we need to bring birds and cedarwood to a priest; Jesus Himself is our sacrifice and our High Priest.

Yet, the heart of the story is not just the miracle, but the response. Despite his healing, the man disobeys Jesus’ command, spreading the news instead of quietly following through with obedience. This raises a profound question for us: Is our gratitude for what Jesus has done enough to motivate our obedience? Or do we, like the healed leper, quickly forget the cost and the call of Christ?

We are reminded that salvation is a gift, but it is also a call to a transformed life. Jesus knows our weaknesses and our wandering hearts, yet He invites us to deeper honesty, repentance, and obedience. Whether our commitment to Christ is new or decades old, the challenge remains: Is there enough evidence in our lives to show we belong to Him? Are we willing to bring our brokenness, our failures, and even our deepest wounds to Him, trusting that His grace is sufficient and His Spirit empowers us to forgive, to change, and to follow?

Key Takeaways

• 1. True faith is not just about believing Jesus can heal or save, but about trusting Him enough to obey—even when His instructions are difficult or don’t make sense to us. Obedience is the fruit of gratitude, and it’s often in the small, unseen acts of faithfulness that our love for Christ is most clearly displayed. [20:55]
• 2. The rituals and sacrifices of the Old Testament point us to the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. We no longer need to perform elaborate ceremonies to be cleansed; Jesus has made a way for us to be forgiven and restored. This should deepen our appreciation for grace and move us to live in humble dependence on Him. [09:27]
• 3. Our struggles with sin, doubt, and even disobedience are no surprise to God. He knows our thoughts and our hearts, yet He never leaves us or forsakes us. The Holy Spirit convicts, comforts, and empowers us to grow, reminding us that transformation is a lifelong journey, not a one-time event. [24:02]
• 4. Forgiveness—both receiving it from God and extending it to others—is central to the Christian life. Some wounds are so deep that forgiveness feels impossible, but Christ’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. When we admit our inability and ask for His help, He enables us to do what we cannot do on our own. [31:03]
• 5. Assurance of salvation is not about having a perfect record, but about having a real relationship with Jesus. If we know we are saved, our lives should bear fruit that testifies to that reality. If we are unsure, today is the day to get honest with God, confess our need, and receive the gift of new life in Christ. [27:53]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:32] - New Month, Mission Statement, and Opening Jokes
• [03:38] - Pastor Appreciation and Church Family Reflections
• [04:53] - Introduction to the Miracles of Jesus
• [05:34] - The Healing of the Leper in Luke
• [06:52] - Understanding Leprosy and Its Impact
• [07:31] - Jesus’ Command and Levitical Sacrifice Explained
• [09:27] - The Meaning Behind Old Testament Rituals
• [10:45] - The Call to Faithful Obedience
• [11:22] - The Healing of the Leper in Matthew
• [13:14] - Digging Deeper: Context and Geography
• [15:07] - Why Did Jesus Say “Don’t Tell Anyone?”
• [16:29] - The Healing of the Leper in Mark
• [17:47] - The Leper’s Disobedience and Its Consequences
• [20:55] - Gratitude, Obedience, and the Heart of the Gospel
• [24:02] - God’s Grace for Our Weakness
• [27:53] - Assurance of Salvation and the Call to Respond
• [31:03] - Forgiveness and the Power of the Holy Spirit
• [32:56] - Invitation to Respond and Closing Remarks

Bible Reading

Luke 5:12-14 (ESV) — > While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

Leviticus 14:4-7 (ESV) — > the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two live clean birds and cedarwood and scarlet yarn and hyssop. And the priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthenware vessel over fresh water. He shall take the live bird with the cedarwood and the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, and dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and shall let the living bird go into the open field.

Mark 1:40-45 (ESV) — > And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

Observation Questions

1. What did the man with leprosy do when he saw Jesus, and what did he believe about Jesus’ ability to heal? (Luke 5:12-13)
2. According to Leviticus 14, what was the process for a leper to be declared clean, and why did Jesus tell the healed man to follow this process? (Leviticus 14:4-7; Luke 5:14)
3. In Mark’s account, what did the healed man do after Jesus told him not to tell anyone, and what was the result? [17:47]
4. What emotions or motivations are mentioned in the text or sermon that might have influenced the leper’s actions after being healed? [20:19]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus told the healed man not to tell anyone about the miracle, but instead to go to the priest? What might have been Jesus’ purpose in this command? [15:07]
2. The sermon points out that the man’s gratitude for healing did not lead to obedience. What does this suggest about the relationship between thankfulness and following Jesus’ instructions? [20:55]
3. The Old Testament rituals for cleansing were detailed and costly. How does understanding these rituals help us appreciate what Jesus has done for us? [09:27]
4. The pastor mentioned that Jesus knows our weaknesses and wandering hearts, yet still invites us to honesty and repentance. How does this truth affect the way we approach God with our failures? [24:02]

Application Questions

1. The leper had the courage to approach Jesus with his need, even though he was an outcast. Is there an area of your life where you feel “untouchable” or ashamed? What would it look like to bring that to Jesus this week? [06:52]
2. Jesus’ instructions to the healed man were specific and rooted in God’s law, even if they didn’t make sense to him. Can you think of a time when God asked you to do something that didn’t make sense? How did you respond? [10:45]
3. The man’s gratitude for healing didn’t translate into obedience. Are there areas in your life where you are grateful for God’s work, but struggle to obey what He asks? What is one step you could take toward obedience this week? [20:55]
4. The sermon asked, “Is there enough evidence in your life to show you belong to Jesus?” If someone looked at your daily life, what “fruit” would they see? Is there an area where you want to see more evidence of transformation? [27:53]
5. Forgiveness—both receiving it from God and extending it to others—was highlighted as central to the Christian life. Is there someone you need to forgive, or an area where you need to receive God’s forgiveness? What is holding you back? [31:03]
6. The pastor said, “Our struggles with sin, doubt, and even disobedience are no surprise to God.” How does knowing this change the way you talk to God about your failures or weaknesses? [24:02]
7. The sermon challenged us to not take our salvation for granted. What is one practical way you can express your gratitude to Jesus this week—through words, actions, or a specific act of obedience? [22:52]