Jesus Had a People Centered Ministry

For the Son of man came to seek and save what was lost. – Luke 19:10

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a

ransom for many. – Mark 10:45

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place where he prayed. – Mark 1:35

Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed:

“Everyone is looking for you!” – Mark 1:36-37

Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else–to the nearby villages–so I can preach there also. That is

why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving

out demons. – Mark 1:38-39

Jesus Encounters a Man with Leprosy

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me

clean.” – Mark 1:40

Leprosy brought great physical, emotional & social pain.

***WARNING: Pictures are graphic***

Leprosy is far more than a disease… It’s a type of sin.

Similarities Between Leprosy & Sin:

Similarities Between Leprosy & Sin:

1. Leprosy is deeper than the skin.

The priest is to examine the sore on his skin, and if the hair in the sore has turned white and the

sore appears to be more than skin deep, it is an infecteous disease. When the priest examines

him, he should pronounce him ceremonially unclean. – Leviticus 13:3

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’

– Matthew 15:18-19

Similarities Between Leprosy & Sin:

1. Leprosy is deeper than the skin.2. Leprosy starts small & then it spreads.

But if the rash does spread in his skin after he has shown himself to the priest to be pronounced

clean, he must appear before the priest again. – Leviticus 13:7

Similarities Between Leprosy & Sin:

1. Leprosy is deeper than the skin.2. Leprosy starts small & then it spreads.3. Leprosy defiles everything it touches.

The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, ‘Unclean!

Unclean!’ – Leviticus 13:45

Similarities Between Leprosy & Sin:

1. Leprosy is deeper than the skin.2. Leprosy starts small & then it spreads.3. Leprosy defiles everything it touches.

4. Leprosy Isolates.

As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside

the camp. – Leviticus 13:46

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so

that he will not hear. – Isaiah 59:2

The Leper had ONE desire… to be made clean.

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me

clean.” – Mark 1:40

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith –and it is not from yourselves, it is the gift of

God– not by works, so that no one can boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

– John 6:37

Jesus Encounters with Compassion

Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he

said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. – Mark 1:41-42

The Leper’s Encounter with the Law

Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the

sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them. – Mark 1:43-44

Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice

for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. – Hebrews 13:11 NLT

So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his

own blood. So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace that he bore.

– Hebrews 13:12-13 NLT

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were

redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers…

– 1 Peter 1:18

…but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

– 1 Peter 1:19

Jesus Desires a Close Encounter with You

Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the

sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them. – Mark 1:43-44

Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no

longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him

from everywhere. – Mark 1:45