Tyler Mueller

Gospel Proclamation
Sermon 3 outline
Biblical texts: Luke 5:12-13
Filter: Jesus Knows Our Story
I.

Intro
a. We all have people who know us
i. Secrets not bad
ii. Ven diagrams
b. Relief when we have one who knows us better than the rest
i. Dont have to juggle our lives
ii. Source of comfort because they know you so well
c. Luke 5:12-13
12While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When
he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you
can make me clean." 13Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said.
"Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.
i. 2 verses on the man not even a name
ii. Many healing & leper stories
iii. Overlook its importance, but it is profound
1. Idea to look deeper, imagine what his life, his story could have been

II.

His Story
a. Calm
i. Normal, jewish man
1. He is a man with leprosy
a. Late onset, or he would be dead
2. Had friends, family, probably even a wife and child
b. Conflict
i. Leprosy, disease of the nerves
1. No pain, first sign
2. Rots the body
ii. Noticed late one day, after returning home from work/farming
1. Knew what it was, knew he had to go
iii. Pronouncement by priest
1. Unclean
2. Isolated from everyone, including family
c. Complication
i. Living in isolation for a while
1. Desperate no touch
a. How would you feel?
b. Bell
2. Hears of Jesus, a healer
ii. Here is where our story starts in
1. IN the city
a. Hiding, out of view, waiting. Holding the bell still
2. What would you feel?
a. Anxious? Hopeful?
b. Anger

iii. Sees Jesus, and things change

1. See time and time again in the Bible that there is something to Jesus
2. Anger loses out to hope, to desperation, anything to be healed
a. Jumps from behind, crying out
d. Shift
i. Nothing is the same
1. Imagine the scene
a. The fear, the panic, the horror of realization
i. LEPER
2. The crowd isnt intentionally cruel, they are afraid
a. Afraid for their lives
b. Ebola
3. Fall into the same trap
a. Leper, that is all they see him as
b. They, like us, dont know his background, his story
4. Back to the scene
a. Sweeping across them
i. They want to run, get away, get Jesus away
b. Before they can step back, Jesus steps forward
e. Good news
i. Jesus knows this mans story.
1. The crowd doesnt know it, we are just imagining
a. Jesus knows
i. Knows the pain, the sorrow, the fear, the anger
2. Jesus knows this mans story from the very start until he threw himself at his feet
3. He knows so deeply, so intimately what he NEEDS
a. How he heals
i. Faith has healed you?
ii. Steps forward immediately, first to walk towards
iii. Reaches out and touches him
b. Touch, but the leprosy is still there woman and Jesus cloak
i. Still has leprosy, but is now healed
1. Leprosy was secondary
c. Now he speaks, he heals the outward pain
i. Be clean
1. Erasing the condemnation
2. Comforting this man, this soul no longer a leper
III.

Inviting Action
a. This man had two pains, an inward pain and an outward pain
i. Jesus knew both, addressed both
1. Unworthy of the touch of man, but worthy for the touch of God
b. Jesus knows our story just as much as he knew this lepers story
i. What pain do we have in our lives?
1. Pain that not everyone knows about?
ii. Jesus knows that pain, that struggle we have, and he wants to help.
1. He wants to step forward