When Jesus comes to bring us into the fold and we accept… Do we really know what’s happening?  Think about that for a minute. 

Romans 3:20 CSB
[20] For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.

No one will be justified!

Everyone is guilty!

Romans 3:23 CSB
[23] For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

All have sinned!

There is no other judgement to be said for us here.  Guilty, guilty, guilty.  Exactly the opposite of Jesus.  Holy, Holy, Holy!

Romans 6:23 CSB
[23] For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The wages of sin is death!  Not only is our sentence of  death ours because we are guilty.  It’s death because it’s our wage we receive for doing the work of sin!  We weren’t only given that sentence…

We earned it!

That law that we’re not justified in from Romans 3:20…  The 10 commandments…  They aren’t just a list of do’s and do nots to be followed…

It’s a list of, what we’ve already done!

But the gift of God is Eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:16-17 CSB
[16] For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Accepting Jesus death on the cross for your sin is accepting that Jesus has taken that wage of death you owe and given you eternal life in Him.

Now Colby how does that relate to Mark 40-45.  Well let’s read.

Mark 1:40-45 CSB
[40] Then a man with leprosy came to him and, on his knees, begged him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” [41] Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.” [42] Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. [43] Then he sternly warned him and sent him away at once, [44] telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” [45] Yet he went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news, with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him from everywhere.

Let’s think and kind of summarize.

A leper judged worthy of exile away from everyone runs to Jesus falling on hands and knees at his feet.  Lord if you are willing?  Jesus replies, I Am willing!  And Jesus takes the man’s curse, his reason for judgement.  He tells the man only tell the priest what you are commanded to.  Otherwise keep quiet about what has been given to you.  The man, the new believer in Christ only partially obeys Jesus.  He does his business with the priest and blabs to everyone about what happened.  He Sinned right after becoming a believer.  He disobeyed Jesus command.  What was the result.  Jesus was out in the desert places and the man was now back with his people.

Jesus and the man swapped places.  Hmm?

My sentence, your sentence was death.  Jesus Died taking that sentence for us.  I was supposed to hang on the Cross that He did.  Hmm?  I’m with my people because of it.  Hmm? 

Jesus and I swapped places.  Hmm?

I was on death row.  Jesus said I’ll take his place.

What a savior!

There is one more thing here.  The man sinned after believing.  We do too.  I often cry over mine.  Christians aren’t perfect.  We aren’t sinless.  We’re just saved because we have accepted the Gift of God.

Christ on the Cross in my place.

For the person who hasn’t accepted Jesus.  Please accept Him now.  Lift your head and tell Him you do as if He were in the room with.  Because He is.  He loves you and He always stays close.

For the Christian.  You’re saved.  Help others by showing them your savior.  We’re the leper in this story.  We can point to where Jesus is by telling them where we should be in relation to where we are because of Christ.

Love in Christ,

Colby