Life Ministries

“Seven Dips In The Jordan”
2 Kings 5:1-15 and  John 9:1-11

    Here we have a man, a general, called Naaman. He is a general of the armies of the king of Syria. He is also a close friend with this nation’s ruler - king Benhadad. It says that he was a valiant soldier, and was regarded highly for his many victories. However, this great man had developed a problem; he had leprosy, the most feared disease of the ancient world. There is a lot we can learn from this chapter in Naaman’s life. In a very real sense we are all in the same predicament as Naaman.

    A pastor tells of a visit to a seriously ill man in the hospital. The sick man said that the doctors had told him he was “pre-terminal”. The pastor thought for a moment and said; “Isn’t that true of everyone?”  You see, we are all under the curse of death; we are all pre-terminal. We are infected with a disease called “sin” and I want to tell you this morning, only Jesus has the cure! And, you can get it at the Cross of Calvary.
    I am sure that Naaman looked at all the fame and fortune and glory of his life and quickly discovered that the only thing at this point in his life that would bring him happiness at all would be to be rid of this devastating disease.
    In verse 2 it tells us of a young girl from Israel, who was taken captive during one of Naaman’s victories, and was a servant in his house. We can assume there was no bitterness in this girl because she is concerned about her master’s health. She tells Mrs. Naaman about a prophet in Samaria - whom we know is the prophet Elisha – and Mrs. Naaman tells her husband, and suddenly he has hope!
    Can I stop here for just a moment? There are many people in our world today who are dying of the curse of sin. Many of them don’t know that there is someone who can cure them. They need someone to tell them… They need someone to give them hope!
    Now, Naaman goes to see Ben (I told you they were good friends) and together they load up silver and gold and clothing and Lord knows what else, in order to try and buy a favor, or purchase a cure. But, as we have heard in this story, and in the story of the Cross, the cure is free! There is no price to pay, except for the price of obedience.
    That brings us to the next part of the story; Naaman ends up at Elisha’s door to ask for a cure, and Elisha sends out a servant to tell him to “go jump in the lake” or rather, in this case, the river! And do it seven times!
    Now, let me stop here again for a moment. The instructions to Naaman were very plain, very simple, and very clear - “go dip in the river seven times, and you will be cured.” There is hardly any way to misunderstand the instructions.  In the same way, God’s cure for sin’s curse is plain and simple as well: ”Whosoever believes in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, shall be saved!” It’s pretty easy to understand, and there is no complex philosophical; mathematical; psychological process we must go through. It’s simple  -  repent, believe, and be saved!”  “Go, dip, and be cured!”
    Naaman is insulted however, and especially because Elisha didn’t even come out to greet the famous Naaman!  “Why, surely he would come out and shout to his Lord, and wave his arms around, jump up and down, and say some kind of majical words!”  But, the “Jordan?” Does he know how muddy and filthy that water is? Does he realize who he is talking to? So, Naaman does his “Lone Ranger” imitation on his stallion, and rides off in a rage. “There has to be a better way!”
    More and more people today refuse to believe that Jesus is the only way to God. In fact, we live in a world today that has so many options when it comes to religion that you just have to pick the one that suits you best!  But, when Jesus said; “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except by me” He wasn’t kidding! It wasn’t a suggestion or a ploy to get people on his side; it was the truth! Peter said in Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved.”
“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”
    Elisha wanted Naaman to learn that the cure he would receive was not anything Elisha the prophet could do, but what the power of the living God could do! He wanted Naaman to experience “faith”…and today, salvation is based on the same principle.
    Of course, the good part of this story is that through the prodding of his servants, Naaman humbled himself; threw off his “medal laden” uniform that represented all his accomplishments; swallowed his pride; and in obedience to a simple request, walked into the water! And, when he had dipped himself seven times in the muddy Jordan, he was cleansed…he was healed. He came away saying; “Now I know there is no other God in all the world”! Many of us have experienced and felt and understand exactly what Naaman was talking about! When in simple, humble obedience, we knelt at the foot of the Cross, and were cleansed of the curse of sin. “God is who He says He is; God can do what He says He can do!”