The Lord Who is Willing

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.” But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray (Luke 5: 12-16).

He was “full of leprosy” so we can assume he was afflicted for years and had opportunity to seek medical help from many other sources. They all failed him. He was cut off from his community and labeled as one who was unclean. He heard the reports about Jesus… “Reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region” (Luke 4:37). But how could he ever hope that such a holy man as Christ might risk health and reputation to touch one so contaminated as he? Pushing aside his pride and reaching deep into the fountain of faith, the leper bowed before and made his appeal to the Lord and we are encouraged by what he discovered when he approached the Lord who is willing.

The Holy Spirit inspired Luke to record this event for us because it demonstrates so clearly the attitude we should have when approaching the Lord with our requests. The words of the leper revealed confidence in the Lord’s ability to heal him... “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). The words of the leper revealed humility before the Lord’s sovereignty over the matter of his healing… “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you” (1 Peter 5:6). When we approach the Lord with confidence and humility we can expect great things to happen. We should anticipate answers that go beyond our requests. The leper sought a physical healing and he got so much more. He got a precious and powerful revelation of the will of Jesus Christ… “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

The leper discovered that Jesus was willing to touch the untouchable. His leprosy marked him as unclean… “If… it is a case of leprous disease… When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean” (Leviticus 13:3). Anyone touched by an unclean person was defiled and cut off from fellowship and worship… “Whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean, and anyone who touches it shall be unclean until evening” (Numbers 19:22). But Jesus did not hesitate. Before He spoke a word… “Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him”. His touch released the power of His holiness over the defiling infection of sin… “The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

The leper discovered that Jesus was willing to heal the unhealthy. Our healing was part of Christ’s mission and would be secured by His suffering… “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

The leper discovered that Jesus was willing to restore the undesirable. His uncleanness made him untouchable and separated from fellowship with other Jews and from worship in the temple… “If the man who is unclean does not cleanse himself, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, since he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD” (Numbers 19:20). Jesus instructed the former leper to go to the temple and follow the prescribed steps to restoration with God and His people. Jesus made the point here that sickness that prompts us to seek Him for temporary physical healing is often intended to be a pathway to restoration of fellowship with God… “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13) and with others… “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

As we grow up into Christ, our touch can bring healing, deliverance, and restoration as we imitate…

The Lord Who is Willing.