Willing
The compassion of Jesus in scripture reached deeper than physical ailments. He always desired to heal the person; not just the disease. To Mark and Luke, recording a man's name that approached Jesus while traveling throughout Galilee was deemed unnecessary while the reason and result of his approach was worth inscribing. This man was only known as "a leper."
This leper gets ridiculed by many Christians and preachers of the gospel today for beseeching Jesus and making the statement, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." We attempt to make an example of one with no faith. Perhahps this man recognized more in Jesus than any other had previously. He was well aware of the healing power Jesus possessed and offered freely. He had heard about and seen it with his own eyes. He knew Jesus could give the word and his leprosy would have no choice but to submit to that authority. This man wanted more and Jesus knew it. We only read what this man said. Jesus read his eyes and heart. I believe the leper recognized Him as the High Priest. That is what moved Jesus with compassion.
The noise of the crowd subsided til only faint whispers were heard. The dust covered open sores as the leper knelt, grimacing when his knees touched the dry, rocky ground. Jesus counteracted that expression with a slight grin directed toward this man. The man felt as though time had stood still when Jesus began his next move with a wink. The whispers changed to gasps and low sounding chatter as Jesus did what no other by law could do. He touched the leper. Then He said, "I am willing; be cleansed." He proved to the leper and to all that He is willing to touch us, and cleanse us; in addition to healing us.
Only a priest could declare a leper cleansed. This leper was unable to meet Jesus' request of presenting himself to the priest after his healing because he knew THE Priest had declared him cleansed. If there is to be critcism of the leper, it should only be to point out he didn't follow the instructions of Jesus once he was cleansed. This ultimately cost others within the city the opportunity to be reached by the word and touch of Jesus because of those who lived by the old law. They would not accept this to be an example of Jesus fulfilling the law.
Jesus changed the very way a leper could be declared cleansed because one recognized His willingness. Do you not think He is willing to heal you? To cleanse you? To comfort you? To strengthen you? To love you? To not only speak over you, but touch you? Just kneel, make the same statement as the leper with a pure heart, and wait for the grin; for the wink. You'll soon see He is willing.
This leper gets ridiculed by many Christians and preachers of the gospel today for beseeching Jesus and making the statement, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." We attempt to make an example of one with no faith. Perhahps this man recognized more in Jesus than any other had previously. He was well aware of the healing power Jesus possessed and offered freely. He had heard about and seen it with his own eyes. He knew Jesus could give the word and his leprosy would have no choice but to submit to that authority. This man wanted more and Jesus knew it. We only read what this man said. Jesus read his eyes and heart. I believe the leper recognized Him as the High Priest. That is what moved Jesus with compassion.
The noise of the crowd subsided til only faint whispers were heard. The dust covered open sores as the leper knelt, grimacing when his knees touched the dry, rocky ground. Jesus counteracted that expression with a slight grin directed toward this man. The man felt as though time had stood still when Jesus began his next move with a wink. The whispers changed to gasps and low sounding chatter as Jesus did what no other by law could do. He touched the leper. Then He said, "I am willing; be cleansed." He proved to the leper and to all that He is willing to touch us, and cleanse us; in addition to healing us.
Only a priest could declare a leper cleansed. This leper was unable to meet Jesus' request of presenting himself to the priest after his healing because he knew THE Priest had declared him cleansed. If there is to be critcism of the leper, it should only be to point out he didn't follow the instructions of Jesus once he was cleansed. This ultimately cost others within the city the opportunity to be reached by the word and touch of Jesus because of those who lived by the old law. They would not accept this to be an example of Jesus fulfilling the law.
Jesus changed the very way a leper could be declared cleansed because one recognized His willingness. Do you not think He is willing to heal you? To cleanse you? To comfort you? To strengthen you? To love you? To not only speak over you, but touch you? Just kneel, make the same statement as the leper with a pure heart, and wait for the grin; for the wink. You'll soon see He is willing.
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