I am willing

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

I AM WILLING

Matt 8:1-4

8:1 When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." 

NIV

A controversy has brewed on whether Jesus broke the law by reaching out and touching a human that was unclean. We know that simple is not the case. Jesus was perfect, not breaking any of the law or he could not be the perfect Lamb of God who took away our sin by becoming sin on the cross. Yet there are those who would argue the fact that he broke the law. Certainly by some accounts it would seem he broke the letter of the law but not the spirit of the law. Yet if we look at the law that was stated regarding anyone touching a human who was unclean we would see the truth that Jesus did not break any part of the law, the letter or the spirit.  

Lev 5:3

3 "'Or if he touches human uncleanness — anything that would make him unclean — even though he is unaware of it, when he learns of it he will be guilty.

NIV

This law is very clear, if a person touches human uncleanness, anything that would make him unclean is the key portion of this law. Was Jesus in any danger of becoming unclean? Absolutely not as he was God in the flesh. He was in fact proving his divine nature by reaching out and immediately healing the leper. We could also argue that once Jesus actually touched him, he was no longer a leper, but he was immediately healed. But that could be argued against, as he may not have been healed until Jesus said, “Be clean” and he had already touched him. Nevertheless by the letter of the law, Jesus was never in danger of being made unclean by touching him, therefor there is no merit in the argument of his breaking the law. What we have, however, is a lesson for us to see that Jesus heals. This is just one of many healings he did while he walked among his creation. But he has not stopped healing. He will heal us today just as he did while he was here in the flesh. We could make a case in the words of the leper. He asked if Jesus was willing. Of course Jesus answered, “I am willing”. We could conclude it is the will of God to heal.

Isa 53:4-6

4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

NIV

Although many Christians know these prophetic words and accept them as about Jesus taking away our sin. That he was pierced for our transgressions. There is no forgiveness of sin without the sheading of blood. It might be easy to overlook the part about by his wounds we are healed. We might be able to argue that in death all infirmities will be healed. This corruptible will put in incorruptible. But Jesus healed people in the midst of their infirmities. He did not tell them to just wait until they are resurrected and they shall be healed. No, he reached out, told this man he was willing to heal him right then and there, and healed him immediately. Why would we be told he did all this healing at the time of need if that is not his will for us? He bought our healing by his wounds. He did not give it back. He bought our healing. We are healed by his wounds. We merely have to come to terms with that. So often we here, especially older folks, speaking about their aches and pains, almost as a badge of honor. We confess all the wrongs things that beseech our bodies instead of confessing we are healed by his wounds. Yes, we have those who would argue that God does not heal some people. Are they bringing God down to their thinking? It is God’s will we are healed. Instead of bringing God down to our way of thought, we need to bring our thinking up to his level and his will. Jesus said, “I am willing” so why don’t we believe him? Have we replaced Jesus with doctors? Have we decided doctors are the way Jesus heals today? There could have some merit, but Jesus healed the leper then told him to go show himself to the priest, so he could be proclaimed clean and reenter society, go back to his family. Maybe that is all we need the doctors for, to affirm we have been healed. Yes, it seems simple enough. But have we lost that simplicity? Have we complicated the matter of being healed? What it comes down to is that Jesus said, “I am willing”. Did Jesus ask the leper if he had repented of all his sin? Did Jesus ask the leper if he was keeping himself righteous?  How can any of us ever be qualified by our righteousness to be healed? How can any of us ever be free enough of sin to be healed? The leper had to be a sinful man, just as every man is, yet when he asked if Jesus was willing, Jesus responded, “I am willing”. So what do we do? Do we believe or not? As for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord, which means we believe.