Scripture
Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy
12In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”
13Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 14Then Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone what had happened. He said, “Go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy.[1] This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
15But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. 16But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.
Translation notes (1)
- 5:14 See Lev 14:2-32.
Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy
12In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”
Nothing is more frustrating to me than when someone needs help, and another person standing near them sees their need, can help, yet makes no strides to do something about their need. In other words, they are able to help, but they are not willing. Maybe you can relate. Maybe you have needed help completing a task, and someone capable of helping you with that task was simply unwilling to offer their help. This is a helpless, upsetting feeling. Sometimes in our lives, I think we need a reminder that God is not like that. We believe that He is powerful and able to do anything, yet sometimes we forget that He is willing to work in our own lives. We are going to talk about this today as we study Luke chapter 5, and as we study, we will be encouraged that not only is God able to work in each one of our lives, He is also willing.
Luke chapter 5 tells us that as Jesus was teaching one day, a man with leprosy, a terrible skin disease, came up to Jesus. As he saw Jesus, he bowed down and asked Him for healing. "Lord," he said, "if You are willing, You can heal me and make me clean" (verse 12). What an incredible statement. This man knew Jesus' power. He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus was capable of completely healing him. What he wasn't sure of, it appears, is if Jesus was willing. What happens next is absolutely beautiful. Jesus touched this man and confirmed that not only was He able to heal him , but He was also willing. "'I am willing,' he said. 'Be healed'" (verse 13). In an instant, this man was healed, and his life was changed forever.
My friend, just like Jesus was able and willing to heal the man with leprosy, He is able and willing to work in the lives of people today. He looks upon us with compassion and love and desires to make Himself known and to bring peace and restoration into our lives. Take comfort in His willingness, compassion, and love today.
Moving Toward Action
If you are following along with our devotions this week, you know that yesterday you were challenged to take a notecard and write the words, "God is able." If you have that notecard, get it now. If you don't have the notecard, make one now. Next, add the words, "God is willing." After writing these words, spend time in prayer, thanking God for being willing and able to demonstrate His power in your life.
Going Deeper
Read Luke 5:12-16 (NLT)
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