Able and Willing

Friday, February 16th - Mark 1:29 - 2:12

As I read through the Scripures today, several things jumped out at me. First, I'm amazed by the pace of Jesus' life. In a time, when people walked everywhere and only worked during the day, his life was packed full. Second, if we ever need a reminder that Jesus is able - able to fulfill his promises to us, able to minister to us in our moments of need - we need only to turn to this not-so-subtle reminder that Jesus can handle the obstacles that wear us down. Clearly Jesus can bring us through anything. Third, Jesus came to preach; his goal was to teach and transform people. Fourth, Jesus' priority was bringing forgiveness of sins. Jesus healed the paralytic, but it was proof that he had the power and authority to forgive sins. He demonstrates that our most urgent need is to deal with sin, and he proves he is able by doing something we can see that is nothing short of miraculous.

But, as much as I'm intrigued by each of these events, I am most struck by Jesus' interaction with the leper in 1:40-42 and following. (I feel like someone else addressed this while we were in Matthew, but it feels fresh to me again this morning.) Amid the crowds of people asking for Jesus to help them, a leper comes to Jesus with his request. Just coming up to Jesus, from what I understand, was an act of faith. Lepers weren't typically allowed to mingle with crowds of people. They weren't accepted by anyone. Their disease was terrifying and painful. But this man dared to withstand the ridicule, the stern looks, and the nasty words from other people to come face to face with Jesus.

"If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean," the man says to Jesus. He's seen that Jesus is clearly able. He's heard the stories, and he may have watched (from a distance) as the crowds followed Jesus from miracle to miracle. He didn't doubt Jesus' power to heal, but he did wonder if Jesus was willing. Was his disease too disgusting for Jesus? Would Jesus consider him more worthy of his attention and concern than the crowds of people did?

And Jesus, moved with compassion, answered, "I am willing. Be healed!" But the most powerful thing for me is that Jesus touched him. This man was untouchable, literally. It was risky and offensive to think about touching him. But Jesus, moved with compassion, blessed him by touching him!

One of the powerful things about reading the New Testament straight through and getting to start learning about Jesus' ministry all over again, is that we get to see these miracles in light of the powerful moments we just experienced at the cross and the empty tomb. We've just seen that we are the leper. Our sin separates us from God, like this man's disease separated him from society. By our sin, we were in the crowd, calling for Jesus' crucifixion. Jesus has the power to forgive us, but would he be willing to forgive and heal someone who's so offensive? Yet, Jesus, moved with compassion, is the leper, too. He touched the leper, identifying himself with the leper and making him just as risky and offensive to the crowd as the man with the disease. Jesus was mocked and rejected by society as he identified with us. He is able to forgive sins, and he is willing. We are the leper, and Jesus became a leper for us.

We have nothing to fear as we approach Jesus and ask that he remove what is offensive in us. He has the power to do it, and his compassion for us is nothing short of miraculous!