THE GOD WHO HEALS

“I AM WILLING”

Jesus had just preached what is known as “The Sermon on the Mount”.  It was the inaugural address given by the rightful heir to the throne of David, the true King of Israel.  Just as the Torah given by God to Moses had established the Law by which the people of Israel would be governed, so also this address given by Jesus (Emmanuel - God with us), presented “the Constitution of the Kingdom of Heaven.”  This new covenant was more than just another set of rules which focused on the penalties and punishments for disobedience. Rather, this new covenant contained “the promises of power that would enable the people to obey through an inward transformation of their hearts by grace.” (TPT Commentary, p.329)

This teaching was so radical that “the crowds were dazed and overwhelmed by his teaching, because his words carried such great authority, quite unlike their religious scholars.” (Matthew 7:28-29, TPT) “The word translated ‘overwhelmed’ is ‘the Greek word, ekplesso, a strong verb that means “awestruck, filled with amazement, astonished, panic stricken, something that takes your breath away (as in being hit with a blow), to be shocked, to expel, to drive out.”’” (TPT Commentary, p.340)

Jesus rocked their world. The people who witnessed this inaugural address had never heard anything like this before.  They were not quite sure how to respond, but they couldn’t tear themselves away. They wanted more. The Scripture continues: “After he came down from teaching on the hillside, massive crowds began following him. Suddenly, a leper walked up to Jesus and threw himself down before him in worship and said, ‘Lord, you have the power to heal me. . .if you really want to.” (Matthew 8:1-2, TPT)  

You get the picture: Jesus is walking along with all these people following him and probably hounding him with questions when suddenly, out of nowhere, a man with leprosy walks right up to Jesus. That would be like having someone infected with ebola or small pox suddenly invading your “space”. This man had nothing to lose.  Because of his disease, he had probably already lost everything – his family, his job, his social position, and even his freedom to go to the temple and fulfill the Law of Moses.  He was a dead man walking.  He had heard about Jesus, how he had gone “throughout Galilee teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” (Matthew 4:23, NIV)

Oh yes, the news about what Jesus had been doing had spread all over the world!  People brought their wives, husbands, children, friends and relatives to Jesus, and he healed every one of them. Because of what he had heard about Jesus, the leper allowed hope to arise in his heart.  “Maybe, just maybe, if I can get in front of him, he will heal me!” When you have nothing to lose, when you have come to the end of your self-help efforts, the boldness and the courage to do what seems impossible takes over.

I wonder if it was the power of love or the presence of mercy emanating from Jesus that initiated the leper’s response, “he threw himself down before him and began to worship Jesus.” (Matthew 8:2, TPT) There is nothing written in the Scripture to indicate that up until now, the crowds who had come with their sick had done that – worshipped Jesus.  Multitudes had followed Jesus because they were amazed at his teaching and probably because he had healed so many people.  Maybe they wanted to know more about the Kingdom He was describing.  Maybe they just wanted to see what else he could do for them.  But this man was different.  He couldn’t help himself.

In the presence of Jesus, all he could do was to humble himself, bowing before the One who had so powerfully demonstrated His authority over sickness, disease, and demons, and give Him honor and worship Him.  Not only had he allowed hope to rise in his heart that he could be healed, but he also allowed himself to believe that Jesus could be the One – the promised One – who would fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” (Isaiah 61:1-3, NIV)

The righteous response of his faith in who he perceived Jesus to be – the Lord, Yeshua Hamaschiach, was to bow down and worship him.  As he bowed before the King of Heaven, he boldly made his request, “Lord, you have the power to heal me  . . . if you really want to.” (Matthew 8:2, TPT)  The NIV renders this statement, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’

Jesus was touched by this incredible display of faith coming from one who was deemed “unclean”, “untouchable”, and “unworthy” by the society of that day, and especially the religious leaders.  No one else had been willing; but Jesus responded by reaching out his hand and touching this man, taking his sickness upon Himself while granting the man’s request, “I am willing. (NIV) Be healed!” (TPT) The great I AM rewarded the faith, the boldness, the courage and the humility He saw in this man, by instantly healing him of all signs of leprosy.

Then Jesus told him to fulfill the Law of Moses, to go show himself to a priest and tell him what happened, taking with him an offering, so that “they can certify your healing.” (Matthew 8:4, TPT) Why was it necessary for the man to do that? Wasn’t it enough that he was healed of the leprosy? No, the physical healing was only one aspect of this man’s life that had been affected by the disease.

Jesus wanted the man to be fully restored, in every aspect of his life – body, soul and spirit - with all his rights and privileges reinstated. Jesus knew that the disease had robbed this man of participating in the assembly along with all the other members of the Synagogue.  His disease had made it impossible for him to worship God in the manner God had prescribed in the Law. This man’s reputation in the community along with all his business relationships had been ruined by the disease. Jesus also knew the heartbreak associated with the loss of intimacy with his wife and the privilege of teaching his children, taking them on his knee, caressing them with his hands, and bestowing thousands of kisses upon them with his lips. You see, Jesus cares about the details. 

 “Is it really that simple?” you may ask. 

Yes, it is. There is nothing complicated about God’s desire to restore every man, woman and child to wholeness in his/her physical body, in his/her soul, and in his/her spirit.  He is willing.  All He asks of you is:
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(1) check your heart – if your heart is right, his ears are open to your request;
(2) ask him in faith, believing that He has already healed you; and then
(3) give Him all the glory as you share what He has done for you.

Be healed, in Jesus Name!
Linda
 
© Linda Sue Harper 2018