When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy[a] came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 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.” – Matthew 8:1-4 (KJV)
Because the Fall of Man has resulted in humans chronically committing sin, experiencing perpetual hardship, disease, and a diversity of pain, we are all in need of healing. Many do not identify this specific need; instead, we are simply aware of a desire to re-establish a comfortable state when discomfort arises. We seek to achieve comfort by whatever means are easily accessible. Depending on a myriad of factors we may choose to settle in and concede to the pain or exhaust all the options we have identified to lessen or resolve it, if we can lay hold to even a moment of relief. Regardless of our limited awareness of the actual problem or the efficacy of our tactics we employ to make it go away, our longing for true healing persists deep within our souls until satisfied.
At the start of Matthew 8, the Christ has just finished delivering the “Sermon on the Mount” and is descending the mountain. Masses are following Him and seemingly among the masses is a man with leprosy. Wait…WHAT?!?!?! Now, I don’t know a ton about biblical history or Hebrew laws and customs, but what I know for sure is people with leprosy being with other people who don’t have leprosy is a big no-no. I can only imagine people’s reaction when they discovered him not just in their company but approaching Jesus. Yet there is no indication in Matthew’s account of this event that the man is concerned with others’ opinion of his presence nor is he phased by the consequences of violating the law. He humbles himself in worship before the Lord. I am amazed by this man. As someone who has struggled with the fear of man and people pleasing, my primary goal for a great deal of my life has been to stay out of people’s way – do not impose, do not inconvenience, keep your head down, do what you’re supposed to do, and go back to your corner. This man is SO “in the way”; it is disconcerting to the part of me that is still in the healing process. At the same time, I get it. I understand his healing required him to be there.
So often, so many of us remain unhealed, isolated, in perpetual, debilitating pain, because we refuse to comply with what healing requires. How this man with leprosy approaches and speaks to Jesus is the fruit of faith. It seems that he came to Jesus, not just aware of his need to be healed, but already submitted to the healing he sought, ready to obey whatever Jesus told him to do. “If You are willing…” He was not going to allow any circumstance or person (not even himself) to hinder his being healed. He was already sure of Christ’s ability to heal. It would only depend on Jesus’s willingness to heal him. What if we came to the Healer ready for Him to declare what healing looks like and what it requires? What if we submitted to the One who surpasses our finite concept of healing, who knows our exact need and how to meet it before we even perceive we are in need? Maybe our relationships would be restored. Maybe we would be more fruitful. Maybe the intimacy our souls crave would be realized and be even more satisfying than we originally imagined because we are now whole and free to engage in community with authenticity and vulnerability. How fantastic would this be!
Ok. Let’s be practical. This guy came to Jesus with an obvious issue. Sometimes, we have no clue what is going on with us or our family, friends, coworkers. We just know we do not like that we are angry, our family member is hurting, our coworker is struggling, etc. What should we do? What exactly is needed? We serve the God who sees, speaks and reveals the truth. We and those associated with us would greatly benefit if we would only ask Him our questions. Come to Him with what we do not know, what we think we have figured out. We can expect an answer, and the Holy Spirit will empower us to wait patiently for the Lord. Our God knows all and has all we need!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. - Philippians 4:6
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. - 2 Corinthians 9:8
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. – James 1:5
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come – John 16:13
—Anyah E. R. White
