Today we read about Jesus healing a man with leprosy. He has just finished the “Sermon on the Mount” (chapters 5- 7) when this man approaches him and says “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean”. Jesus responds, “I am willing.” “Be clean!”
There is something very powerful and comforting in the words “I am willing”. We just celebrated Christmas and learned how God was “willing” to send Jesus to take on flesh and live as fully God and fully man in our sin filled world. In today’s reading we see how Jesus was “willing” to demonstrate his love for us through his word (Sermon on the Mount) and a healing miracle. At the end of Matthew we read how Jesus struggles with his upcoming trial and crucifixion, and yet was “willing” to submit to the Father’s will – In Matt. 26: 39 he prays “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Paul tells us more about Jesus being “willing” in Philippians 2:6-8:
Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
We have a savior who is “willing”! What great news for us as believers and for those who have not yet come to faith in the only one who can save us.
Jesus, thank you for being “willing”. Thank you for being “willing” to love sinful people and to demonstrate this love by your death and resurrection. Thank you for being “willing” to receive us into your church and to make us disciples. Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to help us live in relationship with you and fellow believers. Help us to be “willing” to live in obedience to your commands and to share your love with others in 2020. Amen.
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