40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."
41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
Jesus is always willing to heal the broken and repentant – ever looking through His loving eyes of compassion upon frail fallen flesh. He remains graciously available to touch the untouchable and cure the incurable. His ears attentive to the “Help me” and “Heal me” and “Save me” cries of the unhealthy, lonely, weary, broken and any other condition that plagues mankind. The question for each of us being clear - are we willing to let Him? Do we want the freedom of His healing touch? Do we want what He freely offers? Sadly, some prefer to remain in their bondage – wallowing through this life in the pig pen of pain and ultimate sorrow when all we need do is ask, seek and find. Our Lord is an immediate responder for all who are earnest in their seeking.
“Everyone needs compassion; Love that’s never failing; Let mercy fall on me -
Everyone needs forgiveness; The kindness of a Saviour; The hope of nations –
Saviour - He can move the mountains; For my God is mighty to save; He is mighty to save -
Forever - Author of salvation; He rose and conquered the grave; Jesus conquered the grave.” Reuben Morgan “Mighty to Save” Lyrics
9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chron 16:9 (NIV)
The verses for today instruct us how to approach Jesus in our infirmities – both physical and spiritual – any infirmity besetting us. Our leper clearly demonstrates the proper posture of supplication which is always humility. We must empty ourselves before we are able to be filled. One does not get much lower in humbling themselves than coming forward to Christ on his knees begging. If we wish to receive His mercy and grace we must approach Him with humility and reverence. In God’s way, humility precedes exaltation:
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)
Next, we discover this leper has a firm belief in Christ’s achieving power - not only in general but also specifically towards him personally – his unique and peculiar situation. Jesus loves each individual exactly where they are – stooping low to meet them there. Never forget, Jesus cares greatly about every soul - our misery is ever the object of His great mercy and tenderness. In unwavering faith, this leper believes that if it is Jesus’ will for him to be clean, he will indeed be clean. Never doubt that God is always good and that it is His desire to do good to His children no matter if presently we do not readily discern the circumstance as good – the promise still holds true. All is grace with God. We are to pray that our trials are mere trails to His loving arms and our pathway of stones, stairways to heaven. Our Lord will either change our circumstances or change us in them – strengthening, empowering and lightening our loads that we may rise above them ever becoming more like the Master. We can be sure as His child He withholds no good thing from those who are complete and whole in Him:
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Psalms 84:11 (NIV)
“This morning let us hear the Lord Jesus speak to each one of us: ‘I will help thee’. ‘It is but a small thing for Me, thy God, to help thee. Consider what I have done already. What! Not help thee? Why, I bought thee with My blood. What! Not help thee? I have died for thee; and if I have done the greater, will I not do the less? Help thee! It is the least thing I will ever do for thee; I have done more, and will do more. Before the world began I chose thee. I made the covenant for thee. I laid aside My glory and became a man for thee; I gave My life for thee; and if I did all this, I will surely help thee now. In helping thee, I am giving thee what I have bought for thee already. If thou hadst need of a thousand times as much help, I would give it thee; thou requirest little compared with what I am ready to give. ‘Tis much for thee to need, but it is nothing for me to bestow. “Help thee?” Fear not! If there were an ant at the door of thy granary asking for help, it would not ruin thee to give him a handful of thy wheat; and thou art nothing but a tiny insect at the door of my all sufficiency. “I will help thee”.’ O my soul, is not this enough? Dost thou need more strength than the omnipotence of the United Trinity? Dost thou want more wisdom than exists in the Father, more love than displays itself in the Son, or more power than is manifest in the influences of the Spirit? Bring hither thine empty pitcher! Surely this well will fill it. Haste, gather up thy wants, and bring them there – thine emptiness, thy woes, thy needs. Behold, this river of God is full for thy supply; what canst thou desire beside? Go forth, my soul, in this thy might. The Eternal God is thine helper!” C. H. Spurgeon
26 “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. 27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, 'Destroy him!'” Deut 33:26-27 (NIV)