Mark 1:40-44 Jesus Cleanses a Leper
40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
FROM THE KINGDOM DYNAMICS PORTION OF THE SPIRIT FILLED LIFE BIBLE:
Mark 1:40-44 The Lord’s Willingness to Heal; DIVINE HEALING
Here Jesus declares His willingness to heal the sick. Some insist that we must always preface our prayer for healing with, “If it is Your will.” How can one have positive faith who begins a request with an “if”? We do not pray for salvation with an “if”.
The leper was certain that Jesus was able to heal him; he was not sure that it was His will. But Jesus’ response settled that question: “I am willing; be cleansed.” May we not be certain that it is the Lord’s will to do that for which He has made redemptive provision? At the same time, one cannot intentionally be living in violation of God’s will and expect His promises will be fulfilled. Where biblical conditions for participating in God’s processes are present, they must be met; but let us not avoid either God’s readiness or God’s remedies by reason of the question of His willingness. “If it is Your will” is more often an expression of fear, a proviso to “excuse God of blame” if our faith or His sovereign purposes do not bring healing. If His will is questioned, leave the issue to His sovereignty and remove it from your prayer.
Our faith may be weak or incomplete in some regards. We, in fact, may not be healed at times, which should never be viewed as reason for condemnation (Romans 8:1). Nevertheless, in all things, let us praise Him for His faithfulness and compassion. This is a great environment for healing to be realized and is consistent with the Scriptures, which reveal Jesus as willing to heal.
(Matthew 8:16, 17/Mark 5:24-34) Nathaniel M. Van Cleave