T H E O P H I L U S

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 30, Mark 1:40-45

40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. 43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

– Mark 1:40-45

As a child we may have had moments where we were stubborn and unwilling to receive help because we thought we were big enough, strong enough, and grown up enough to do what we wanted to do. The moment we have grown dexterity in our grip we desired to feed ourselves, to take out and put away our own toys, and brush our own teeth. But as soon as something hurts, our first response is to cry and go running to our mother or father. We go running in that direction because of a trust and faith that they will take care of us, comfort us, and help to ease the pain. We had a faith that if our parents put a bandaid on the cut, it would heal. But at some point as we grew into adulthood, we have grown self sufficient, and even more stubborn. Even when we are seriously ill, some of us may refuse to seek help. There is a pride that has grown within us that we don’t need anyone else’s help, and at times we feel that we can get through it without God.

The man with leprosy asks Jesus if he is “willing” – if he is willing to heal him. The paradox of the passage is that Jesus is asked if he is willing, but is a discourse of Jesus being invited in by the man. It is a question of humble intent with the under-thought within the depths of his heart asking “will he? can he? what happens if I do?”. There is both faith and hesitation in his request. Thus the real question of the matter is, are you willing to let Jesus into your life today? Are you open enough to ask Jesus to heal you? because he is more than willing. Are you willing to let him touch and heal the deepest and innermost sins and pain that are destroying us within?

Even while Jesus knew the man would disobey him, he still healed him. Jesus wants to enter your life and wants you to know how wonderful his salvation is – but the first step to experience that is being willing to receive him even in the most insecure areas of your life. What are some of the areas of your life you have either not trusted God, or have yet to let him in and bring to the surface? Today, allow him in and may he reveal to you the greatness and goodness of his Grace and salvation for you.