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I Am Willing

I Am Willing, Be Cleansed”
Matthew 8:1-3
When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

            Leprosy is very debilitating disease.  Those suffering from leprosy experience disfigurement of the skins and bones.  Tumor like growths may appear on the skin and in the respiratory tract, and cause a deterioration of the optic nerve.   

            In Leviticus 13:45-46 – ““Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.”

To be afflicted with leprosy resulted in separation from their families and home. The leper had to live on the outside the city limits. To touch someone with leprosy would result in the person being ceremonially unclean.

The leper in Matthew 8 makes this statement to the Lord. “If you are willing, You can make me clean.” Most believe that the Lord has the ability to bring healing to those who are sick and suffering.  The question they are asking, “is He willing?”

Jesus answers the question in verse 3.  “Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.”  The verse continues, “Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”  Jesus was not intimidated by touching this man with an infectious disease.  His touch brought healing and cleansing to this man in a hopeless situation.

Like this leper many of us may face a hopeless situation, but one touch from the hand of the Master can bring deliverance and healing.  “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”  He is willing.

Pastor W. Terry Bailey

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