Reflections
“Yes, I want to.”
It doesn’t take much to coax an act of healing mercy out of Jesus; just a leper, in this case, who says “If you want to, you can make me clean.” The leper appeals not from his own desire—what he wants from Jesus (though that must be clear). Instead, he appeals to Jesus’ desire: that all should be whole and well, that those who are marginalized and outcast should be welcomed. (The leper’s submis sive attitude recalls Jesus’ later prayer: “Not my will, but yours be done.”) And Jesus confirms the leper’s appeal: “I do want to…”We approach Jesus with our own needs and sufferings, perhaps doubting that they merit his attention or compassion. But he is the embodiment of such compassion. If it were a matter of what he “wanted” to do, there would surely be no end to his compassion.We should approach Jesus with confidence in his power to heal us and fulfill our deepest longing. That may not take the form of physical healing. But as the Epistle of John reminds us, through Jesus God has offered us the gift of eternal life. That is what he wants for us. It only falls on us to want it too.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019
