Luke 5:11-16: a reflection

11When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him. 12While he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.” 13He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him. 14He commanded him to tell no one, “But go your way and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.” 15But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16But he withdrew himself into the desert and prayed.

A man full of leprosy comes to Jesus and falls before him with a request that mixes deep humility with real faith: Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean. He does not doubt Jesus' power; he knows Jesus can heal him. His only question is whether Jesus is willing. And Jesus' answer is immediate and tender: he stretches out his hand, touches the untouchable man, and says, I am willing; be made clean. And at once the leprosy leaves him. Jesus was not only able, but willing.

Notice the man's question, and Jesus' answer. The man did not doubt Jesus' power; he knew Jesus could make him clean. What he was unsure of was Jesus' willingness: if you are willing. And Jesus answered that uncertainty directly and warmly: I am willing. He was not a reluctant healer, needing to be persuaded; he was willing, and showed it by touching the man that others would not touch, and cleansing him at once. Jesus was both able and willing to make him clean.

That answer, I am willing, speaks to a doubt we often have. We may believe that Jesus is able to help us, but wonder whether he is willing, whether he cares enough, whether he wants to. Like the leper, our question is often not of his power but of his willingness. And Jesus' answer to the leper is his answer to us: I am willing. He is not a reluctant Savior who must be persuaded to care; he is willing, ready to receive and cleanse those who come to him. When you doubt whether Jesus is willing to help you, to receive you, to cleanse you, hear his word to the leper: I am willing. He touched the untouchable and cleansed him gladly; he is willing toward you too. Do not doubt his willingness; come to him as the leper came, and hear him say, I am willing, for he is not only able but glad to receive and cleanse those who come to him.

Lord Jesus, a man full of leprosy came to you and said, if you are willing, you can make me clean; he did not doubt your power, only your willingness. And you answered immediately and tenderly, stretching out your hand to touch the untouchable, saying, I am willing; be made clean. Let that answer, I am willing, speak to a doubt I often have. I may believe that you are able to help me, but wonder whether you are willing, whether you care enough, whether you want to. Like the leper, my question is often not of your power but of your willingness. And your answer to the leper is your answer to me: I am willing. You are not a reluctant Savior who must be persuaded to care; you are willing, ready to receive and cleanse those who come to you. When I doubt whether you are willing to help me, to receive me, to cleanse me, help me hear your word to the leper: I am willing. You touched the untouchable and cleansed him gladly; you are willing toward me too. Keep me from doubting your willingness; help me come to you as the leper came, and hear you say, I am willing, for you are not only able but glad to receive and cleanse those who come to you. Thank you that you are willing, Lord.