17: “I am willing. Be cleansed.”

In Matthew 8 we see the beautiful story of Jesus touching a leper and healing him. Jesus was coming down the mountain after preaching the Sermon on the Mount, and the leper stopped Him and worshipped Him. 

And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” (Matthew 8:2)¹

First, notice the word “if.” The leper knew that there was only one thing needed for his cleansing from leprosy: the willingness of Jesus to heal him. He knew that Jesus had the power to heal him, but he doubted whether Jesus would use His power for him. Many of us have that mindset when we come to God.

Notice that the man said, “You can make me clean” instead of “You can heal me.” Why? Because he was using the Old Testament terminology in the law. The law can only bring shame and condemnation. “Unclean” is a word that we associate with shame, guilt, or being stained or dirty.

Jesus then answered the man’s question, and the verb tense tells us that He forever and perpetually answers that same question for us today because of who HE IS:

Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (Matthew 8:3)

“I am willing” is Jesus’s nature. He is always willing to cleanse and heal anyone who comes to Him! Jesus did what the law forbade: He touched a leper. Think about what happened in this account. According to the law, Jesus should have become unclean by touching the leper. However, when Jesus touches someone, their uncleanness does not touch Him, yet His cleanness transforms them! Under the law, uncleanness spread to all who touched the unclean. Under grace, righteousness spreads to all who come in contact with the Righteous One, Jesus Christ.

Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow! (Isaiah 1:18)

(from pages 56-57 of Unveiling Jesus)

Want more from Tricia Gunn? Check out excerpts from the Unveiling Jesus 20-part series!

Unveiling Jesus, by Tricia Gunn, is a verse by verse study of the pure gospel of grace. It’s an amazing journey of love, identity, and freedom in Christ.

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¹ All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version. Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®.  Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.  Used by permission.