"I am Willing"

When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Matthew 8:1‭-‬4 

"Lord, if you're willing, you can make me clean."

If you're willing. This leper didn't even ask for healing. He merely spoke to the knowledge he had of Jesus and His ability to heal. He knew He was capable. He humbled himself before Him and verbally acknowledged that it was within Jesus' power to heal the leprosy. 

Without hesitation, Jesus touched the unclean man, something that was very socially unacceptable in that time frame. He not only bucked convention and tradition but also took it a step further.

"I am willing."

With those three words, He recognized this man's deepest need. Without a direct question, without an explanation of his need, Jesus solved the problem. He met the need that was unaddressed, outside of the acknowledgement that Jesus was capable. 

He does the same for us. He encourages us to ask, seek, knock (Luke 11:9), but if there is a need, He meets it. Sometimes, without our awareness of the need or even a request for it to be met. 

Look at Zacchaeus for example. 

He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

Luke 19:3‭-‬4 

Zacchaeus didn't know Jesus. He didn't know to plant a tree for him to climb to meet Him decades later. But God did. He made certain Zacchaeus would have what he would need to encounter Jesus that day. He planted a tree *years* in advance so short little Zacchaeus would meet Jesus. 

Sometimes the needs are immediate and needed immediately. Sometimes it is a process years in the making. Sometimes groundwork must be laid. Sometimes we wait so long we feel it's never going to happen. Like growing a tree. Sometimes the provision takes time. 

The sycamore-fig tree needs roughly 10 years to begin bearing fruit. This seed was planted and patiently grew. However that seed made it into the ground, I can almost guarantee it wasn't with the thought in mind that it would be a step ladder later. The Bible doesn't say much about the tree but it was mature enough to hold the weight of a grown man. 

Zacchaeus didn't know he needed a tree until he did. But the tree was there planted and strong long before there was a need. Sometimes the actions we take don't make sense now, or we just don't make the connections for the provision they will be for our future.

Like the leper though, Jesus desires to provide our needs. For Zacchaeus, it was simply a step ladder. For the leper, it was a life changing miracle of healing. His desire is that we have what we need. 

"I am willing.... be clean!"

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 

He's more than willing to be our Waymaker, our light in our darkness. Maybe your need is Zacchaeus style in nature and simply an immediate need for the now. Perhaps though, your need is more like the leper's, deep-seated and long enduring. 

Perhaps, in your leperous state, you feel like giving up. Perhaps things have been so hard for so long, you feel like your healing is never coming, or that job will never open up, your child will never return, that spouse will never arrive, or that relationship will never be restored. He is faithful. He is working, even if it doesn't feel like it. 

Scripture tells us time and time again of promises fulfilled. Jesus fulfilled at least 300 Himself. If God has given you that promise, it's yours, regardless of where it takes 11 days or 11 years to fulfill. Sometimes we get in our own way, but perhaps that's just me, because I'm definitely guilty there. But in His faithful, loving kindness, He keeps patiently working on me. 

"I am willing."

He's willing. Are you? Will you follow if it looks differently than you expected? The leper didn't get a chance to leap and run and tell everyone what Jesus had done for him. He was to go quietly and show himself to the priest. That was his testimony, that was his praise. 

Jesus is willing. He is working. Zacchaeus long term or leper instant, He's moving on your behalf. You can trust Him. Just like Matthew 6:24-34 tells us, don't worry. He's working it out. He tends the birds and the flowers and you are far more important than these. 

He sees your need. He's moving on your behalf, sometimes before you even know there's a need. 

"I am willing."

Take your requests to Him. Acknowledge, like the leper, that He is capable of handling everything you throw at Him. And, even better, none of it makes Him love you less. You can rest in that today. Let Him carry you. 

"I am willing."