Matthew 8:1-4. When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 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.”
At the time of Jesus, leprosy was incurable. Yet for the man with leprosy in today’s passage, one encounter with the Son of God was enough. In the same way, when we place our faith in Christ alone, we will see the end of our problems.
There is a time for everything, and we must not miss the opportunity to meet Jesus. As Scripture says, “For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). God gives us many opportunities to receive His grace—through Sunday worship, daily devotions, small group Bible studies, conferences, and retreats. We must make the most of every opportunity He provides.
One of the most common reasons we miss those opportunities is being overly conscious of others. The man with leprosy saw the large crowds surrounding Jesus. That alone could have discouraged him from approaching. But his faith overcame fear. He came forward and knelt before the One who had the power to heal.
People can become stumbling blocks during the very time God desires to pour out His grace. Satan uses people, religion, and legalism to keep us from encountering the living God. Naaman nearly missed his chance to be healed of leprosy because of his pride (2 Kings 5:1–18). If we fix our eyes on our name, status, or interests, we will lose the opportunity to receive God’s grace. We must fix our eyes only on Jesus Christ.
To experience the power of Christ, faith is required. The man with leprosy risked his life to come before Jesus. The law forbade lepers from approaching people, so his act was one of absolute trust in Christ. God responds to this kind of faith. When the Israelites were facing destruction, Queen Esther resolved to go to the king, even though it was against the law, saying, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). Similarly, when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were threatened with death in a fiery furnace, they boldly declared before King Nebuchadnezzar that even if God did not save them, they would not bow down to any idol (Daniel 3:16–18). That is the kind of faith God honors—faith that is willing to risk everything for His name and kingdom.
To live with that kind of faith, we must believe in the sufficiency and perfection of Christ. But such faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ (Romans 10:17). The man with leprosy not only came to Jesus but also knelt before Him in worship. This showed his full trust and obedience. God works according to our faith. He does not respond to those who believe in Him halfway. It is not that God lacks power, but He delights in wholehearted faith. As Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
The man with leprosy said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” He sought God’s will first. That is how Jesus taught us to pray: “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). But how do we know God’s will? Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). God’s will is revealed throughout Scripture. Jesus clearly expressed God’s will with these words: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
God’s will is the establishment of His kingdom—a kingdom where He reigns and where His children live under His care. It is a kingdom where the knowledge of Christ fills the earth, and His name is honored throughout the world. Wherever His kingdom comes, the kingdom of Satan collapses. Saving lives through the gospel is God’s greatest desire. Establishing His kingdom through the gospel movement in every generation has always been His top priority.
When we lose sight of His will, we begin to focus only on our own problems, and we end up running Satan’s errands in everything we do. That is why we must once again discover God’s will for our lives. We must align our desires and plans with His. We must abandon our own thoughts, ways, and ambitions. In every situation, let us ask, “If you are willing.” We need to change both the content and direction of our prayers.
The man with leprosy also had confidence: “You can make me clean.” He believed in God’s power and sovereignty. God’s will is certain to come to pass. If the Lord is willing, we can move forward boldly and witness His works unfold. When Joshua and the Israelites clung to God’s covenant and marched around Jericho, the walls fell without a single fight. When the priests stepped into the Jordan River carrying the ark of the covenant, the waters stopped flowing and the people crossed on dry ground (Joshua 3:15–16). We, too, must firmly hold onto God’s covenant in our own lives as we walk the path of world evangelization.
No matter your current situation, one encounter with Jesus is enough. “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately, he was cleansed of his leprosy.” But how do we encounter Jesus today? Through the gospel—the Word about Christ. That is why the gospel must be preached daily in every mission field. People all around us are desperately waiting for healing from their spiritual disease, just like the man in today’s passage. We must lead them to Jesus, the only answer to all of life’s problems.
To continue experiencing the power of Christ, we must live a life of worship. Jesus told the man, “Go, show yourself to the priest.” In the same way, we must show ourselves to our True High Priest, Jesus, and worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). As we continue to enjoy God’s Word and prayer through worship, we will begin to see real fundamental change and blessing in our lives.
Finally, we are also called to live a life of thanksgiving. Jesus said, “Offer the gift Moses commanded.” Let us reflect on the grace we have freely received through Christ and renew our hearts in gratitude. Thanksgiving will drive out anxiety, jealousy, and hatred, and fill our lives with joy, peace, love, and faith. Eventually, we will find that the only thing remaining in us is thanksgiving. We are called to cast off the garments of legalism and put on the garments of the gospel. Our very lives will become a testimony to those around us.
Prayer. Father, I thank You for healing me from all my problems, just as You healed the man with leprosy. Help me to continue to trust in You completely and to experience the power of Christ at work in me each day. Let my life be a testimony to the people You have placed around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.