I AM WILLING

Matthew 8:1-3: When He came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed Him.  A man with leprosy came and knelt before Him and said, “Lord, if you’re willing, you can make me clean.”  Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man.  “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”

Jesus had just finished preaching a long sermon to a huge crowd. I’m sure He was tired.  He had a human nature and human frailties.  Even after this long sermon, large crowds followed Him down. Then a man with leprosy came up to Him and asked if He was willing to heal him.  Jesus healed him, not begrudgingly, but completely willingly—and He touched him!  He touched this unclean man who most likely hadn’t been touched in years!  Jesus humbly entered into his pain, but instead of becoming unclean like the man, He made the man clean!
 
Isn’t that what Jesus did for all of us who believe?  He humbled Himself and entered into our world, our experience, our skin, but rather than becoming like us in our sin, He made a way for us to be free from it.  He took our sin and separation from God, allowed them to be placed upon Himself, and willingly allowed Himself to be sacrificed in our place (cf. Isaiah 53; Hebrews 7:27).

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith…”(Heb. 10:19-22a)—all because Jesus was willing.  He willingly obeyed His Father, willingly entered into His creation and willingly sacrificed Himself once for all to redeem His creation from the curse we brought upon ourselves.  May we also enter into one another’s lives, willingly serving and laying down our lives for one another as we follow Jesus’ example.