Be Healed
In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Luke 5:12-13
In this beautiful scene, we witness a man full of leprosy—an outcast, likely untouched for years—falling before Jesus in desperation and faith. His words are striking: “Lord, if you will…” He didn’t question Jesus’ power. He questioned whether Jesus was willing. And Jesus’ answer is just as striking: “I will.”
Jesus’ compassion was not cold or clinical. He didn’t merely speak from a distance—He touched the untouchable and made him whole.
Many of us come to Jesus in the same way, burdened with sickness, grief, addiction, brokenness—pleading, “If you will…” And sometimes, God does bring miraculous physical healing. But other times, He doesn’t. Why?
Because while Jesus cares about our bodies, He is always, first and foremost, after our hearts.
There is a deeper disease than leprosy, cancer, or chronic pain. It is sin. On the cross, Jesus proved He is always willing to heal us from that greater disease. By His blood, He has cleansed all who believe. We may not always receive physical healing in this life, but we can be assured of spiritual healing—right standing with God, freedom from the devastating effects of sin, and welcome into eternal life with our Savior.
One powerful example is Joni Eareckson Tada. Paralyzed in a diving accident at 17, she prayed for healing. It didn’t come in the form she hoped for. But through her suffering, she came to know Jesus more deeply. She has testified that while her body remains broken, her soul has been made whole. She says, "God may not remove the hardships, but He gives us grace and strength to meet them." Joni has brought the hope of Christ to countless others—not because she was healed physically, but because she was healed spiritually.
So when we cry out, “Lord, if You will…”, we can trust that He is always willing to heal our hearts. And one day, He will make all things new—including our bodies.
Lord Jesus, thank You that You are willing to heal. You see us in our brokenness and never turn away. Sometimes, we long for physical healing and don’t understand why it doesn’t come. But thank You that You have already healed our greatest need—our sin—through the cross. Thank You for laying down Your life so we can be forgiven and free. Help us to trust Your will, even when it looks different than ours. Give us peace, grace, and faith to follow You. And help us to believe that You are always working for our good. Amen.