From Matthew 8:1-4 / “I Will!”

One wonders, what was it this man heard in this great sermon, that sparked faith in him to ask for healing? Jesus didn’t speak of healing, nor do we have some miracle immediately before this. Either here in Matt. nor in Luke.

I think it is best understood that it was Jesus Himself which impressed him. As ch. 7 closes noting that Jesus was teaching them with unprecedented authority – it seems this man grasped that Jesus had the authority to cleanse leprosy as well.

Note then that an absolute act of His will is all that is necessary to heal – just as in creation. “God said” is the simple equivalent to “God willed”. It does not require something audible.

Sin:

Disables from working for the kingdom

Disfigures from the image of Christ

Deadens the conscience

Defines one by its most prominent feature

Defiles from purity

Is incurable by man

Is systemic – it defiles the whole

The Cure:

Not a method

Not a program – 12 step or otherwise

Not a philosophy

Not a creed

Not a religion

Not by an act of the will

Not by personal merit

Not by personal effort

Only: “Lod, if you are willing.”

How gracious our Savior is. Let it be noted that He never turned one away who came in such a manner. Even the Syro-Phoenician woman who came for her daughter, found her need met when she sued by faith. And her situation we see was prior to the church being charged to take this message to all nations and peoples. Her’s was a unique circumstance in time and place. The Gospel now is sent to all indeed.

When Jesus says “I will”

No pow’r can intervene

Even hopeless lepers

Are instantly made clean

The blind, the deaf, the lame

In body, soul and mind

In Christ the Son of God

The fullest cure do find

No remnants of The Fall

Abide outside His pow’r

Though poisoned by our sin

He’ll cure us in His hour

When Jesus says “I will”

The heart may hope and rest

That when we’ve sought Him out

He’ll grant us Heaven’s best

So seek in Him dear soul

The cure for sin’s disease

He loves to say “I will”

To humble sinner’s pleas

When Jesus says “I will”

Because His blood was shed

The Father joys to raise

Foul sinners from the dead

Don’t wait a moment more

With all your guilty stain

Cry out to Christ the Lord

He’ll say “I will”, again.