Today I am participating in Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together and write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "willing"
And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him. While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “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!” And immediately the leprosy left him.…-Luke 5:11-13 (Berean Study Bible)
I have been camping out in the book of Luke lately it seems. Luke was a doctor, and he is the author of this Gospel. When we read any kind of literary work, we should consider the author. The Gospels are co-authored, so to speak. Luke was moved by the Holy Spirit to write these words, the scriptures say. So, when we read this Gospel, it would behoove us to consider the vessel that wrote it, and the intention of the Lord in including this passage.
So, the disciples are with Jesus at this point, and Jesus is in one of the towns near/around Galilee. I would have to go back and read the full story, to figure out which town it was. And Luke was not present when this was written. It seems like I heard that Mary, Jesus’ mother, may have been the one to communicate this story to him.
This story says, a man came along who was covered in leprosy. He crossed Jesus’ path. We aren’t really told the circumstances of how he came along. He would have been considered unclean. The Jews wouldn’t have wanted him near them.
I feel like he had already heard about who Jesus was. I imagine this was a common event, for people to hear about Jesus and pursue him, especially those who were sick.
And then he calls him Lord. This was something you will see throughout by people who get healed by expressing their faith in Jesus. This is another one of those stories where people had heard something about Jesus, believed it, came to him, and were healed.
He did express the phrase, “If you are willing…” Maybe he didn’t know if leprosy was included in the list of things Jesus would heal. It was a skin disease that prohibited him from being around people, including his family. He was excluded, exiled, an outcast. Maybe he just needed that affirmation from Jesus, that he was indeed willing, for his faith to take off!
And Jesus expressed that he was indeed willing, but he touched him first. I haven’t noticed that before. He touches him first, which probably caused the man to exhale, an exhale of rest and faith. Because nobody was allowed to touch him.
And immediately the leprosy left him…Luke 5:13 (Berean Study Bible)
And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him. While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “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!” And immediately the leprosy left him.…-Luke 5:11-13 (Berean Study Bible)
I have been camping out in the book of Luke lately it seems. Luke was a doctor, and he is the author of this Gospel. When we read any kind of literary work, we should consider the author. The Gospels are co-authored, so to speak. Luke was moved by the Holy Spirit to write these words, the scriptures say. So, when we read this Gospel, it would behoove us to consider the vessel that wrote it, and the intention of the Lord in including this passage.
So, the disciples are with Jesus at this point, and Jesus is in one of the towns near/around Galilee. I would have to go back and read the full story, to figure out which town it was. And Luke was not present when this was written. It seems like I heard that Mary, Jesus’ mother, may have been the one to communicate this story to him.
This story says, a man came along who was covered in leprosy. He crossed Jesus’ path. We aren’t really told the circumstances of how he came along. He would have been considered unclean. The Jews wouldn’t have wanted him near them.
I feel like he had already heard about who Jesus was. I imagine this was a common event, for people to hear about Jesus and pursue him, especially those who were sick.
And then he calls him Lord. This was something you will see throughout by people who get healed by expressing their faith in Jesus. This is another one of those stories where people had heard something about Jesus, believed it, came to him, and were healed.
He did express the phrase, “If you are willing…” Maybe he didn’t know if leprosy was included in the list of things Jesus would heal. It was a skin disease that prohibited him from being around people, including his family. He was excluded, exiled, an outcast. Maybe he just needed that affirmation from Jesus, that he was indeed willing, for his faith to take off!
And Jesus expressed that he was indeed willing, but he touched him first. I haven’t noticed that before. He touches him first, which probably caused the man to exhale, an exhale of rest and faith. Because nobody was allowed to touch him.
And immediately the leprosy left him…Luke 5:13 (Berean Study Bible)
Great post.. I love how you actually used the prompt word from your scripture; love the picture, very inviting. Your FMF neighbor #33
ReplyDeleteThank you. I decided to look through scripture and choose a passage that had the word in it, that I felt I could write about. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI appreciate you noting that Jesus touched the man with leprosy. We know He could have healed him with a word but Him touching someone who in all likelihood had not been touched in years is deeply moving.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I only noticed that he touched him first when I started writing about this. Thank you for pointing out that he most likely had not been touched in years. That makes it even more comforting for me.
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