Mark 1:40-45 (41)
Was it a word of dubious doubt? Was it a word of hesitant hope? Was it a word of pliant permission? “If thou wilt, thou canst . . .” Can the sun rise in the east each morning? Can a tornado devastate a sleeping town? Can a shark bite off a swimmer’s leg?
Jesus’ ability is not to be questioned. He is God. We can know that He is capable of all good. Yes, He can heal. His will, on the other hand, is not always clear to us. What makes the difference is when His compassion is coupled with His will. “Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him . . . “
That touch is all that is needed. We must not limit the love of God by false humility. He is a God who “acts.” He is not a spectator but an initiator. Theory and theology must be placed aside while we observe His love being displayed in practical ways. Brennan Manning expressed it this way: “We should be astonished at the goodness of God, stunned that He should bother to call us by name, our mouths wide open at His love, bewildered that at this very moment we are standing on holy ground.” ? The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out by Brennan Manning
by Dr. Gayle Woods