If you are willing, you can make me clean.
—Matthew 8:2
Leprosy! Dreaded. Terrifying. Incurable.
The leper approached Jesus reverently, kneeling before him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Doubtless, he fervently hoped Jesus would heal him, but was totally submissive: “If you are willing.” The unspoken concession of the victim was the willingness to remain a prisoner of his miserable condition if that was Jesus’ answer to his request.
He had no doubt that Jesus could heal him, and would, if in his infinite knowledge and immeasurable power, he considered it best.
He knew that Jesus could, but didn’t demand that he would.
There is no better example of submissive faith than this, leading us to pray:
Lord, give us such a faith as this;
And then, whate’er may come,
We’ll taste e’en here the hallowed bliss
Of an eternal home.
—W.H. Bathurst
Request, but don’t demand.