Daily Devotionals

Trouble Maker Week 7: Monday

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Mark 1:40-41

I do not know many people who are willing to enter a mess. In fact, most of us avoid messes, which is only natural. We avoid the ground when it is muddy. We use hand sanitizer. We shower often. Why do we do all of these things? We want to be clean. As important as cleanliness is in our day, it was much more important in Jesus’ day. Religious leaders were obsessed with not just being physically clean but also what they considered to be inwardly and ceremoniously clean. They created a whole list of rules and steps to stay clean and not have a hint of any uncleanliness. It was this world that Jesus stepped into and turned everything upside down. He came and entered our mess, willing to change everything. 

We read about Jesus’ desire to enter our messes in Mark 1. A man who had leprosy bent down and knelt before Jesus. Kneeling before Jesus, He said, “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean” (verse 40). At this request, Jesus was “moved with compassion” (Verse 41). In an act that would have shocked everyone, Jesus touched Him (verse 41). No self-respecting Jewish person would have touched a person with leprosy; they were certainly viewed as unclean and contagious. Jesus did not care. He replied to this man, saying, “I am willing… Be healed!” (Verse 41). These words from Jesus are so powerful. Jesus was not only able to heal this man. He was willing. “Instantly,” this man was healed by these words from Jesus. 

Friends, Jesus is not afraid to meet us in our messiness. He can handle it. If you think your mess is too much for Jesus, look no further than this story in Mark 1. Jesus can handle anything. We have to be willing to ask for help humbly. If we do, He steps into our mess and offers hope and life. Turn to Him today.

Moving toward action

Is there an area of your life where you have felt like there is no way God could step into your mess? Take it to God today, remembering that He willingly enters our messes. Ask Him for healing and help where you need it. Thank Him that He is not only able to step into our messes but that He is also willing.

Going Deeper

Mark 1:40-45 (NLT)

"A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.

41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” 42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. 43 Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: 44 “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”

45 But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him."