Mark 1: Willing and Able

Today’s reading is Mark 1.

As Jesus traveled through Galilee, preaching and casting out demons, a leper approached Him. He knelt before Jesus and implored him, “If you will, you can make me clean” (Mark 1:40, ESV). In this interaction, one of the greatest debates of all time is brought to the surface.

If God is all good and all powerful, why do people suffer?

The leper believed Jesus was able to heal his leprosy. He wasn’t sure if Jesus was willing to heal his leprosy. Moved with pity and compassion, Jesus touched him and commanded the man to be clean. He was immediately cleansed. Jesus was able and willing.

But stop for a moment. How long had this man had leprosy before this healing took place? Why hadn’t God just kept the man from getting leprosy? Do you think the man had prayed for the leprosy to leave him? I’m guessing so. Yet, God hadn’t responded to that. Why?

In this event with Jesus and the leper, much like every event in which Jesus healed, we should see an important point. God is willing and able, but He has reasons to work on His own timetable. In this particular case, waiting until the man came to Jesus allowed God to demonstrate the Messiahship and divinity of Jesus. We aren’t told what benefits waiting until this moment allowed for the man himself, but very often what we suffer helps us grow. If God removed all suffering or kept us from all suffering, we would be weak and incapable.

Can we at least say perhaps the issue with this age-old struggle is not about whether God is all good or all powerful, but about the fact that we are not all wise? God is willing and able to relieve our suffering and stop what we view as bad things happening to us. But maybe God understands something about the whole situation better than we do. Perhaps He knows what we need better than we do. Perhaps He knows the best time to administer the healing and relief. Or perhaps He understands there are actually more factors involved in every situation than just His being willing and able.

In any event, see the compassionate King who is willing and able to provide relief when relief is the right thing to provide. Why wouldn’t we follow a King like Him?

Next week’s reading is Mark 2.

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What do you want to share with others from Mark 1?

He Healed Me!

Today’s reading is Mark 1.

When the leper left Jesus and started talking freely about his healing, what do you think he said? Do you think it sounded like this? “Hey friend, I used to be a leper like you, but I quit being a leper. You need to quit being a leper like me, and then maybe you can be a friend of Jesus like me.” Or do you think it may have been more like this: “I have to tell you about Jesus. I was a leper and He healed me. I would love for you to be healed too. Let’s go see Jesus.” Yeah, I think that second one is much more likely too. Perhaps that should give us some insight in how to make disciples.

Tomorrow’s reading is Mark 2.