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.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

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

Psalm 90: Turn and Have Pity, O LORD!

Today’s reading is Psalm 90.

Moses might have been writing after a couple of generations of slavery in Egypt, giving voice to the cries and moans of his people. On the other hand, he might have been writing as Israel wandered in the wilderness. In either case, the suffering was due to sin (See Numbers 14 and Ezekiel 23:3, 8, 19). Additionally, in either case, Israel had only one hope. The Lord’s pity and compassion.

They had experienced the anger of the Lord and His wrath over their sins. Moses pleaded with God to turn and offer them His pity, to let them have a new dawn anchored in God’s steadfast love. In the same way God had afflicted them, He could make them glad. As they had been afflicted for generations in Egypt and years in the wilderness, Moses asked for years and generations of gladness.

Of course, here is the point. Gladness doesn’t happen accidentally. It comes from God working and extending His glorious power (see vs. 16). Remember that. We tend to think of discipline, judgment, and punishment as God working and administering His power. Actually, that is usually God withdrawing His protective hand, His working, and His power, allowing us to simply face the outcomes of our own folly, stupidity, and sin. It takes God’s work and power to have blessing, favor, and gladness.

Like Moses, then, we need to pray. Pray for God’s work and power in our lives. He loves to bless His people who ask. He is a giver of good gifts.

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 90.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 90 prompt or improve your hope in God?