Is Jesus Willing To Heal?

That’s the real question.  We normally don’t question his ability to heal, we read the narratives of his life, and they are full with physical and spiritual healing.  No, the real question for us whether or not Jesus is willing to heal?

Thankfully, the narratives of Jesus’ life are not just bursting with accounts of his power over sickness but they also include his willingness to heal.

In Mark 1:40-42, Jesus is met with that same question.  A leper begged him that if he was willing, Jesus could heal him.  Jesus responded to him with a heart of compassion, a physical touch and affirmation of his willingness to heal.  Don’t you love those words?  I am willing.

In a different occasion, He was asked for his help by someone, not just anyone, but a man who was considered to be enemy and oppressor of his people, a Roman Centurion.  When asked for help by an enemy, Jesus’ response was “I will go and heal him.”  (Matt. 8:5-8)

These are just two examples for us.  We may be familiar with the stories of healing in the Gospels, but it is more important that we are familiar with His willingness to heal; because that is the real question we struggle with.   

Jesus is not just a Healer, He is also willing!

Life In His Name

John The Apostle  specifically states the purpose for writing his narrative of the life of Jesus; in John 20:31 he writes: “…but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”  Apparently, the “abundant life” that Jesus offers is lived in His Name.

Nowhere in the Gospels are given a description of His physical appearance, rather we are supplied with what we was like and who he was. What comes to your mind when you hear the Name of Jesus?  A mental picture of what could had looked like, or a description of His character and identity?

 We don’t know what He looked like, but we know His Name.   That is, we have his character and identity; these are the makeup of His Name.  The Name gives us his identity, in fact we are called by “His Name” (Isaiah 43:6-7).   “Life in His Name” = Abundant, Eternal Life.  This abundant life is not one of physical prosperity but rather an abundance of character that flows from the identity as His children who bear his Name.  And by His Name… we live.