Episode 29: Faith in God's Willingness (The Day Jesus Touched A Leper)

In this episode of Walking Close, Living Changed, Brian continues his series on "on-the-spot faith" by exploring the story of the leper who approached Jesus and said, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Rather than questioning Jesus' ability to heal, the man questioned whether Jesus was willing to heal him. Through Jesus' immediate response—"I am willing. Be clean."—Brian explores the difference between humility and believing that we are somehow excluded from God's goodness. Jesus crosses cultural, religious, and social boundaries to touch and heal a man others considered unclean, revealing a God who is not reluctant to come near. The episode encourages listeners to stop focusing on their own unworthiness and instead place their faith in God's willingness to touch, heal, bless, save, and meet them in their need.   Key Topics Discussed Faith in God's willingness The healing of the man with leprosy Jesus' compassion toward people considered unclean "If You are willing, You can make me clean" Believing God can versus believing God wants to God's willingness to come near Religious and cultural boundaries Jesus crossed Compassion versus indignation in the Gospel manuscripts Humility versus self-loathing Feeling unworthy of God's goodness   Relevant Scriptures Mark 1:35–45 — Jesus prays early in the morning, tells His disciples that He intends to preach in nearby villages, and later encounters a man with leprosy who asks whether Jesus is willing to make him clean. Jesus touches and heals him, then instructs him not to spread the news. Matthew 8:1–4 — Matthew's account of Jesus cleansing a man with leprosy after the man expresses faith that Jesus can make him clean if He is willing. Luke 5:12–16 — Luke records Jesus reaching out and touching a man covered with leprosy, declaring His willingness to make him clean. Luke 5:1–11 — After the miraculous catch of fish, Peter recognizes his own sinfulness and tells Jesus to depart from him. Jesus instead calls Peter to follow Him and become a fisher of people. Matthew 6:9–10 — Jesus teaches His followers to pray for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. John 10:10 — Jesus contrasts destruction with His purpose of bringing life in its fullness. 2 Peter 3:9 — Scripture describes God as patient, not wanting people to perish but desiring them to come to repentance.