11 January 2019
Friday after Epiphany
That first leper to go to Jesus must have had a tremendous amount of faith. He had no proof that Jesus could even heal a leper, but He knew that Jesus was coming to inaugurate a new era, an era of wonders, and so could beg Jesus for healing, declaring to Jesus he knows that “if you wish, you can make me clean” (Lk. 5:12). Jesus goes off to pray when others come to Him later (cf. Lk. 5:16), but for that first leper, He did not hesitate to make the leper clean.
Jesus would not make time for those who simply wanted a wonder worker, but He would always make time for those who came to Him in faith and trust. Likewise, if all we are looking for in Jesus is a nice flash and a show, we will be disappointed. It is almost certain that we will not always be entertained by Jesus. Yet if we come to Him in faith as that first leper did, trusting in His power and His mercy, it is equally certain that He will give us what we seek.