Able and Willing (Lk. 5:12-16)
Hear
Good morning, BCC! Let’s open our Bibles.
Luke 5:12–16 NKJV
12 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
13 Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him.
14 And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.”
15 However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.
16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
I Luke switches from using a very specific language to more cryptic and vague language. He previously told us where things took place (Nazareth, Capernaum, Lake Gennesaret) and when they took place (on the Sabbath, when the sun was setting, when it was day). Now, in regards to the events concerning the leper, he only says that it was “in a certain city.” In regards to the paralytic, which we’ll see next week, he only tells us that it happened “on a certain day.” The location and time of these events seem to be inconsequential in the mind of Luke. Pay attention to that as you read the rest of his gospel.
Now, why does Luke change styles here?
I have a theory.
Have you ever been in the middle of telling a good story, I mean a really good story, and you’re just on a roll when somebody interrupts your flow to ask, “Wait! When did this happen? You were where?” To which you reply, “That’s not important, but...!”
Alicia can tell you almost ever detail about when she became a Christian. I, on the other hand, can only remember that moment when I surrendered. That’s what stands out in my mind.
The possible reason Luke doesn’t include those details is because it doesn’t matter where they were or when this happened. It’s about the authority and power that Jesus possesses! This is what Luke wants us to focus on. Theology, not timeline.
Down & Dirty: Leprosy
In the Bible, leprosy takes on many different meanings. Today, it is commonly referred to as Hansen’s disease. Biblically, leprosy was known as a skin disease which left a person to be pronounced as ritually unclean. A person who had leprosy could have their skin turn white, or have open sores, or any combination of skin lesions. Such a person was ostracized and shunned from the community. They were unable to participate in family gatherings. No birthday parties. No marriages. No graduation celebrations. Imagine having to miss the birth of your child. They were also forbidden from participating in worship. They couldn’t go into the temple at all. They actually had to live outside of the city away from “clean” people.
I’m sure you all remember 2020 when Covid hit. If somebody sneezed or coughed you just knew it was over. We all stood 6 feet apart from each other to make sure that we didn’t accidently come in contact with one other spreading the deadly virus. Schools shut down. Kids missed graduations. Churches everywhere closed their doors and science became the dominate form of religion. Anyone who broke the rules of social distancing or wearing masks were considered the worse of the worse. Fights broke out. Families were torn apart. We lost our minds as we treated each other like lepers.
There was a common belief among many of God’s people that leprosy was a form of God’s judgement against someone because of sin. For example,
● Miriam, Moses’ sister, was struck with leprosy because of her own pride (Num. 12).
● King Uzziah was struck with leprosy because of spiritual arrogance as he burned incense before God, which was only permitted to be done by priests (2 Chron. 26:16–21).
● Gehazi (gee-HAY-zai), the servant of the prophet Elisha, was also struck with leprosy because of his greedy heart (2 Kings 5:20–27).
Leviticus 13 gives some guidelines for how a priest could identify if a person had contracted leprosy and if indeed they were leprous, then the priest would pronounce them as unclean and put them out of the camp.
Leviticus 13:1–3 NKJV
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
2 “When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes on the skin of his body like a leprous sore, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests.
3 The priest shall examine the sore on the skin of the body; and if the hair on the sore has turned white, and the sore appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a leprous sore. Then the priest shall examine him, and pronounce him unclean.
So, when we read Luke 5 we should get a better understanding of the severity and desperation of the situation.
Able (Lk. 5:12)
Picking up at verse twelve of Luke five.
Luke 5:12 NKJV
12 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
This story is shared among the synoptic authors. Matthew, Mark and Luke each include details about this encounter that the other one has left out or they explain the encounter in such a way that it completes the story giving us a fuller understanding of what has taken place. For instance, Matthew is the only one to tell us that this event took place after Jesus finished His sermon on the Mount (Mt. 8:1-3).
Matthew 8:1–3 NKJV
1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.
2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Let’s talk about the leper’s request. It seems simple enough, but what he is asking of Jesus has a lot of layers. First, Luke tells us that this man came to Jesus while He was in a certain city. This alone should get our attention. This man has broken the rules in order to get to Jesus. He is so desperate and troubled by his condition, his need is so big, that he is willing to abandon all decorum.
The Torah says,
Leviticus 13:45–46 NKJV
45 “Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’
46 He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.
5x in these two verses we find the word “unclean”. Which refers to a ritual or ceremonial uncleanliness. This was his cross to bare. Can you imagine what that must’ve been like for this man? Isolated. Shunned by society. Completely casted off because of his condition. There was not a single thing that could be done to change him. No medicine could fix his problem. The disease just had to run its course and who really knew how long that would be.
One day, Jesus comes walking through the city. A crowd has gathered around Him and in the distance you can hear the crescendoing of a man’s voice. Unclean! Unclean! Unclean! And the large crowd that has formed around Jesus is parting like the Red Sea as the man’s cries of impurity are met with gasps of sheer disgust. The man doesn’t care about what the crowd thinks. He locks eyes with Jesus, falls to his knees and begins to beg Jesus to make him clean.
Folks, sometimes we can be too polished in our worship. Sometimes we need to throw off all forms of orderliness and decency and just let our hearts cry out to God.
This is a very interesting request and it definitely shows the level of faith this man has in Jesus. Leviticus 13-14 shows us that priests had no power to make a leper clean, they could only declare if the person was clean. Jesus on the other hand, as Luke has repeatedly emphasized, can do both. The leper’s request for Jesus to make him clean is an acknowledgment of Jesus’ power and authority. He is convinced that Jesus is capable of meeting his need.
The author of Hebrews reminds us,
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
This is exactly what we see in the leper - confidence in the Person of God, diligence in prayer to God, and faith in God’s power.
Willing (Lk. 5:12)
Now, here’s the second part to the man’s request that we may not have considered. It is pretty obvious to me that he is convinced of Jesus’ power and authority otherwise he wouldn’t have come to Jesus. What seems equally certain is that the man isn’t so sure that Jesus is willing to meet his need.
Walter Liefeld sees it differently stating,
The condition ‘if you are willing’ may express a sense of unworthiness rather than doubt as to Jesus’ ability or kindness.[1]
But I’m not so sure. Stay with me.
He says to Jesus, “If You are willing, You can...” He believed that Jesus could do it, but he wasn’t convinced that Jesus wanted to use His power in that way. If you have kids, then you understand this. They come to you with a request to sleepover at a friend’s house or go to a concert. They know that you can say yes, but they aren’t so sure that you’re willing to let them go. If you wanted to, you could just say the word and it would be done, right? This man knew that Jesus had the power to help, he just didn’t know if Jesus had the heart to help.
Chuck Swindoll explains,
The leper didn’t doubt Jesus’ ability; however, past experience with people - especially religious authorities - caused him to doubt the Lord’s willingness to cleanse him. He asked for help with a sense of ‘I don’t blame You, either way.’ He expected nothing.[2]
To a degree, this is in line with what we read in Mark nine. After Jesus’ disciples failed to cast a demon out of a young boy, his father comes to Jesus out of the crowd and explains the situation. He’s desperate. He says to Jesus,
Mark 9:22 NKJV
22 ...if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
The man has hit Jesus with a condition. If you can...then help. Well, Jesus flips the condition back onto the father of the young boy. Basically, what Jesus says is this, “It’s not about My ability to heal. It’s about your willingness to trust.”
Mark 9:23 NIV
23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Mark 9:24 NKJV
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
Oh man! What parent doesn’t know this level of desperation? What loving spouse or friend wouldn’t make the same soul-shaking plea?
How many of you are convinced of the power of God this morning? That, as the scriptures declare,
Hebrews 7:25 NKJV
25 ...He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him...
You know that He can, but you’re not so sure that He will?
What areas of your personal life do you find this to be true? Maybe it’s in your marriage. You and your spouse have been drifting apart for quite some time. You have prayed, begging God to do something to fix what’s broken. You know that He can, but you’re not sure that He’s willing. You have cried out to God day and night over you health. God! Take this sickness away from me! You know that He can, but you struggle with believing that He cares enough to do something about it. How many nights has your concern for your child kept you awake and in constant prayer? God help me! I know that You are more than able, I just don’t know if You’re willing.
Alicia and I have experienced two miscarriages and with each one we poured our hearts out to God to save that baby He was knitting together in her womb. I had no doubt that He was capable of keeping the baby alive, however, I didn’t know if He would.
Those events helped me to experience what Phil. 4:6-7 talks about.
Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
In Luke 18:1 Jesus tells His disciples about the unjust judge and the widow. The reason He tells that story is to teach them
Luke 18:1 NIV
1 ...that they should always pray and not give up.
This is why Paul tells us in 1 Thess. 5:17 to
1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV
17 pray without ceasing,
Even though the man isn’t sure about whether Jesus is willing to meet his need or not, his own uncertainty is no match for the compassionate hand of God.
Touched (Lk. 5:13)
Luke says that the man was full of leprosy. As a doctor, he is the only one to describe the man in this way. Now, Matthew, Mark and Luke all say that Jesus touched the man. This is very significant, because if you follow the OT you’ll notice that anytime the unholy, impure, or unclean came in contact with the holy, pure, or clean then the status of the latter was changed in the negative.
For example, the Torah states, in Leviticus 5:2-3
Leviticus 5:2–3 NKJV
2 ‘Or if a person touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and he is unaware of it, he also shall be unclean and guilty.
3 Or if he touches human uncleanness—whatever uncleanness with which a man may be defiled, and he is unaware of it—when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty.
This is the mentality of several folks today. We put our kids in certain schools as a way of protecting them from unclean kids. We don’t want our pure children to be affected by the troublesome kids at another school. We move into certain neighborhoods as a way of protecting ourselves from “those” people. And what we discover is that the same impurities and unholiness we are shielding ourselves from “over there” have crept into our own hearts.
Again, the Torah is filled with these sorts of references. However, in the NT, particularly with Jesus, He is not the One changed. He actually changes the status of the person He comes in contact with.
This is why, speaking of Jesus, scripture informs us that,
2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
And the whole of the Gospel is found in the words of the Apostle Paul to the Galatians.
Galatians 3:13 NKJV
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),
Jesus touched the leper, and the leper touched Him. Although Matthew, Mark, and Luke say that Jesus touched the man, Mark is the only one to say why Jesus touched him. He had compassion on the leper.
Mark 1:41 NKJV
41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
The phrase “moved with compassion” here means to “have pity on, have one’s heart go out to someone” or another way to say this is that Jesus was “sick to His stomach” by the man’s condition and circumstances. And His deep level of empathy caused Him not only to feel bad for the man, but to actually help the man.
I find the words of Alan Cole helpful in understanding how this affects us in our sinfulness.
In the antiseptic cleanliness of modern hospitals, we lose sight of the wonder of the parable of Jesus in all his purity stooping to touch the ugliness and stench of our sin to bring healing and forgiveness.[3]
My friends, Christ has done the same for us. The stains of our sins have rendered us unclean and yet, Jesus, in His compassion and unfailing love, has touched each of us.
Testify (Lk. 5:14-16)
Finally, Jesus tells him to keep quiet, to show himself to the priest and follow the Law of Moses.
Luke 5:14–16 NKJV
14 And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.”
15 However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.
16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Again, a priest had no power to make a leper clean, all they could do is report that the leper was indeed clean. Lev. 14 tells how a priest is to pronounce a leper clean and what gifts he/she are to present and there were different offerings based on a person’s financial status. Here is something that I find to be interesting. When the man would show himself to the priests it would’ve trapped them into validating Jesus' Person, power and authority. They would have to admit that at one time the man was unclean, but now, by some miraculous work of God, he is clean. Furthermore, it was the man’s testimony that what Christ had done for him, He could do for them as well. This is how our Christian testimony works. We are telling others about what God did in our lives with the intention of encouraging them to trust Him for their own lives. It’s the old saying, “If He did it for me, then He can do it for anyone.”
Jesus told the man to keep this to himself. Just show yourself to the priests and make your sacrifice, but Luke says,
Luke 5:15 NKJV
15 However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.
Luke is a little ambiguous here. He doesn’t tell us how the report spread, only that it did spread. Matthew doesn’t touch that part. Mark is the only one to record that,
Mark 1:45 NKJV
45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.
What the man was unsure of in the beginning, he is fully convinced of in the end and despite Jesus’ request to keep it quiet he happily tells anyone who will listen.
J. Vernon McGee tells a story that helps to explain the man’s seeming disobedience. What he shares is certainly convicting and should challenge each of us in our own faith. J. Vernon had a pastor friend in Texas who was preaching on the leper’s story one Sunday afternoon. Here’s what J. Vernon recalls,
Preaching on this section of the Gospel of Mark, he said, ‘The Lord told him not to tell anybody and he told everybody. He tells us to tell everybody and we tell nobody.’ J. Vernon continues, “I want to say, friend, the disobedience of this cleansed leper is not as bad as our disobedience today. We are to tell everybody and we tell nobody.”[4]
Respond
Many of you received an email from me this week about our brother Ali and our sister Hedie.
On Sunday, I reminded us that God's word says,
"...if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Mt. 17:20)
I’m a firm believer in the miraculous work of God. My default usually is to err on the side of believing for the miracle. The reason is because I have seen God do the miraculous in my own life and in the lives of others. However, it never crossed my mind that we would get to see a mountain move this week.
For approximately 6 months Carolyn VanBebber has led the charge in keeping us updated, encouraged, and challenging us not to pray without ceasing. We have asked God to do what only He can do for Ali and Hedie. During these past 6 months there have been ups and there have been downs. Court appointments have been rescheduled. We prayed that the judges would combine their cases and then we found out that they wouldn't. We've seen God answer our prayers for favor with attorneys and judges and that Ali & Hedie would not lose hope and that this situation would grow their faith. He has done just that.
Tuesday night, just before 9:30pm, as I was getting into bed my phone buzzed with a message from Carolyn which said,
"I just now heard from attorney...ASYLUM WAS GRANTED!!! PRAISE GOD send up the fireworks!!!"
Praise God indeed!!!
This news couldn’t have come at a better time. As I was thinking about what God did for Ali and Hedie, I was reminded of what the leper said, “If You are willing, You can...” How many of us had the same approach to Ali and Hedie’s situation? Fully convinced of God’s power and ability. Certain that their deliverance was in the hands of God, but we just weren’t sure if this was God’s will. We knew that He could, we just didn’t know if He would. And yet, we prayed.
I told you last week, sometimes God’s ways just don’t make sense, but if we will trust Him He’ll do something we never imagined He would. God doesn’t ask us to understand, He just asks us to trust Him. This morning, like Daniel from the lion’s den God has delivered Hedie and Ali! He shook the prison walls and set them free and we are left to testify to the greatness of our God!!
My friends, if you are here this morning and you don’t know Jesus personally as your Savior, let Him touch you today. His compassion is for you. He wants to destroy the works of Satan in your life.
Or, if you are a Christian, but you have been struggling with trusting God let us pray with you. If you are sick, if you have need that only God can meet, come and let us pray for you. God can do exceedingly and abundantly more than we ask or imagine.
Tre Clark
Britton Christian Church
1/25/2026
[1] (W. Liefeld, Expositor’s Commentary with New International Version: Matthew, Mark, Luke; Vol. 8, p878)
[2] Charles Swindoll, Living Insights: Luke, p138
[3] (R. Alan Cole, Mark: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 2, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1989), 118.)
[4] (Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. 4: Matthew - Romans, p166).
