As a driver one of our responsibilities is to be observant of the things occurring on or around the road.  In all my years of driving, one thing that seems apparent to me; when it is raining, police officers are rarely found making traffic stops and writing tickets.  Surely, this is not always the case, but there are undoubtedly some who would rather not leave the comfort of their car to fulfill their responsibilities and duty.

Not so, in a number of situations.  Isn’t it wonderful to know that we have a Savior who did not take this view?  In three of the Gospel accounts we find a leper coming to Jesus declaring that He could cleanse him if He were willing.  This is in contrast to the man who came to Jesus asking Him to do something for his child that His disciples could not.  In his plea to Jesus he approached Him with the attitude, “if He could”.  In one instance we see a lack of faith and in the other we one of great faith.  Jesus’ response to the leper’s request was a simple “I am willing”.  Indeed, Jesus was willing, willing to do that, and so much more.

Just what was Jesus willing to do?  First and foremost he was willing to leave heaven, his home with His Heavenly Father and come to earth in the form of man, the Creator becoming what He created.  He was willing to show us compassion in its purest form.  He was willing to meet the physical needs of those around him to include healing and nourishment.  He was willing to do His Father’s will rather than His own.  Not only did He teach His followers this but it was included in His prayer in the Garden on the night He was betrayed. (Matthew 26:39)  He was willing to be unjustly accused, humiliated, ridiculed, beaten, and killed “for our sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:3)   He did this, not because it was His responsibility or His duty, but because of His love for us.  Let us be thankful for that and praise Him daily for being willing to do for that which we could not!

Copyright © 2007, Nolan P. Rutter