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