Published by I noticed in Matthew that when those in need approached Jesus for healing the emphasis was not on if He would heal but rather that he could heal.
Matthew 8:2 The leper said “IF YOU WANT TO, you CAN heal my body”. Jesus said “I want to”. The leper did not express any reservations as to the reality of Christ’s ability.
Matthew 8:6 The Roman captain showed remarkable matter-of-fact faith that Jesus could heal – and even from a distance! Jesus said to him “Go – what you believed COULD happen, has happened.”
Matthew 9:18 – The man whose daughter had died said, “IF YOU COME, she WILL live.” He didn’t know if Jesus would do it, but his faith was certain that Jesus could do it.
Matthew 9:20 – The woman who touched his garment in the crowd. Obviously dozens of people touched Jesus as he walked – but she was healed and He knew it – because she believed. She demonstrated the absolute conviction that Christ could heal whether or not she had a sense that He would – if only she could touch Him.
Matthew 9:28 – Of the two blind men who asked for healing, Jesus asked them “Do you really believe that I can do it?” Their answer being “Why YES!” – almost as if, “but of course!”. Jesus didn’t ask them if they believed He would, only if they believed He could. I can almost hear Jesus say, “Because you know fellas, if you don’t really believe I can heal you, then let’s not bother, because it won’t work. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE I CAN.” He said to them, “Become what you believe.”
It is encouraging and exhilarating (and serious) the power of believing (having faith, trusting) that Jesus CAN do the healing we need him to do. If we sometimes struggle with our faith for believing with certainly what He WILL, we can always stand firm in knowing that He CAN! And after all, we must allow for sovereign God to carry out His plans as only He understands them. Jesus tells us that God our Father knows better than we do what we need for becoming what He desires us to become. Knowing what He CAN do, the real test is allowing Him to do what He WILL do.
Those of you who feel inadequate because you cannot seem to muster the faith of what Jesus will do (and then feel guilty and abandoned when He doesn’t), take comfort from these stories that Jesus only aks that you believe in what He can do. And we can all have a complete and steady faith that our Lord and Savior can do all things. What is crucial is that we believe that He can do what He is willing to do for us. In that I find liberty and hope.
