Luke 5:12-15 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and sought him… When the leper said, "If Thou wilt," he narrowed his appeal, and directed it to the will of Jesus. His faith in Christ's power was very much stronger that his faith in Christ's goodness. It contained much that was true, but did not contain much more that was equally true. Christ answered, not according to the imperfection of the appeal, but according to its possibility of being perfected. "If Thou wilt" is fitting language for us, not because we doubt His goodness, but because we believe in His wisdom. If we learn that it is God's will that we should suffer and have disappointment, we hope amidst our pain, and know that our disappointment is after all the appointment of the wiser still, and that, whatever may be in the meantime withheld, the answer will be given at last, "Be thou clean." (J. Ogmore Davies) Parallel Verses KJV: And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. |
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