Could He, Would He, Is He?

I was just thinking about a ministry event we had last night and some of the prayers, and ideas of how the Lord might move, and I heard myself asking, “Could He, Would He, and is He”?   This seems to be a good review of my faith position, getting His perspective, and finding where I need to get to, so that I can join what he is doing!

I hope that make sense.  I like simple phrases that help direct my reflections.

Could He?

We find scripture loaded with the many things Jesus did from walking on water, to feeding 5000, to healing a man born blind, to raising Lazarus.  In the Old testament we see God rescuing the Israelites from the Egyptian army by opening the sea, we find people raised from the dead, walls collapsing around Jericho, the sun standing still, etc.  Suffice it to say that God can do whatever He wants. Jesus said in Mark 10:27 NIV: “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” 

Would He?

This is a bit more subjective, in that it is not so much a question of ability but rather intent.

I am reminded of one of the stories found in Matthew 8:1-3 NIV:

[1] “When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. [2] A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 

[3] Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.”

I was also reminded of several times that we find Jesus’ motivation listed as compassion,  Here a few examples:

Matthew 14:14 NIV

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Matthew 20:34 NIV

Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Matthew 15:32 NIV

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

As a simple test, we can tell that if the Lord’s compassion is evident or growing in us, that He is planning to move, and the answer is yes!  He would feed the 5000, heal the blind men, or heal the man with leprosy.

There are many times that Jesus’ motivation to heal or work a miracle is not mentioned.  However we find no case in scripture where He turned someone away that came to Him for healing, however we know that not every sick person mentioned in the New Testament got healed.  Jesus walked into an area full of sick people by the Pool of Bethesda and healed the one man (See John 5) so we do need to ask the question!  It is my conviction that almost  always the answer will be yes, He would, for He loves HIs people, desires them to know His love, and He is the God who heals!

Is He?

This is the most important question, for this is a present tense question.  What is He doing right now?  The first two questions have to do with faith and expectation, this question has to do with the right now!  

Using the pool of Bethesda as an example, We know God is a Healer and can heal people paralyzed.  We know that when people brought Him someone who was paralyzed, that He healed them (See Mark 2:1-12).  

In this case Jesus walks into the room of sick people and just engages the one man. Our previous two questions would assume that if Jesus walked into the pool area, He would have healed all of them, and yet we have a very clear story of His just healing the one man!  IN this illustration, the answer to our third question is that Jesus is just healing him.

I think we can draw a few principles that are helpful:

If Jesus moved to someplace He was going to do works in that place, as He had been sent there by the Father.  John 6:38 NIV: “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”

If Jesus is touching someone He intends to do a work in them.  No one that encountered Jesus went away unchanged.  Sometimes the change is not evident externally at first, but the fruit will be evident.

If Jesus points out someone specifically, He is likely going to move.  In Mark 5:1-5, Jesus encounters a man with a shriveled hand, and while there is much going in that story, He calls the man to stand-up.  I am not sure the man knew He was going to be healed, but I am sure the apostles expected it!

Thus, when we are asking Is He?  We should be looking around, looking for people that the Lord is moving on, touching individually or highlighting to us.  In all three of these cases, He IS clearly working, and that’s a a good place to be!  

I am reminded of something Jesus said in the Gospel of John 4:34-35 NIV:

[34] “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. [35] Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”

Yes Lord, help us to open our eyes and look, for there are many that need Your touch!  Help us to see what You see, to do what You would do, and join ourselves to What the Father is doing that we might finish Your work!

Amen and Amen!