My Heart's Desire: Mark 1:40-42

What do you desire?  For many, this is a hard question to answer.  I can say I desire a million dollars or a week’s vacation of peace and quiet.  But is that what I really desire or just what is easy to say?  I have always found peace to be in short supply; I desire more of that.  Kindness among fellow human beings is something else my heart desires.  Then there are concepts like love, joy, and faith – which I desire as well.  Lest anyone think I am more altruistic than I really am, some days all I desire is to survive the day, to make a straight cut on my table saw, or to partake in a good piece of pecan pie.  If nothing else, this proves how hard it is to answer the question about the human heart’s desire.

In today’s reading, a leper comes before Jesus.  Surely, he is here because he’s heard the talk going around town about this new teaching and Jesus’ power.  The leper knows what it is that his heart desires.  He craftily kneels before Jesus and gives Jesus an opportunity as well as an out.  The leper gives Jesus an opportunity to heal him by putting God’s power on display while at the same time giving Jesus the ability to not do it by saying it isn’t his desire.

Of course, that isn’t really a choice.  If Jesus says He doesn’t desire to heal the leper, He would either come across as selfish or make people doubt He could do it.  The leper is smart.  The leper gives Jesus a choice while not really giving Jesus a choice.

Jesus steps into the invitation willingly.  Jesus tells the leper what the leper wants to hear.  Jesus desires it.  He is moved by compassion.  He reaches out, touches the man, and the leprosy flees.  God’s power is put on display in no less dramatic fashion than before.

What is it that Jesus desires?  Jesus desires to heal, but I think it is more than that.  Jesus desires the man feel compassion.  Jesus desires the man feel God’s touch.  Jesus desires to show God’s dominion over life-altering disease.  Jesus desires a community bear witness to how God can bring outcasts back into community.  Jesus desires people see His willingness to come in contact with things that normally divide communities and instead provide a means for uniting them.  Jesus desires all these things, and probably more than I thought to write here.

I enjoy having this opportunity to glimpse into the mind of God and gain perspective based on what He allows us to see.  It is good to see the desire of the Almighty and reflect on God’s desire.  Of course, it is then good to turn back and reflect on my own heart.  What do I desire? 

What do you desire?