One Word
“And Jesus asked his father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘“If you can”! All things are possible for one who believes.’”
— Mark 9:21–23 ESV
“When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.’ And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I will; be clean.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”
— Matthew 8:1–3 ESV
One word can change everything. I’m sure you can look back over your life and remember moments when a single word shifted everything. For me, I can think of several:
“Yes!” – Christy agreed to marry me. That “yes” led to marriage, kids, and the beautiful family we have today.
“No!” – I wasn’t accepted into the college I wanted. That one word changed my direction, influenced where I lived, and ultimately opened the door for Christy and me to get married.
“Dad?” – Times when my boys got my attention to share something heavy on their hearts.
Each of these words carried weight. Each redirected my life in a moment.
The same is true for the two men who came to Jesus in these passages. One was defined by the word can, and the other by the word will.
In Mark 9, a father—desperate for his son’s freedom—approaches Jesus with the words, “If you can…”
In Matthew 8, a man with leprosy kneels before Jesus and says, “If you will.” He didn’t question Jesus’ ability; he trusted it completely.
The father was desperate, clinging to hope. The leper was confident, trusting in Jesus’ heart. The father went to Jesus as an option. The leper went to Him as the solution.
And in both cases, Jesus healed. The boy was delivered. The man was cleansed. But notice the difference in tone—one was gently challenged for doubt, the other honored for his faith.
You and I face the same choice. When needs arise, do we approach Jesus with, “If you can?”—hesitant and unsure of His heart toward us? Or do we pray, “If you will”—confident that He is both able and willing, even if His answer looks different than we expect?
One word revealed their posture. One word drew out Jesus’ response. One word changed everything.
So, what’s your word?
This week, I pray your prayers sound like, “Jesus, if you will.” May you be bold, confident, and trusting—because He truly is who He says He is. Our role is to come to Him in faith, leaving the results in His hands. He can do it!
Prayer
Jesus, I pray for everyone reading this today. Fill them with boldness and courage to bring every need to You. Remind them that You can—and when You don’t, it’s because You have something even better. Thank You for loving us. Help us walk with faith and trust in You each day. Amen.
