Read Luke 17:11-19 (NRSV)
Luke 17:11 reveals the Jesus’s unwavering march toward the cross and His intentional presence in places where division reigns. Jesus moves unflinchingly toward His sacrifice in Jerusalem while extending mercy to all, previewing the worldwide scope of His redeeming work.
As He is making His final journey to Jerusalem, Jesus encounters ten lepers who seek healing. Jesus is just outside of the village when he meets this group of lepers. It wasn’t uncommon for lepers to group together. They can’t have much social contact with the “clean” members of society, so they form their own society of the “unclean,” the “untouchables.” Being just outside a village would be common, since they probably obtain food from family members or those in the village who have pity on them. They were ritually unclean and lived separately from the community. Cure was extremely rare in biblical times. In the Old Testament, only two people are healed. They were Merriam and Naaman. The disease of leprosy is something that is not common around here today. In modern times, leprosy, only occurs in tropical Africa and Asia and there is a cure for the disease. But consider the other forms of “leprosy.” Who are the social outcasts of our day: Drug addicts, Porn Stars, Prostitutes, Criminals, Homosexuals, Physically and mentally despaired, HIV patients, beggars. Are there others you can name?
As Jesus has compassion for the all of these the world rejects. will He not care for you?
These 10 lepers are instructed to show themselves to the priests, demonstrating faith in Jesus’ word. And in this way to be reconnected to the community. Only one of the men, when they learned they were healed, was grateful enough to return and praise Jesus. Do you think he was the only one that was happy? Do you think it was easy for him to return to Jesus? After all he was a Samaritan, he despised the Jews and Jesus was a Jew. But he was thankful enough to stop right then and thank Jesus and praise God for this wonderful gift even though it was given by his traditional enemy.
Why did the other nine who were healed not show gratitude? Could it be they thought that as they are God’s children, He owes them these blessings? Or is it because they were very busy rejoining their community and will thank him later. Or did they think that God didn’t heal them, it was: their hard work, an act of nature, their friends or luck?
The Samaritan’s return signifies that faith and gratitude transcend cultural and ethnic boundaries. Last week we spoke about faith the size of a mustard seed. How does this verse speak to the faith of the 10th leper? What happened to give this one the quality of faith that allowed him to venture where his nine friends would not?
For many of us, modern “leprosy” comes in 2 types of deadly problems. Physical problems such as sickness and debt. Spiritual and sin problems that separates us from God.
This passage is a call to thankfulness. It is to encourage us as believers to recognize and express gratitude for God’s blessings in our lives. To focus on what we have been given. To stop and rejoice for all that God has given us.
Let us pray: Dear God, we thank you for your healing power. We lift up those in our community who are struggling with illness, pain, or despair. Grant them your healing touch and fill them with your peace. Help us to be like the one leper who returned to offer thanks, always mindful of your blessings and quick to express our gratitude. For those who are struggling we ask that you, Lord, touch them with your healing hand. Give them hope where there is hopelessness and a path forward when life seems to be at a standstill. Be with those who have lost loved ones and help them through their time of grief. Amen