Thank You 1 of 10

The Ten Lepers

"It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

Taking a good look at them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”

They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus said, “Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?” Then he said to him, “Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you.” Luke 17:11-19

This is the 10th message in this series on thanksgiving* and it makes sense to talk about 10 people.

Ten

These 10 people got shunned by their families and their communities. These 10 people have a condition that makes them "unclean". Needless to say, these 10 needs a healing.

And they all called out to Jesus, the Master Healer.

Jesus then told them to go to the priests. And they obeyed.

On the way, they all got healed.

One

But only 1 of the 10, came back to Jesus. He was estatic, shouting words of gratitude and glorifying God.

He went back and kneeled at the feet of Jesus and couldn’t thank Him enough. What is more surprising is that the person who turned around and came back to thank Jesus was a Samaritan. Samaritans and Jews hate each other. And they do not even talk or mingle with one another.

Thank You

This Samaritan not only asked a Jew to heal him, but when he got healed he shouted for joy, he knelt and couldn't hide his gratitude. Jesus then gave him one more bonus -- He healed him totally and saved him too.

So Grateful, So Rewarded

In this life, sometimes it is easy to be on our way and we forget to turn around to those who have done us good -- imagine, a life saving miracle but only out of ten went back. We should strive to be that one and be forever grateful. Thank you unnamed leper, for showing us how.