I’ve always been fascinated with the story in Luke 17: 11-19 where Jesus heals 10 lepers and only one comes back to praise and thank him. The event describes Jesus coming into a village where 10 lepers are standing at a distance crying out,” Jesus, Master, have mercy on us”. Leprosy was extremely contagious and required carriers to shout “Unclean, “Unclean” when approaching healthy people in the village. They had to live in total isolation. Because leprosy “deadened” all feelings in their extremities, toes, fingers etc, the person would not feel any pain. Such a horrible disease – that totally removed you from family and friends – with little hope for healing. Then along comes the Healer. All are healed at Christ’s words. The custom required that they go to the temple to show themselves to the priest, but only one comes back to praise God for their healing and a Samaritan at that. The saddest part to me is when Jesus says” Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?” Has no one returned to give glory to God for their healing except this foreigner?. We may not experience a miracle as great as these lepers did, but I think His question…”didn’t I heal 10?”says volumes about how He longs to hear our grateful praise – for who He is and what He has done in our lives. Maybe this week, spend some time thanking Christ for his unending providence in our lives beyond the greatest event to hit planet earth…….Calvary and the Resurrection.
Don Miller
