Throughout this month of November, my personal goal has been to remember Thanksgiving. And not just remember Thanksgiving but celebrate thankfulness. My aim has been to ponder gratitude and live on purpose a life that reflects a grateful heart. I’ve pondered long on many of the Gospel stories this month, especially the true stories of Jesus’ generosity with those who sought Him for healing and for freedom.
One that has become a favorite this year is found in Luke 17. It’s so short, you could easily breeze past this little vignette. But God has something to say in these few words, which are rich in depth and full of lessons. I’ve been camped out here this month because this is a passage in which Jesus seems a bit mystified that ten men cried out to Him for healing, but only one returned to say thank you and show honor to the One who restored his health, and possibly his livelihood, family and his ability to regain acceptance in his community. This passage seems earmarked for a season of giving thanks.
Read with me, Luke chapter 17, verses 11 through 19, will you?
11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. 15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”
A really great teacher asks the best questions. And Jesus is the best of the best when it comes to teaching. Not only does Jesus ask the best questions, He evokes more questions from His students throughout the pondering process. Thus, at the end of this personally impactful month, I have more questions than answers. The innumerable reflections from this passage will likely continue teaching me for many weeks and months about the character of God, and the nature of my response to His exceeding kindness and abundant generosity.
In other words, I have no intention of trying to teach you, dear Reader. I will simply add here some of my own observations and further questions, with the hope of spurring you on to read, reflect, ponder and ask your own really great questions of Jesus. Perhaps you will find yourself camped out here in this passage for a while. Enjoy!
11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!
Jesus was traveling, as He was known to do. Additionally, as He was on His way to a particular destination, Jerusalem on this day, Jesus was interrupted. And as He was also known to do, He tarried for some time in response to the cries of these 10 men. So, what do we see, hear, and feel in this short description?
Jesus arrived at the border of two distinct people groups, who did not care for one another. But Jesus doesn’t play favorites. He doesn’t discriminate. He loves. In a different account (recorded in John 4) Jesus said that He must go through Samaria. This was a controversial move, but isn’t Jesus always challenging our preconceived notions, preferences and our bias.
Aren’t we grateful that Jesus loves and cares for all people?
In this scenario, there are 10 men crying out to Jesus from this border town, which is possibly a leper colony. Ten men who possibly would have never know one another were living together because they had one thing in common – they were lepers.
If you’ve ever walked through a hospital, an urgent care facility, or attended a CR or AA meeting, you will find people of all different nationalities, ethnicities, social status, and generation gathered together around a central theme. They know they need help.
- Is not suffering the great equalizer?
- Does disease make a distinction between men based on heritage, social status, wealth or religious beliefs?
- For once in their lives it did not matter whether they were Jewish or Samaritan. They were labeled lepers. They were outcasts.
These men held in common their dire circumstances and their need for healing. They held in common their belief that Jesus could heal them, and they communally believed He was their only hope. Together, they recognized Jesus, and together they cried out for mercy.
- How important is a faith community for those who are suffering?
- How important is it to serve those who are suffering, edifying them and pointing them to Jesus?
14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
Jesus, as He was known to do, allowed Himself to be interrupted on His way to Jerusalem. He saw the men. He heard their cries for help. And He responded with an action all of the men would recognize and understand as from the law of Moses. (See Leviticus 14)
Jesus made it clear when He ministered on Earth that He was doing the work for which His Father sent Him. Healing was a big part of His mission. Jesus in essence declared these men clean and sent them to be examined by the priests. As the men believed Him and set out to obey, they were each one cleansed.
- Am I taking my first step to wholeness when I recognize the presence of Jesus and cry out for His mercy?
- When I choose to obey God’s command am I exemplifying my faith and belief in Him as Master?
- Does my cry for mercy necessitate an active response on my behalf?
- How much healing and wholeness have I experienced simply by recognizing the truth that God sees me, hears me and takes time to care for me?
15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.
And here comes the revealing of our hearts. What do we do with God’s magnificent generosity?
Who is Jesus to me?
In light of God’s wonderful mercy, Jesus healed all 10 men as they obeyed His command to show themselves to the priests. It appears from the scripture passage that these men were doing exactly what Jesus sent them to do. Surely, all 10 realized they were healed, right? One moment their skin was full of disease, and the in the next step their skin was completely restored and healthy.
But one man, the Samaritan man, turned back to thank Jesus for this undeserved gift of health and well-being. One man returned to honor Jesus as the One who gave the gift. And so, as we ponder the difference between nine doing what they were told and one returning to Jesus out of his desperate appreciation, what questions arise?
- What is revealed about what we believe, and what we think we deserve?
- For the 9 who went on, who was Jesus? Was He a kind Rabbi who gave them permission to go to the priests? Was He the righteous Teacher who obediently observed God’s laws as given through Moses?
- Were the 9 ungrateful men? Were they religious men? Were their eyes veiled to the true identity of Jesus, much like the two men on the road to Emmaus?
- And what of the one man, who should not have been in the company of a Jewish Rabbi? Didn’t he encounter Jesus in much the same way as the Samaritan woman at the well?
- How grateful are we when we recognize Jesus, Messiah, the Resurrection and the Life, is present with us in our suffering?
- Is not our response, “Thank you!”?
17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”
I have read this true story of Jesus and the ten lepers many times, and I have always received it as a lesson on thankfulness. It’s the story about 10 who were equally offered mercy and received healing without discrimination. It’s the story in which 9 healed men continue on their way, living their lives as restored men seemingly without looking back. It’s the story in which one, who culturally would have been deemed unworthy of God’s great gift, turned back to say, “Thank you!”
And yet, in this season of pondering, I am captivated by Christ’s response at the end. “Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
Rather than focusing on whether all 10 were obedient or whether 9 were ungrateful or only 1 out 10 were grateful, Jesus cuts right to the heart of the matter. Jesus declares that this whole scenario is about giving glory to God.
According to Jesus, this man showed his faith in God by recognizing Jesus as Messiah, and Healer, the One who gives life and commands disease to be gone. This man, when he recognized that he had been made whole, turned back to give honor to the One through whom he had been made whole. Jesus knows our hearts. He knows the intentions of our heart. He knows when we are repentant. He knows when we turn back to Him.
And miraculously, Jesus is right there waiting to receive the glory due Him. And as we give glory to God for His good and undeserved gifts, He receives our offering of thanks and commissions us to go in faith. He sends us out to testify of His kindness.
All glory to God.
God I thank You, for You are good; Your steadfast love endures forever, and ever. Thank You for loving me first. Thank You for loving these dear Readers. Thank You for teaching us and letting us ask more and more questions as we dig deeper to know You in all Your ways. Please continue to teach us and give us wisdom and discernment as we walk along together in Your Word.
We love You too. Amen.
- Who is Jesus to you?
- What has He done for you?
- How do you want to respond to Him?
Eyes on Jesus and Shine,
Lisa
Something more to ponder with Jesus:
1. Definitions according to Merriam-Webster.
Gratitude: the state of being grateful : thankfulness
Thankfulness: 1: conscious of benefit received for what we are about to receive make us truly thankful
2: expressive of thanks
3: well pleased : glad
was thankful that it didn’t rain
What strikes you as interesting as you read through the Merriam-Webster dictionary definitions?
2. What does it mean to give glory to God? Here’s a question we could ponder for the rest of our lives. But here’s a start from Biblehub.com
The concept of giving glory to God is a central theme throughout the Bible, underscoring the relationship between the Creator and His creation. The act of glorifying God is not merely a suggestion but a fundamental duty of all believers, reflecting God’s supreme worthiness and the believer’s acknowledgment of His sovereignty, majesty, and grace.
3. Compare and Contrast Scriptures.
John 4: The Samaritan woman at the well.
Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”
10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
Continue reading John 4:11-42.
Who is Jesus to you?
What has He done for you?
How do you want to respond to Him?
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