“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[b] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17.11-19
When we are young and well cared for, we take everything for granted—the food we eat, the houses where we live, the clothes we wear. Things just appear magically on our plates. Closets fill with clothes. Cars automatically fill themselves up and take us where we need to be.
I’m of course reminiscing about my childhood in Wichita Falls, when my mom and dad took care of all my needs as a young boy. I hope I thanked them at the time, though perhaps I simply assumed I would be taken care of—and I was. I did not realize the hours of work, labor, love, and sacrifice that were poured into me and my sister so that all our needs could be met.
The story of the ten lepers follows this same line of thinking. Jesus healed all ten, but only one returned to say, “Thank you.” For Jesus to be in that very time and place on that particular day—on His way up to Jerusalem along the border between Galilee and Samaria—did not just happen. For millennia, God had been preparing to send His Son. Prophets spoke of it, creation groaned for it, and humanity was desperate for it. God prepared a genealogy spanning dozens of generations (see Matthew 1) so that Jesus would be in the correct line of David, adopted by His stepfather Joseph, and born to the virgin Mary. He was kept safe from King Herod, recognized by shepherds and magi, and heralded by angels.
From baby to boy to adult, Jesus was cared for, much like us, so that He might come to bring redemption to the world. The ten lepers were part of that redemption story from Genesis to Revelation. All were healed, but only one was made whole. Leprosy was removed from every one of these men, but only one returned to meet, greet, and show his gratitude to Jesus. I believe this one who returned was not only saved bodily but spiritually as well. He returned to the Source, the Savior, the Messiah.
Even Jesus noticed that only one returned. “Were not all ten cleansed?” He asked. And this one, He said, “was a foreigner.” God’s grace is wide and made available to all, yet not everyone will return to say thanks. Not everyone will find hope in the Savior. Some have been given many opportunities but are still living life according to their own plans and designs.
Today’s lesson is not only a reminder to be grateful and to say thanks, but to be made whole by the Creator, the Christ, the One sent to redeem the world. He is the One who can heal our hearts and meet all our needs, no matter what.
Will you turn to Christ this day? Will you seek the Savior, trust in His Word, and find hope in the One who is willing and able to redeem your soul?
“O Lord God, You are good and faithful. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for allowing me to walk in newness of life. Thank You for caring for all my needs, and for this I am grateful. I love You, Lord, and praise Your name. For You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen.