Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well (Luke 17 11-19).As we read in the passage above we can see that one out of the ten lepers who was healed came back and threw himself at Jesus’ feet and praised him in a loud voice. And Jesus asked him weren’t all ten healed then how come only one returned to praise God.
A. Were there not ten cleansed? Jesus missed the nine who did not return to give thanks. He wondered where they were. Jesus also notices our lack of gratitude.
i. We would think that everyone who would pray would also praise God; but this is sadly not always the case. What possible excuse is there for this?
ii. We can always find reason for gratitude before God. Matthew Henry, the famous Bible commentator, was robbed of his wallet once. He wrote in his diary that night all the things he was thankful about:
First, that he had never been robbed before.
Second, that though they took his wallet, they did not take his life.
Third, because even though they took it all, it wasn’t very much.
Finally, because he was the one who was robbed and not the one who was robbing
B. Two Doves: In the Old Testament also we can see that if a skin diseased person was healed he has to go through a cleansing ceremony or diagnose conducted by the priests. So Jesus asks all of them to show to the Priest, “In Leviticus 14:2-7 “These are the regulations for the diseased person at the time of his ceremonial cleansing, when he is brought to the priest: The priest is to go outside the camp and examine him. If the person has been healed of his infectious skin disease, the priest shall order that two live clean birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop be brought for the one to be cleansed. Then the priest shall order that one of the birds be killed over fresh water in a clay pot. He is then to take the live bird and dip it, together with the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed of the infectious disease and pronounce him clean. Then he is to release the live bird in the open fields.”
So when Jesus healed the lepers and asked them to go show themselves to the priest, the priest had to put them through the cleansing ceremony. While the ceremony was happening one out of the ten realized the reason behind it. He understood that Jesus was the bird that was going to be crucified for him to be set free. He finally understood the tremendous sacrifice that Jesus was about to give for the mankind and for him. Isa 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. And he just couldn’t hold it in, he could not keep it quiet that he had to return and fall at his feet for he understood; he finally found the truth and the truth set him free.
If we can put ourselves in the shoes or life of that leper we can see that our lives were once effected with a deadly diseases that was destroying us the “SIN”. But we were forgiven and healed, it was only when we met Jesus that our sins were forgiven. And if you are an individual who heard Jesus but has not accepted him into your life, we urge you to do so. Examine the life you are leading and ask Jesus to come into your heart and life. Make him the savior of your life and see how he will transform you. The leper was cleansed outwardly as well inwardly. Come lets shout of praise to God for he has given a victory over our a health, and our soul. So, Fly freely, but praise God.
By: SS