The Ten Lepers

On his way to Jerusalem from Galilee Jesus is passing through Samaria. Samaria was a place that Jewish people considered full of unclean people, inferior foreigners who were unworthy of worshipping alongside them in Jerusalem (John 4:9). Ultimately, They did not belong; they lacked dignity and value in the eyes of the Jews.

In a particular village a group of ten lepers sought to meet Jesus. Most likely hearing of his healing power and seeking to be cleansed, they stood at a distance and waited for Jesus to pass by. Their distance was caused by their disease, which caused them to be outcasts not only from the Jews but also from all others who were not disease ridden. These ten lepers made up a broken community, socially rejected by Jew and Gentile, distanced from temple worship, without hope and without God.

But then enter Jesus, walking in their midst, by coincidence i surely doubt. As he walks by, these men screamed at the top of their lungs, “Jesus, Master have mercy on us!” Not only did they know the name of their healer and savior but they also understood his great power as “master.” Jesus was the master of provision, the master over the storms, the master of all disease and sickness, and the master over the Lame deaf and dumb. This Jesus, unlike all the prophets before was the master over every demon, every sin, and even death itself. This Jesus truly was a master of all creation, and it was in Him that these Lepers sought mercy.

The mercy they desired came with Jesus looking towards them, seeing them for what they were, helpless, hopeless, and longing for a home. When Jesus took notice, they longed for him to extend not only a glance of pity, but also a compassionate hand of healing. the wanted to be helped, filled with hope, and commanded to run home to belong. I’m sure in their longing, they had wanted to hear the words “you are healed,” but in the Kingdom of God, healing comes in the form of a call.

So it is with Jesus, when he sees broken men discontent with their broken lives, understanding their inability to remedy their brokenness, he extends them his hand of compassion in a call of faith. He calls all broken men to trust and obey his command, to believe not with their eyes, but with their hearts that He is the Master of all and His Word is good. He calls men to throw their nets to catch abundance, to rest and find peace in the raging storm. He calls the lame to stretch their legs and run, the blind to open their eyes and see, the mute to shout with tongues that have never been heard. He is the master of the living, and the master of the dead, calling them to out of darkness and sorrow and into the light and hope.

Like all others before, Jesus calls these lepers to fully believe and obey his call to “go and show.” These men were commanded to go first to the priests, the ones who had the authority to deem them clean, and show themselves as clean. This command required faith, not in the priests assessment or in the lepers ability to to cleanse themselves, but in the powerful word of Christ. These men were to believe that if he said it, it will be done. In their obedience to Go, they experienced healing on the way. In the same way, true believers who trust in the faithful word and powerful work of Jesus Christ are healed, forgiven, saved, and redeemed.

Even though these men went to the priests and were healed, the story continues. Amongst these ten lepers, one man, noticed a change in his life. as he was running towards Jerusalem to hear the words “your are clean” from the priests in the temple he noticed that he was already clean. Rather than continuing to run to the words of the priests, he recognized that there was someone else’s word that mattered more, the very one who commanded him to go.

Running back to Jesus, this broken man, the very same one who stood at a distance crying out for mercy, now fell facedown fully healed at the feet of Jesus. He was a foreigner, distant by both blood and disease, truly an outcast to all creation. But now as one who had received mercy, he belonged to a greater kingdom, drawn near by faith, truly a friend of the Master of all creation.

This was worth shouting about, and so this leper fell down in praise and thanksgiving at the feet of the one who commanded him to Go. The priests were not worthy of his thanks, and he certainly could not take credit for the gift he had been given. He recognized that the one who showed compassion and said Go, was the only one who was worthy of his praise.

The man understood the value of the gift, and he couldn't help but praise the giver….Do we as believer appreciate the gift we have been given? If so, our life should be marked by thanksgiving.

The things we can glean form this story are simple:

His Word Heals & Restores – Reflects Jesus' power to heal and restore the broken, as seen with the lepers.

His Word Calls Us To Faith – Emphasizes Jesus’ command to trust and obey, like the lepers going to show themselves to the priests in faith.

His Word is Worthy of Thanksgiving – Highlights the response of true faith, marked by gratitude, as shown by the leper who returned to thank Jesus.

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The Healing of the Ten Lepers and the Call to Faith

I. Setting the Scene: Jesus Passing Through Samaria

Jesus travels from Galilee to Jerusalem, passing through Samaria.Samaritans are viewed as unclean and inferior by the Jews (John 4:9).Jewish people consider Samaritans unworthy of worship in Jerusalem.

II. Encounter with the Ten Lepers

A group of ten lepers wait for Jesus in a village, seeking healing.The lepers, considered unclean, are social outcasts, separated from both Jews and Gentiles.These men form a broken community, distanced from society and temple worship, and without hope.

III. Cry for Mercy

As Jesus passes by, the lepers cry out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”They recognize Jesus not only by name but as “Master” over all creation:

Master over provision, nature, disease, and death. They seek mercy from the One who has authority over all things.

IV. Jesus' Compassionate Response

Jesus looks upon the lepers, recognizing their helplessness and longing for acceptance.Their desire is not only for pity but for compassionate healing, to be restored and welcomed. Jesus calls them to faith, as healing in God’s Kingdom often comes through a call.

V. The Call to Faith and Obedience

Jesus commands the lepers, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”This command requires faith—not in the priests, nor in their ability to cleanse themselves, but in Jesus’ word.As they obey, they are healed on their way to the priests, experiencing the power of faith in Jesus’ command.

VI. The Grateful Return of the Healed Foreigner

One of the lepers, noticing his healing, returns to Jesus.Rather than going to the priests for confirmation, he runs back to Jesus, understanding that Jesus' word alone is what matters.This healed man, a foreigner and former outcast, falls at Jesus’ feet, praising and giving thanks.

VII. The Significance of Thanksgiving

The healed man’s return shows his recognition of the gift and the Giver.His life is now marked by thanksgiving, not seeking validation from others but offering praise to the one who healed him.Reflection: As believers, we too should recognize the value of our gift of salvation and live with hearts marked by gratitude.