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The Ten Lepers

Jesus was on the border between Samaria and Galilee and as they approached a village he was confronted by ten lepers. They kept their distance as was commanded by law, but they recognized Jesus and cried out for help.

Luke 17:11 NIV

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.

Luke 17:12 NIV

As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance

Luke 17:13 NIV

and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

Jesus didn’t heal them directly

Luke 17:14 NIV

When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

Only one came back to thank Jesus

Luke 17:15–16 NIV

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.

The only one that came back to thank Jesus was a Samaritan. Just think of the implications of that.

Jesus healed ten lepers and only one returned to thank him

That one was a Samaritan

Jesus asked some very good questions as a result of only 10% returning to thank him

Luke 17:17–18 NIV

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

“Were not all ten cleansed?”

The obvious answer is “Yes”, Jesus had indeed shown mercy to all of them and healed them. They could now return home and reenter society.

“Where are the other nine?”

This is the central point, the ingratitude of these other nine. They should have returned to praise God and thank Jesus for their healing, but they didn’t.

The physical healing remains, but the spiritual healing never takes place

The third question flows out of the second and carries the other major emphasis

“Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Foreigners were prohibited from entering into the temple grounds and faced the penalty of death if they did. But here Jesus is looking toward a time in the near future when all will be welcomed into God’s presence.

Luke 17:19 NIV

Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

He had now experienced both physical healing and spiritual salvation

The nine refused to respond in faith to God who had healed them and so missed out on the far more important healing.

Where do you fit in?

The nine who didn’t return didn’t see the real blessing/gift that Jesus was giving them. The Samaritan came back and received more than he thought he did.

Sometimes we find ourselves running to “show the priests”

and all the time forgetting to gives praise to the one who gives the gifts

“The critical question for our generation—and for every generation—is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there?” - John Piper

Daniel 3:16–18 NIV

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Their relationship wasn’t built on what God could do for them but on who he was

If Jesus never answered another prayer the way you wanted him too...

would you continue to serve him?