Verse 11 On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus passed between Samaria and Galilee. In a village, he encountered ten men with leprosy. We can track the history of this disease back to the third book of the Bible. Jews would come down with the disease as a punishment for a particular sin. Leprosy is a mark of God’s displeasure at disobedience.

Set apart in suffering

Verses 12-13 Not only were they suffering from the dreaded physical skin condition, but it also affected them relationally and psychologically. Lepers had to identify themselves by yelling, “Unclean! Unclean!” so that people would not get close enough to be contaminated by them. (Leviticus 13:45) They had to live apart from others and could not take part in communal life. Their condition was incurable from an earthly perspective. They needed heavenly intervention.

So these lepers stood at a distance by law and cried out, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!

If Jesus is really the Lord of our lives, He will not disappoint as our Savior.

Verse 14 They asked for mercy, but first Jesus needed their obedience. He commanded them to show themselves to the priest. Jesus upheld the ceremonial laws and honored the position of priests in the community.

If we expect God’s miracles and favor in our lives, we must submit to his methods for it.

According to the ceremonial laws recorded in Leviticus 13 – 14, the priests examined those with skin diseases and pronounced them either clean or unclean. Once “clean,” they could return to full participation in the community under the blessing of God.

This is so interesting because the ten lepers stand here asking Jesus for mercy on their sick bodies. And Jesus tells them to go to the priests to be examined for any sign of the disease in their bodies. The priests do not do the healing. They simply inspect the body like a doctor would for any sign of the disease. It’s obvious these lepers are still sick, so why go see a priest at this point?

Disobedience led them to this disease. Obedience is going to lead them out of it.

Jesus wants our hearts. When he has our hearts, he has our obedience.

We cannot say Jesus has our hearts while living in disobedience to His Word.

‘As they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.’ (Luke 17:14 NLT) Walking in obedience to Jesus heals the diseases caused by disobedience in the body, mind, and soul. His mercy follows obedience.

When we do what we can, God will do what we cannot.

Verses 15-16 On the way to see the priest, one of them notices his healing and heads back to Jesus with praises. At Jesus’ feet, the man falls on his face with thanksgiving. He didn’t care what anyone thought: he was not ashamed to give God loud praise for intervening in his life. He knew where his blessing had come from.

When we receive God’s mercy in our lives, we shouldn’t be ashamed to broadcast the truth about it. Our praises may encourage others to trust in Him, too.

Verse 16 This man was a Samaritan. Samaritans did not have the access to worship God or the amount of knowledge about God as the Jews had. And yet here is a Samaritan swiftly leaving his mission, changing course upon his healing, to chase after the glory of God.

Verses 17-19 Seeing only one of the 10 return to praise God, Jesus wanted to know what happened to the rest. He healed nine Jews and one Samaritan, but only the foreigner returns to give God glory.

Jesus’ healing in the Jewish men did not move them to praise Jesus for his mercy. Or maybe they simply forgot.

Ingratitude is a common sin.

Many receive mercy from God, but very few come back to praise Him and give thanks.

It’s very interesting that the one least expected to worship God is the most grateful. A Samaritan comes to Jesus with thanks, but a Jew does not.

Many who profess to be a follower of Jesus go through the motions and adhere to the morals of the law but are not living in devotion and gratitude to Jesus. Jesus opens his hands of kindness, but it’s often not appreciated. He gives so much and receives so little from followers.

So Jesus said to him, get up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you. The word translated “saved” can also mean “deliver” or “make well,” depending on the context. Though Jesus healed all ten from leprosy, the Samaritan received something more because of his praise. The nine experienced external blessings, but only one experienced an internal spiritual blessing in response to his visible and vocal faith and gratitude to God.

Many people, even believers, only want physical blessings from the Lord and lose out on the true spiritual blessings that come through worship, praise, and thanksgiving.

Prayer

Jesus, your ways are not my ways. Your ways are higher and always the healing I need. My heart goes through trials of spiritual leprosy, where my sin keeps me from drawing near to your presence. Alone, deflated, and plagued with the effects of my sin, I struggle to soak in your presence. My disobedience has led me to this place. You listen and pay attention to the confessions of my wrongs. Here they are, Jesus, the struggles with sin that I’m stumbling in. (List them) Help me unravel the twisted thoughts that got me here. Open the eyes of my spirit to your Word so that I may know how to walk in full obedience again. I will do what I can and give you full rein to do what I cannot, Jesus.

Shower me in mercy as I humbly repent of my sin and come to you in faith, my Almighty Priest. You are pure in all your ways, and I trust your mercy. I thank you for the grace you’ve already given me, Jesus. I can praise you from this place for the liberty in my heart, the freedom from the burdens and guilt of sin. There is a release from the depths of my soul that brings joy to my spirit. You are already ahead of me with forgiveness and unfailing love. I know where my blessings come from. Open my mouth for all those around me to hear of this wonderful life I have with you, Jesus.

I pray your healing helps me change course and chase after your glory, Jesus. I don’t want to take this for granted or forget to give you the praise you deserve. What a privilege to sit at your feet, rid my heart of the heaviness, and learn to walk in ways that honor you. On my first breath of the day, I come to you with thanksgiving. Holy Spirit, wake me from my spiritual slumber, from my physical sleep, so that I can come to you with my praise, Jesus. I want my life to be devoted to you, Jesus. You deserve nothing less for all you’ve done for me. I pray your physical blessings in my life sink deep into my heart as spiritual blessings and stir up my praise. In Jesus’ name, Amen.