“Then Jesus answered, ‘Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ And he said to him, ‘Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.’” – Luke 17:17–19
Imagine having a debilitating disease that causes you to have to withdraw from society due to perceived “uncleanness.”
If you had this disease, which was called leprosy in Jesus’ day, and you were healed of it, do you think you’d thank the healer?
Shockingly, this wasn’t always the case. The same thing happens to this very day. Jesus kindly heals some people, and they do not even thank Him.
Leprosy can be defined as,
… [a] chronic infectious disease…manifested by changes in the skin, mucous membranes, and peripheral nerves. In the skin there are often patches of depigmentation…Loss of sensation to touch and temperature is frequently associated with the depigmented patches. Thickening of the skin and nodule formation cause the lionlike facial appearance…Peripheral nerve involvement may cause paralysis of a hand, leg, or face, or it may cause loss of sensation so complete that serious injury or ulceration to an extremity may occur without the afflicted person knowing it. The eyes, ears, and nose are also frequently involved. (1)
Jesus heals both a leper (Matthew 8:2–4; Mark 1:40–45; Luke 5:12–16) and a group of 10 lepers (Luke 17:11–19), which we will now study.
Leprosy caused an infected person to be rejected as ritually unclean. Entire sections of the Bible (e.g., Leviticus 13-14) gave detailed instructions for treating people, homes, and clothes with leprosy. Leprosy caused a person to be isolated, rejected, and in some cases was “a punishment from God for sin (cf. Num. 12:10–15; 2 Kings 5:27; 15:5; 2 Chron. 26:20–21).” (2)
People avoided lepers because they did not want to become personally infected or religiously unclean. Jesus, however, was not concerned because we do not defile Him; rather, He cleanses us! In fact,
The attitude of Jesus toward those afflicted with leprosy was in marked contrast to that of the rabbis of his day. One rabbi would not eat an egg purchased in a street where there was someone with leprosy. Another rabbi threw stones at lepers in order to keep them away. But Jesus touched a man with leprosy, thereby demonstrating his power to overcome uncleanness as represented by leprosy (Mt 8:3; Mk 1:41–42; Lk 5:12–13). (3)
After healing the 10 lepers, Jesus instructed them to go to the religious leaders to have their miracle healing confirmed, which would have caused them to no longer be considered “unclean” and permitted them to enjoy full integration into society. This was a life-changing day for these men!
While 10 were healed, only one returned to thank Jesus for healing him, and that man was the Samaritan – a group that was despised by the Jews of the day because they were a cult worshipping a demonic false god. This man was as outcast as possible – a Samaritan leper – however Jesus healed him, and the man returned to thank Jesus.
Sadly, “God’s graciousness is often ignored and unappreciated. In addition, often those who have blessed forget to take time to thank those God uses. Jesus appreciates the Samaritan’s sensitivity and commends it. So Jesus asks, ‘Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Yes, he was the only one who gave thanks. Those who do not take blessings for granted make up an exclusive club of surprising people.” (4)
We will end this week’s devotionals learning about Jesus healing a man born blind.
Take some time to worship and thank Jesus for the incredible things He has done in your life.
(1) Walter A. Elwell and Philip Wesley Comfort, Tyndale Bible Dictionary, Tyndale Reference Library (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), 809.
(2) David P. Wright, “Leprosy,” ed. Mark Allan Powell, The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated) (New York: HarperCollins, 2011), 548.
(3) Walter A. Elwell and Philip Wesley Comfort, Tyndale Bible Dictionary, Tyndale Reference Library (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), 810.
(4) Darrell L. Bock, Luke, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), Lk 17:11–19.
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