Luke 17:11-19: Why Did Only One Leper Return To Thank Jesus?
The Gospels reveal to us that the Lord Jesus healed people everywhere He went. One wonderful account of healing is found in Luke 17:11-19, where Jesus healed a group of lepers. What makes it so special? Let's see and find out.
Social Outcasts
The account in Luke 17 tells us that Jesus healed ten men with leprosy. Lepers were social outcasts in Bible times, and were forbidden from intermingling with others in society (see Leviticus 13). Their being "unclean" led to them being rejected by others, and the feeling of rejection probably crept into their hearts so much that they wouldn't even approach Jesus personally – instead, they would call for His mercy from afar:
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"As Jesus went to Jerusalem, He passed between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered a village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood at a distance. They lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"" (Luke 17:11-13)
What's great about the Lord is that He didn't reject them. Instead, He took notice of them and responded to their plea:
"When He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests."" (see Luke 17:14)
This conversation reminds us of what the Lord Jesus Himself said elsewhere:
"All whom the Father gives Me will come to Me, and he who comes to Me I will never cast out." (John 6:37)
Authentic Gratitude
Of the ten lepers Jesus healed, however, only one came back, and of all the lepers, he wouldn't be anybody who could be expected to do it:
"And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned with a loud voice glorifying God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan." (Luke 17:14-16)
Think about it. All ten lepers were healed, but only one returned to glorify God and fall down to worship Him in gratitude. And that person wasn't even a Jew, a part of God's people. Perhaps, he valued God's goodness and grace more than God's own people did.
Christ will know
Towards the end of the account we find Jesus asking the very same question that we should ponder on:
"Jesus said, "Were not the ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Were there not any found to return and give glory to God except this foreigner?"" (Luke 17:17-18)
Let's ask ourselves. Do we confessed Christians really thank God for what He has done? Do we really understand and value the significance of what He has done and is continually doing for us in our lives?
Will we be like the Samaritan who glorifies God and falls down before Him for what He has done? Or will be like the other nine who simply go on and disappear after receiving what we ask God for?
The uncomfortable truth is that so often, we are more like the other nine than the one who returned to give thanks.
