Jesus Heals Ten Men
With Leprosy
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus
traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had
leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus,
Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go,
show yourselves to the priests.” And
as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed,
came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and
he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all
ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?18 Has no one returned
to give praise to God except this foreigner?”19 Then he said to him, “Rise
and go; your faith has made you well.”
Luke 17:11-19 (NIV) (emphasis mine)
I don’t know about you, but when I
read this story, it seems pretty clear that it is highlighting the gratefulness
of the Samaritan. Jesus clearly points out that 10 lepers came and asked for
healing, and questions where the other 9 are and tells the Samaritan that his
faith has made him well (meaning physically as well as spiritually). Thanksgiving
– gratefulness – is a big theme in the Bible. It is incredibly important to
always be thankful, as every good gift comes from God.
There is, however, another part of
this verse that stuck out to me. “As they went, they were cleansed.”
There are many healing stories in the bible, from the Old Testament to the New,
from Jesus to his disciples. There are stories of instant healing, of Jesus
calling to a cripple to get up and walk, or to stretch out their withered hand.
When these people did as Jesus asked, they were healed. But there are some
stories, where the person asking for healing is healed, but not right there on
the spot. Obeying Jesus’ instructions lead to their healing, but they have to
do a little more than “just” stand up or stretch out their hand.
Take, for instance, this story in the
Old Testament, found in 2 Kings.
Naaman Healed of Leprosy
5 Now Naaman was commander
of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his
master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory
to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.[a]
9 So
Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s
house. 10 Elisha
sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the
Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”
11 But Naaman went away
angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and
call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his
hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not
Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of
Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in
a rage.
13 Naaman’s servants went
to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great
thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you,
‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 So he
went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God
had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a
young boy.
2 Kings 5: 1, 9-14 (NIV)
We see here that Naaman went in search of healing, and when the prophet, Elisha, sent out his servant to tell Naaman what to do, Naaman was not happy. Naaman was a great man, a valiant solider, highly regarded by his master. He wanted Elisha to come out and give him special treatment, to wave his hand over the spot and to instantly heal him. However, Naaman had a part to play in his healing. He had to humble himself enough to realise that, although Elisha did not personally come out to see him, Elisha did give Naaman the answer to his healing. And Naaman had to humble himself and go dip himself in the Jordan, though he believed the rivers of Damascus were better. And he had to dip himself into the water seven times! After Naaman’s servants talked to him and got him to see reason, Naaman did as Elisha told, and he was healed. His skin became clean like that of a young boy! I have 3 children, and I tell you, as an adult, I wish I could have skin as clear and smooth as theirs!
Naaman had a part to play in his healing. He had to actively, and humbly do what Elisha had told him to do.
As with the 10 lepers, they called out to Jesus for healing and he told them to go show themselves to the priest, and it was as they obeyed Jesus’ words and were on their way, that they were healed.
This is where I find myself on my journey to healing. To figuring out what upsets my stomach and healing my gut, and figuring out what causes the break outs around my lips. Jesus could just instantly heal me and I could be dancing through the grocery store, praising God, eating whatever it was I wanted. But that wouldn’t draw me closer to Jesus. That wouldn’t answer the questions of what foods I can tolerate and what foods I could not. And that would definitely not lead to weight loss, or even maintaining my weight, but would definitely lead to weight gain!
My relationship with Jesus does not tie me down in a bunch of rules, laws or legality. The grace of God gives me the freedom, the power, to say no to the things that are not healthy for me – whether that is actual food, relationships, or activities. With God’s grace I am empowered to go along this journey of discovery and healing. To have a healthy relationship with food and a deeper relationship with Jesus.
Right now, I am on my way to healing, and I know it will not always be an easy, fun road to take. The path to life is narrow and few find it! But there is adventure, freedom, joy and healing to be found along this path.
May I continue on my way to healing and always remember to thank Jesus for the journey and the healing!
God Bless.
2 Kings 5: 1, 9-14 (NIV)
We see here that Naaman went in search of healing, and when the prophet, Elisha, sent out his servant to tell Naaman what to do, Naaman was not happy. Naaman was a great man, a valiant solider, highly regarded by his master. He wanted Elisha to come out and give him special treatment, to wave his hand over the spot and to instantly heal him. However, Naaman had a part to play in his healing. He had to humble himself enough to realise that, although Elisha did not personally come out to see him, Elisha did give Naaman the answer to his healing. And Naaman had to humble himself and go dip himself in the Jordan, though he believed the rivers of Damascus were better. And he had to dip himself into the water seven times! After Naaman’s servants talked to him and got him to see reason, Naaman did as Elisha told, and he was healed. His skin became clean like that of a young boy! I have 3 children, and I tell you, as an adult, I wish I could have skin as clear and smooth as theirs!
Naaman had a part to play in his healing. He had to actively, and humbly do what Elisha had told him to do.
As with the 10 lepers, they called out to Jesus for healing and he told them to go show themselves to the priest, and it was as they obeyed Jesus’ words and were on their way, that they were healed.
This is where I find myself on my journey to healing. To figuring out what upsets my stomach and healing my gut, and figuring out what causes the break outs around my lips. Jesus could just instantly heal me and I could be dancing through the grocery store, praising God, eating whatever it was I wanted. But that wouldn’t draw me closer to Jesus. That wouldn’t answer the questions of what foods I can tolerate and what foods I could not. And that would definitely not lead to weight loss, or even maintaining my weight, but would definitely lead to weight gain!
My relationship with Jesus does not tie me down in a bunch of rules, laws or legality. The grace of God gives me the freedom, the power, to say no to the things that are not healthy for me – whether that is actual food, relationships, or activities. With God’s grace I am empowered to go along this journey of discovery and healing. To have a healthy relationship with food and a deeper relationship with Jesus.
Right now, I am on my way to healing, and I know it will not always be an easy, fun road to take. The path to life is narrow and few find it! But there is adventure, freedom, joy and healing to be found along this path.
May I continue on my way to healing and always remember to thank Jesus for the journey and the healing!
God Bless.
