This Sunday, we’re going to read the account of Jesus healing 10 lepers, and the one who came back to thank him. It’s found in Luke 17:11-19.
The word “saw” occurs twice in this story. To me, it emerges as a subtle theme concerning perspective. There are also some strong contrasts that emerge in the text, encouraged by Jesus himself. He asks the question “where are the other nine?”. The similarities and differences between the 9 and the 1 are intriguing to me. What similarities in plight, positioning, plea and cure do you see in the 10 as a whole…but what differences occur with the ONE who “…saw that he was healed”? What contrast do you see from his original plight, positioning, plea and even pronounced cure?
Crud…this is too heady, isn’t it? How about this…. All ten lepers stood at a distance pleading for mercy in the opening of the story. Where does the one Samaritan end up positionally at the end of this story? Jesus tells the 10 to GO to the priests….what does he tell the one to do at the end of the story? We’re told that the 10 were cleansed (original word), but he told the one who returned that he was made well (original word)…what distinction, if any, do you see in this? A cure that leads to healing…that sounds strange, doesn’t it? If we think about our own lives and encounters with Christ, do we see similarities between our own experiences and that of the 10 and then the 1? What does this tell us about goals for our spiritual journey?
Well…those are some interesting questions about a passage that always seemed so straight forward to me before. This will be fun to explore together this Sunday!
WONDERWHAT 
The one not only saw his physical condition, he saw his spiritual condition. After he was physicaly cleansed, he could see that God had cleansed his spiritual also. I don’t think the nine were even aware of their spiritual.
The one not only saw his physical condition, he saw his spiritual condition. After he was physicaly cleansed, he could see that God had cleansed his spiritual also. I don’t think the nine were even aware of their spiritual.
I heard someone ask the question “Have you been washed in the water or washed in the blood?”
The water would have cleansed the outer dirt on the clothes and skins. It may have removed the visual blemishes that we can see. May be why Jesus tells them to show themselves to the priests. It appears to be another shot at the outwardly religious.
The blood healed us from sin which has its roots inside, in our hearts. The one realized that the cleansing was much deeper than outward appearance and that he was healed of the disease. He had no other choice, he had to return to thank the one who had healed him.
The cleansing could be temporary and the leprosy could return. But healing is permanent.
Could it be the same with the law. It can provide a temporary cleansing and is usually noticed by the religious, but the healing by the new covenant or blood of Jesus Christ is permanent
The samaritan ended up at Jesus’ feet…healed and made whole, spirit and body receiving the salvation prepared for him as well as physical health. Jesus sent him on his way no need to go and show himself to the priests because he had just met The High Priest! The other 9 who remain in their “religion” missed out on this personal relationship. The note in my bible said that the ingratitude did not deny God’s mercy on the other 9 but did deprive them of fellowship with Him. That seems like a good warning for us…there is Always something to thank God for and by keeping this attitude of gratitude toward Him we remain in fellowship with Him, expecting or deserving nothing but rejoicing that we have Him!