It was just the one who walked away totally healed. Nine others had been healed of leprosy. These nine could now be welcomed back into society and begin living a normal life. Maybe that’s all they wanted, but still they could have at least thanked the One who made their healing possible. But, it was just one of the ten who came back to Jesus to say thank you, and this one a Samaritan. To him Jesus said, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
Is Jesus concerned about our illnesses and infirmities? As this story indicates, the answer is a resounding yes. But His concern for us goes much deeper. He wants to bring healing and wellness to our souls. Our salvation is Jesus’ top priority. It was the Samaritan that understood this, and his heart overflowed with thanksgiving.
We see the polar opposite in Romans 1 where Paul takes us inside of those who stand in rebellion towards God living ungodly and unrighteous lives. Here is what he wrote: “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened (Romans 1:21 ESV).
According to Jeremiah, it is the heart that “is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick” (Jer 17:9 ESV). It is our hearts that need cured, that need to be changed. This healing is found in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The sign that our souls have been made well is a heart overflowing with gratitude.
One out of the ten said thank you to Jesus, for what He did. That one was made well. What about you? What does your heart say?
I am a ONE much forgiven man! I am so thankful that even in my sin “Christ died for me!” I am even more thankful that He lives in me and that we are ONE spirit!
What does my heart say? Sadly, it depends on what I’m going through. God is ever so patient with me, as sometimes I come to Him with a heart of thankfulness, and sometimes pitching a tantrum. Each time, regardless of me, I come away knowing that God still loves me. I wonder if the non-returning 9 knew that Jesus loved them? Yes, they could have at least come back and said, “thank you”, but it doesn’t say why the others didn’t come back. I’m learning, ever so slowly, not to judge another until I’ve walked a mile in their shoes, so to speak. Each day that goes by, God is teaching me more and more to depend on Him, instead of my physical well being. Very seldom have I been healed of any physical ailments, but it’s not until years later that I’m able to say “thank you” for the non-healing. Definitely a learning thing.
I think the level of gratitude we experience depends of what we think of ourselves before we are saved. Luke 7:41-47 records the parable of two men that owed money, one five hundred, the other fifty. Neither could pay and yet both were forgiven their debt. Jesus points out that the one that was forgiven more, loves more but he that is forgiven little loves little.
I believe this illustrates that if we think rather highly of ourselves before we are saved,our gratitude is less than if we truly understand that we are no better than anyone else, for all have sinned.
I had a ‘aha!” moment this morning concerning the Samaritan leper. Enjoyed the sermon, BC. Samaritans were 1/2 Jew, 1/2 Gentiles; and hated by both. The body of Christ is comprised up of both Jew and Gentile in the same body, and hated by both. The Gospels were aimed towards the Jews for all practical purposes, and they were God’s chosen people. Yet the Samaritans kept popping up as the “Good guys” (Samaritan gave thanks; the “Good Samaritan” Parable, the Samaritan woman who gave praise when she found out who Jesus was) I never made the connection until listening this morning.
Neat.
The story of the Samaritan leper coming back to say “thank you” to Jesus is a story of God’s grace towards us. This Samaritan man realized the truth that God did not just healed him externally but also internally as well, and he received a heart transformation that day. When he was healed, he knew it was not because he deserved this healing but it was by God’s grace that he received such miracle. Just like this Samaritan man, God wants us to know that His heart is full towards us whether we want to acknowledge him or not. But why only one and a Samaritan (foreigner) came back to say ‘thank you’ and acknowledge the Lord for the miracle he received? This 1 Samaritan is like that of the tithe (1/10th). God first tithe to us by sending His Son, Jesus. He came to His own, but his own rejected him. So he turns to the gentiles (the church). The Samaritan man healed now, came to thank Jesus, and here’s what Jesus said ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’ The phrase “made you well” is taken from the Greek word ‘sozo’ which means “to preserve or rescue from natural dangers and afflictions, ‘save, keep from harm, preserve, rescue,’ specifically, ‘safe or free from disease.'” In conclusion, this Samaritan man received more than the others. They received healing but this Samaritan man received a soul healing which is more than skin deep and prompted him to come back in submission to Jesus in humility and thankfulness.