11 And it came to pass, as they were on the way to Jerusalem, that
he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as
he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were
lepers, who stood afar off: 13 and they lifted up their voices,
saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them,
he said unto them, Go and show yourselves unto the priests. And it
came to pass, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of
them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, with a loud
voice glorifying God; 16 and he fell upon his face at his feet,
giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering
said, Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 Were
there none found that returned to give glory to God, save this
stranger? 19 And he said unto him, Arise, and go thy way: thy
faith hath made thee whole.
The healing of ten lepers begins the closing cycle of incidents which
marked the last journeys of Jesus toward Jerusalem. It is quite like Luke
to record this miracle, for the chief feature of the story is the
gratitude and the blessing of a Samaritan, and Luke is ever describing
Jesus as the Saviour, not only of the Jews, but of the whole human race.
There is in this miracle, however, another peculiar feature; before the
lepers were cured they were bidden to go to the priests and to declare
that the cure had been effected, and “As they went, they were cleansed.”
It required no little faith to start upon that journey; but they started,
and their faith was rewarded. So to-day when men come to Christ with their
request to be delivered from sin, he commands them to act as though the
petition already were granted, and with the act of faith comes the answer
to the prayer. The command of Christ involved a promise and upon his
promises we can always rely with absolute safety.
One of the lepers “When he saw that he was healed, turned back, with a
loud voice glorifying God; and he fell upon his face at his feet, giving
thanks: and he was a Samaritan.” There is something of surprise and
sadness in the question of Jesus as he saw this restored leper lying at
his feet: “Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine? Were there
none found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger?” It is
always surprising to find that ingratitude is so common among men. Nine
out of ten probably will forget every favor they may receive. It is rare
that one realizes and acknowledges his debt. Still more sad it is to see
so few among those who have accepted the salvation of Christ showing real
gratitude in lives of joyous service and declaring that they are
constrained to live for him who died for them.
There was, however, for the Samaritan a glad word of blessed assurance and
promise, “Arise, and go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” Jesus
either meant to call attention to the means of the cure, namely faith in
himself, and so to nurture that germ of new life into fuller trust in his
divine person; or he meant to say that the faith which first had secured
the healing of the body and which was manifested in the man’s return and
his gratitude now secured for him the salvation of his soul. In either
case we are reminded that gratitude is often found where least it is
expected; that it is always pleasing to our Lord; and that it is the
certain condition of further blessedness and joy.