We have already seen (5:12-16) that leprosy was perhaps the disease feared above all others in the time of Jesus. These ten people were excluded from their communities to such an extent, that their previous cultural barriers had become meaningless – there were both Jews and Samaritans in the group. The passage can be read here.
Thoughts
In the previous section the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith. It could be that Luke, in his orderly account, placed this incident here in order to give a picture of how to respond in faith. There are a few things to note. They ‘called out in a loud voice’. Jesus did not heal them without them being aware of it as he passed, they called out to him. This is a biblical principle; human beings recognise their need and their inability to meet that need so they call out to God. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” The same verse is found three times in the Bible so we can appreciate, this is important.
Some years ago, I walked through a market in Turkey. It was an interesting experience but one that made me quite uncomfortable. I found that the Turkish approach to gaining business was very different to the reserved British approach with which I am familiar. They didn’t wait to be asked about something, they came out and asked me. They wanted me to go in and look at their products, to have some tea. The fact that there was nothing that I wanted to buy didn’t seem relevant. I became aware very early on in this experience, that if I wanted to make any progress, I would have to ignore people. I didn’t enjoy ignoring people, in fact it made me very uncomfortable, but it seemed to me, a fish out of water, it was my only option. It was perhaps a glimpse of what it must be like in places in the developing world where there are countless beggars – do you have to ignore them too? It must have been like that for Jesus but he never ignored anyone. He always heard the cries of the desperate and not only did he hear; he had the ability to cleanse. He gave the lepers a command.
The lepers were faced with a choice, should they do as Jesus commanded or ignore him? They were not healed immediately, in fact, they were still leprous. The ritual of going to a priest was to ensure that the person had recovered from the skin condition and there was no longer a risk of passing on the disease. Why would you see a priest if your condition was the same? The simple answer is because the person telling you to go is Jesus. He has the power to heal, he has a track record delivering on his promises and he is the son of God. That’s what faith looks like; it’s being obedient to God’s word rather than following the accepted wisdom. Luke’s words are significant; “as they went, they were cleansed”.
I love the Samaritan who returned. We don’t know what happened to the other nine, perhaps they couldn’t wait to see their families or maybe they were determined to see a priest and be pronounced clean (Luke implies the Samaritan turned around immediately the leprosy had gone). What we do know is that the Samaritan couldn’t wait to go back to Jesus and thank him. He was loud, I bet they heard him before they saw him, and he was grateful. Jesus was not embarrassed, he didn’t tell him to tone it down, he understood the man’s response and his question is one that challenges our own response to grace. He asked; ‘Where are the other nine?’ The whole universe is praising God; ‘The heavens declare the glory of God’ (Psalm 19:1). All of heaven sings praise; “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” When will we join in?
Reflections
We thank you Lord that you hear our cries to you and that you are able act in power. Help us to respond in faith even when we don’t understand what is happening. Help us to continually proclaim your greatness, love and faithfulness.
Here is a thought, how many times have family or friends asked us to pray for a problem or a crisis that is afflicting them and they have no one els to turn to, so they turn to God, but not by praying them selfs, but by asking us to pray. I know from personal experience what that is like, way, way back when I was young my brother had an accident involving a pushbike and a very solid telegraph pole, the pole won, and my brother suffered a brain injury and was in a coma, we all thought he would die, I remember very clearly trying to pray to a God I did not ever think about, (at the time I did not have a Christian to turn to, so I had to do it myself) and I have to be honest never gave God a second thought after, but my prayer was answered. (I know it was answered, when I give my life to Jesus and was able to see it clearly, I knew personally it was He who answered it).
If I was reading this for the first time, I would probably think “how ungrateful the other nine were to just continue walking, “I have made a judgment” now as a sinner saved by Grace, I would “hopefully” turn and give thanks and praise to The Lord Jesus, and not keep on walking as the nine did,
‘How many of use just in the last year, have forgotten to thank The Lord for answer to prayer ‘. “Guilty as charged”.
I don’t know if the nine were saved sinners or just religious believers,What I do know, is that praying for my brother, God answers prayer because He is a loving God full of Grace. So the next time we are asked to pray for people that, neither know or love God, we need to know “He Knows and loves them”.
“If God blesses so abundantly those who are not chosen, what is the magnitude of His blessings for those who are chosen? If nonspiritual people experience such outpourings of merely common grace, how great must the special grace of the regenerate be!” (Boice)
Ps I am sorry there are so many of the personal “I” in my comments, but I (there it is again) believe God uses our personal life experiences when reading his word, to remind us of His Grace in our life’s.