Have you ever been so sick that no one really wanted to be near you? Others thought they might 'catch' what made you sick and, in turn, they would get sick, too.
Jesus and his disciples were passing by a certain city when they heard men crying out, "Jesus, please make us well." These men, ten in all who had heard about Jesus healing other people from all sorts of bad stuff, were lepers. And now they called loudly to him, for they stood far off. (When one 'caught' leprosy which is a very very bad skin disease, s/he had to live outside the city's gates until they either got well or died. Leprosy back then was very contagious!) They cried out, "Jesus, master, have mercy on us!" And Jesus heard their cries.
Always willing to help those who earnestly call out to HIM and obey HIS commandments, Jesus stopped and called back to the lepers, "Go into town and show yourselves to the priests." Moses had commanded every leper to do this when the afflicted one was healed. The ten lepers understood what Jesus meant, and they started at once to go to the priests for an examinations. And as they went the leprosy left their bodies and they were made every bit well.
One of these lepers stopped and turned back just as soon as he saw that his leprosy had gone from him. He ran to Jesus and fell down before him, worshiping him and thanking him for the miracle he had perform. And this man was not a Jew, but a Samaritan.
The other men, however, hurried on their way, never stopping to thank the great healer.
And Jesus said to the disciples, "Were there not ten lepers who were made well? But where are the nine? There is none turned back to give thanks except this stranger who is a Samaritan." Then he said to the man kneeling at his feet, "Rise up and go your way, for your faith has made you well."
Luke 17:11-17
No comments:
Post a Comment