The Greatest Miracle of Thanksgiving
I shouldn’t be surprised.
Yet, there are times I’m caught off guard during my study time in God’s Word.
Once again, I just can’t seem to let go of the story of the ten lepers.
(Told you a couple of weeks ago there was so much more to this story!)
Here’s the passage where I spent the bulk of my time this week. And, I suspect I’ll be returning to it one more time.
Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
(Luke 17:17–19, NIV)
This week, I landed on six words.
“Your faith has made you well.”
Wait a minute!
Wasn’t this tenth leper already made well?
Wasn’t he cleansed along with the other nine?
Yes.
And that’s where digging into the original language becomes so helpful.
Luke uses two different Greek words in this account.
First, Scripture tells us that “as they went, they were cleansed.”
The Greek word is katharizō.
Cleansed. Purified. Healed of a devastating disease.
But when Jesus speaks to the one who returned, He uses a different word.
Sōzō.
A word that can mean to heal, rescue, deliver…
Or SAVE.
It’s the same word frequently used in Scripture when speaking of salvation.
And suddenly, I’m pondering the magnitude of what Jesus has just said.
Could it be that Jesus was declaring something far greater than physical healing?
Ten were cleansed.
But, one returned in faith.
And to that one, Jesus declared:
“Your faith has made you well.”
The other nine received a remarkable gift. Their diseased bodies were restored.
But even restored bodies eventually die.
This one?
The Samaritan.
The foreigner.
The one who fell at Jesus’ feet in humble worship and thanksgiving…
Jesus’ words point us toward something eternal.
Not simply healing from disease.
But the saving grace of God.
Not merely a restored body.
But a restored relationship with the Giver of life.
No longer leprous of skin; but, by grace through faith, no longer separated from God by sin.
The foreigner who came as an outcast was welcomed into something far greater than the community from which he’d been excluded.
The Kingdom of God.
No longer far off; he was brought near.
He saw beyond the miracle to the Miracle Maker.
And the Miracle Maker offered him something greater still.
Now, here’s the thought that has stayed with me…
When Jesus acts in compassion toward those who desperately need Him…
And we watch someone respond to His grace with genuine faith, humility, and worship…
WATCH!
Open your eyes!
Because we may be witnessing the greatest miracle of all.
Not merely a changed circumstance.
Not simply answered prayer.
Not even the healing of a broken body.
A soul being saved!
A life redeemed.
A sinner welcomed into the family of God.
The Kingdom of God expanding before our very eyes!
And THAT is the greatest miracle worthy of celebration!
It’s just a thought…
