Ten were healed.
All lepers.
Their skin ulcerated…issuing a foul discharge.
Eyebrows probably gone.
Vocal chords thinning, leaving a raspy/hoarse voice.
Nerve endings numb (which in many cases left them with missing fingers or toes)…
Eyes glazed over & staring.
Muscles wasting away.
Progressively dying.
Shunned by society.
That’s how William Barclay describes the hideous disease in his Study Bible…
The ten had come seeking Jesus, and found Him along the road, traveling somewhere between Samaria and Galilee.
They kept their distance, as was the Law.
But, despite the difficulty in talking, they cried out for compassion…mercy…help…an answer to their most difficult prayer (ten voices are more easily heard than one)…
They’d heard the stories of Jesus healing other lepers, I’m sure…
I don’t know if they expected the response from Jesus that they received, but they listened (in the sense of they did what He said):
“Go and show yourselves to the priests (Luke 17:14a).”
The outcome was what they’d hoped for, however:
“And as they went they were cleansed (Luke 17:14b).”
Ten were healed.
Ten received answered prayer.
“One returned to Jesus when he saw that he was healed (Luke 17:15).”
Just one.
With restored voice from healed vocal chords, he cried out with an exceeding large and loud voice, praising God, glorifying the Lord, extolling His name.
He recognized there was a GREAT WHO behind the answered prayer.
“He fell on his face at Jesus feet (Luke 17:16).”
There’s so much more to this story…so much more; this is enough.
But I wonder…
Is the ratio the same today? Do only one out of ten of us recognize our Heavenly Savior’s hand of blessing? Do only 10% humble ourselves before Him, leaving 90%, who are so excited about the answer to prayer, that we disregard THE GREAT I AM without a word, or any kind of a sacrifice of thanksgiving?
Am I the 10% or the 90%?
We’ve set aside a day here in America to do just this…give thanks out of a grateful heart.
