One day Jesus was traveling with his disciples along the border between Galilee and Samaria. It was there that he met 10 lepers. Leprosy at this time was not only highly contagious through touch but was incurable. Death came slow but it was sure. For the most part lepers were isolated from the healthy population lest they infect others with this dreaded disease. When they did venture forth into public there were required to shout “Unclean, unclean.” Of these 10 lepers 9 were Jewish and one was a Samaritan. In Jesus’ day there was great animosity and racial hatred between the Jews and the Samaritans. They simply did not associate themselves with each other and Jews would not even enter into Samaritan territory. Isn’t it amazing how tragedy makes strange bedfellows? Cancer and AIDS have a way of bringing together the Princeton graduate and the truck driver on common ground. Tragedy and suffering breaks down social, economic, racial and ethnic barriers and walls.

These 10 lepers recognized Jesus and obviously had heard of Jesus because they shouted Him, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” Jesus answer was simple and to the point, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” It was the priests who declared a person to have leprosy and a priest alone who could declare a leprous person clean. I have a suspicion that this was not quite the response they were expecting and hoping for. I imagine they were anticipating a touch by Jesus and words like, “Be healed.” And then they would watch in amazement, as those snowy white patches on their skin would fade away into perfectly normal skin. And they would be instantly healed! Isn’t that the proper way? Isn’t that what we expect in a miracle healing?

But Jesus didn’t and he told them to go into forbidden Jerusalem (to endure the cursing at them, the rocks thrown at them, the indignity of people running away from them) and show themselves to the priests. And they did. Out of faith or sheer desperation, they went. Their desire to be healed overruled their doubts and fears and they obeyed Jesus’ word. Notice verse 14, “As they went, they were cleansed.” In their act of obedience they were healed—not before and not after, but during.

Imagine this for a moment. 10 men all with incurable leprosy, some perhaps in later stages of this disease with no nose, partial ears, fingers as stubs, eyes dark and sunken. The Bible doesn’t give us the details of this healing, but as they walked maybe they began to notice that Joe’s nose had grown back, that Bill’s ears were normal, that Pete’s fingers were not longer stubs. They look at their own hands—normal. Their feet—normal. Their arms—no white patches—normal. I can only imagine. What would you say? What would you do? “Oh, how about that? Isn’t that something? What dya know—I am healed.” I don’t think so! I think your reaction would be similar to the news that you just won $100 million, the Phillies won the World Series, and the Eagles won the Super Bowl, and you are going to Disney World! You would go absolutely nuts with joy. Once incurable sick, now healed. Once social outcasts, now you could belong again. Once abnormal, now a normal human being. You could hug your kids again, kiss your wife, shake hands with your neighbor, go to church again, laugh and sing and dance because you are healed!

Luke tells us that one man, praising God, came back to Jesus, fell at His feet, and thanked Jesus. Luke also points out that this man was a Samaritan. It wasn't any of the Jewish lepers, but the Samaritan who thanked Jesus, the Jew.

Jesus response is interesting, isn’t it? Verse 17, “Were not all 10 cleansed? Where are the other 9? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Oops! 10 lepers had received a brand new lease on life, but only one returned to express his gratitude. A couple years ago, every member of the audience on the Oprah show was given a brand new car, with even the taxes paid. But some of the winners began to grumble because they would have to pay the insurance on this brand new car!

In verse 19 Jesus gives us an indication as to why the word thanks is a life-changing and well-ness word, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” But hadn’t he already been healed? Yes he had and when we look deeper we discover that physical healing is not being well. There is far more to well-ness than lack of disease. The other 9 lepers were healed but not well. This Samaritan leper became well and whole when he expressed his gratitude to Jesus and said, “Thank you.” The attitude of gratitude is a fundamental ingredient of health, wholeness, and well-being. It is basic to a full and happy life.

There’s an old saying that goes, “Big doors swing on small hinges.” People who live large, take care of the small things like saying ‘thank you.” The attitude of gratitude is quite important, but attitude alone is not enough. Expressed gratitude is where it is at. So let’s put some practical application to this: To whom do you need to say thanks? A phone call? A note? An email?

One way of saying thanks is through giving—as we present our foodstuffs to the Lord. This is a tangible way to say thanks to God for His blessings and bounty. We also need to make it personal. After we leave this sanctuary I want to hear a cacophony of voices saying “thank you” to one another.

Thank You for Taking The Time to Read This Message.
May God Use These Words to Help You and Strengthen You.