Ep. 78: Ten lepers

CLICK HERE for the corresponding blog post in Yeshua Adored

LUKE 17:11-19

Jesus prepared for his last journey to Jerusalem. During this journey, great multitudes followed him and he healed and taught them. One of the strangest was the healing of no less than ten lepers! Without either touch or command, Jesus told them to go and show themselves as healed to the priests. For this, it was not necessary to go to Jerusalem. Any priest might declare ‘unclean’ or ‘clean’ provided the applicants presented themselves singly, and not in a group for his inspection.

And they went at Christ’s bidding, even before they had actually been healed! So great was their faith and as they went, the new life coursed in their veins. Nine of them continued their way - presumably to the priests - while the one Samaritan in the number at once turned back, with a loud voice glorifying God. No longer now was he a stranger, but in great reverence fell on his face at the feet of him to whom he gave thanks.

This Samaritan had received more than new bodily life and health; he had found spiritual life and healing. But why did the nine Jews not return? We may overestimate the faith of these men. As for the other one, that made a man a disciple. For the others, was it simply Jewish ingratitude and neglect of the blessed opportunity now within their reach, a state of mind too characteristic of those who know not ‘the time of their visitation’ and which led up to the neglect and final rejection of their Messiah? Certainly, Jesus emphasised the terrible contrast in this between the children of the household and ‘this stranger.’

This is an extract from the book, Jesus : Life and Times, available for £10 here (Finalist for Academic Book of the year at 2023 CRT awards)