Would You Return?

     The road was dry and dusty.  You heard that the Rabbi, the Master, would be coming this way.  You could not get near Him because you were unclean.  You could not get near anyone because you were unclean.  You had a vile disease that kept you out of society.  You could only shout from a distance and hope that He would hear you.
      As he passed on the road, the ten of you shouted, “Heal us.  Heal us.”  He turned and told you to go and show yourselves to the priests.  In good faith, you left to find the priests in the temple. 
     As you walked, you realized that your skin was clean.  You were no longer sick.  You all look at each other in wonder and awe.  Nine in the group ran towards the priests.  One person returned to give thanks and to praise God.  Did you return?



Luke 17: 11-19

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee.  As He entered a village, ten lepers approached him.  Keeping their distance they called out, saying “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”  When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”  And as they went, they were made clean. 

Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice.  He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him.  And he was a Samaritan. 

Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean?  But the other nine, where are they?  Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”  Then He said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”