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Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem
He was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, 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 cleansed.
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving Him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.
Then Jesus answered,
“Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
And He said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
Samaria to Galilee is not the most pleasant part of Israel. 7 miles of dry area until Mt Gerizim, Mt Ebal and Shechem are met. And Jesus traveled here quite a lot.
We can safely say, the 10 Lepers, wandering about, probably were seeking to see and find and pray to be healed.
And just as Jesus arrives, the 10 lepers don't petition by getting on their knees, heads bent and waving their arms. The lepers aren't praying and moving. They are actively yelling in complete excitement and expectation. Jesus is going to fix EVERYTHING!!!
And Jesus does what He likes to do, many, many, many, many times in the Gospels! Jesus tells them to do something. An action, a direction, that Jesus speaks.
"Pick up your mat and walk!"
"Don't tell anyone!"
"Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, nd how he has had mercy on you"
"Feed the child."
Jesus told a man to, "let the dead bury their own dead"
People didn't always listen to what Jesus told them. Like the Canaanite woman, Jesus ignored her and then rebuked her twice. Saying she wasn't the lost sheep of Israel. Not to take from children and feed the dogs. And Jesus saw her faith to keep asking with diligence.
When the leper turned back, he realized Love and Mercy had healed him. And he knew suddenly, this miracle came from the King of Kings. A High Priest to make atonement, reconciliation. Jesus Christ the Advocate. The man, who was healed in his gratitude, was given insight. Love filled his heart and he knew where he would travel.
Gratitude gave him a new path. Filled his heart with Love. And he knew where he would begin.
The healed man had diligence.
These events parallel the Centurion.
The Centurion didn't just travel the borders of obedience, but believed the best of Jesus Christ. And in faith, the Centurion knew what to do with the miraculous, to believe God upholds the universe with His Word. Jesus is Who He Says He Is. And His Word is All.
The Leper believed what was given to him was incredibly the best of all the world. And the healed man knew where he would have the way, the truth and the life. He could see all the way to God.
These events are not just a set of rules, and instead are Love with a display of faith.
On an ordinary day. What GOD can DO.
Mt Gerizim, the place of God's Blessings!
And in Jesus - this Hope,
Faith and Love - we will rise up believing Jesus.
Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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