Friday: Read today:
Pages 135-138 - The
Way-40 Days of Reflection (Daily Devotion Guide)
Way-40 Days of Reflection (Daily Devotion Guide)
Where Are The Other Nine?
“As he was on his way
to Jerusalem, he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee. As he
entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a
distance. They 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.’
As they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw that he was healed,
turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice. He fell on his face at Jesus’
feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. Jesus answered, ‘Weren’t the
ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there none found who returned to
give glory to God, except this stranger?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up, and go
your way. Your faith has healed you.’”(Luke 17:11-19)
to Jerusalem, he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee. As he
entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a
distance. They 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.’
As they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw that he was healed,
turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice. He fell on his face at Jesus’
feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. Jesus answered, ‘Weren’t the
ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there none found who returned to
give glory to God, except this stranger?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up, and go
your way. Your faith has healed you.’”(Luke 17:11-19)
In today’s Scripture,
Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, where he knew that a cross awaited him. Yet,
even as he drew near to his own suffering, he was mindful of the suffering of
others. Perhaps it was this awareness that kept him from being overwhelmed by
his approaching fate.
Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, where he knew that a cross awaited him. Yet,
even as he drew near to his own suffering, he was mindful of the suffering of
others. Perhaps it was this awareness that kept him from being overwhelmed by
his approaching fate.
As Jesus entered a
village, ten lepers approached him. The lepers were both Jews and Samaritans,
bound together by their common affliction. Leprosy (which included a variety of
skin disorders) was the most socially isolating disease of ancient times. Fear
of contracting the disease kept people away from lepers.
village, ten lepers approached him. The lepers were both Jews and Samaritans,
bound together by their common affliction. Leprosy (which included a variety of
skin disorders) was the most socially isolating disease of ancient times. Fear
of contracting the disease kept people away from lepers.
Lepers were the
untouchables of Jesus’ day. The Law of Moses required them to keep their
distance from others and to declare, “Unclean!” when others approached
(Leviticus 13:45). Seeing the ten lepers and knowing the isolation they
experienced, Jesus showed them mercy, telling them to go to the priests, as the
Law of Moses commanded, and they would be made whole. (The story is reminiscent
of the story about the healing of Naaman, in 2 Kings 5.)
untouchables of Jesus’ day. The Law of Moses required them to keep their
distance from others and to declare, “Unclean!” when others approached
(Leviticus 13:45). Seeing the ten lepers and knowing the isolation they
experienced, Jesus showed them mercy, telling them to go to the priests, as the
Law of Moses commanded, and they would be made whole. (The story is reminiscent
of the story about the healing of Naaman, in 2 Kings 5.)
To visit the priests,
the lepers had to make a seven- or eight-day trek to Jerusalem. Just as they
set out, the lepers discovered that they were healed. This, it seems, was
because they had demonstrated a measure of trust in Jesus’ words. However, only
one of the ten returned to him to give thanks, and this was the primary point
of the story. The leper was a Samaritan, an outsider, who came back to thank
the Lord.
the lepers had to make a seven- or eight-day trek to Jerusalem. Just as they
set out, the lepers discovered that they were healed. This, it seems, was
because they had demonstrated a measure of trust in Jesus’ words. However, only
one of the ten returned to him to give thanks, and this was the primary point
of the story. The leper was a Samaritan, an outsider, who came back to thank
the Lord.
Expressing thanks is important,
and yet we often fail to do it. Worship on Sundays is about pausing to count
our blessings and give thanks to God. Daily prayer is an opportunity to pause
and give thanks. Cultivate the practice of giving thanks, and you will find a
greater sense of well-being in life. That’s what researchers Michael McCullough
and Robert Emmons learned in their well-known study on gratitude. They found
that people who regularly give thanks are as much as 25 percent happier than
people who do not.[See Robert A. Emmons’ book, Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier
(Houghton Mifflin Company,2007).]
and yet we often fail to do it. Worship on Sundays is about pausing to count
our blessings and give thanks to God. Daily prayer is an opportunity to pause
and give thanks. Cultivate the practice of giving thanks, and you will find a
greater sense of well-being in life. That’s what researchers Michael McCullough
and Robert Emmons learned in their well-known study on gratitude. They found
that people who regularly give thanks are as much as 25 percent happier than
people who do not.[See Robert A. Emmons’ book, Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier
(Houghton Mifflin Company,2007).]
John gave thanks. He
suffered from a blood disorder that meant having regular transfusions, as well
as a host of unpleasant symptoms. Every time I saw him, however, he would tell
me he was blessed and was grateful for every day of his life. John lived far
longer than the doctors had expected, and I am convinced it was because he
sincerely and persistently gave thanks.
suffered from a blood disorder that meant having regular transfusions, as well
as a host of unpleasant symptoms. Every time I saw him, however, he would tell
me he was blessed and was grateful for every day of his life. John lived far
longer than the doctors had expected, and I am convinced it was because he
sincerely and persistently gave thanks.
Ten lepers were healed,
but only one returned to give thanks. Which leper are you?
Lord, thank you forbut only one returned to give thanks. Which leper are you?
the blessings of my life. I specifically want to thank you today for…. (Name
five things you are grateful for today.)
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