As we enter the season of thanksgiving, I love the emphasis on remembering, being aware of the little things, the falling leaves, slivers of sunshine and raindrops of life. We talk of the blessings of family, home and provisions. The intentional pause to reflect on all we have brings us to remember the Giver.
“…As He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” (Luke 17:12-13; NJKV)
It’s a great passage (Luke 17:11-19) to reflect on during this season of thanksgiving, not just because of its reminder to be thankful, but because of our constant need to recognize a Sovereign God in everyday life.
Why did only one leper thank Jesus, and what made him turn around and go back to Jesus? I cannot read this story without wondering which leper I would be.
Ten lepers shared a fear-filled common denominator. They were sick, outcasts of society and on a road to death. Their futures were dark. Yet in their similarities, each had a different story, like all of us do. Some undoubtedly lost families and positions. Jobs, prestige and respectability were gone.
One of them was a Samaritan. Bad blood flowed between the Jews and Samaritans. Partly Jewish and partly Gentile, they weren’t accepted by either.
But Jesus, went out of His way to extend love to them. Once to meet the woman at the well and offer living water, another time to be so snubbed his disciples wished to call down fire from heaven on the town. (Luke 9:51-56)
That day Jesus entered the village between Samaria and Galilee on His way to Jerusalem.
“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us,” He heard them call from a distance.
Perhaps the ten lepers had heard Jesus fed 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, or that he raised a little girl to life. Maybe they knew he calmed waves and cast out demons.
Can you imagine the longing within as He turned toward them? Can you picture their excitement of getting His attention from where they stood grouped like their own little leper colony, unable to get too close? Can you feel the hope in their hearts?
“Go,” Jesus instructed, “show yourselves to the priests.”
“As they went,” healing occurred.
Their skin turned smooth. The putrid flesh of their companions cleared. Can you envision ten former lepers, lifting limbs, looking, shouting and pointing at one another, hurrying on their way to the temple. The miracle they’d hoped for happened.
But one of them stopped and turned back.
He was a Samaritan, an outcast among the outcasts. Surely he too looked at his feet, his hands. Undoubtedly he turned his palms up and over, and again up and over. I imagine him looking ahead to where the others ran to freedom and then turning to look behind at the figure of Christ, by whom healing originated. While nine became smaller in the distance ahead, one man “when he saw that he was healed, returned and with a loud voice glorified God.” Luke 17:15 (NKJV).
Which are you?
I want to be like that one man. I want His glory to shout from my redeemed heart to a world where His name is unknown. The leper responded in the only way possible in the presence of such magnitude.
“…And fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks”
True gratitude produces profound humility.
True gratitude recognizes the Person as greater than the miracle.
“Weren’t there ten cleansed?” Jesus asked. “Where are the nine?”
Forgetting to thank Jesus for healing demonstrated a skin deep change. The other nine, enamored with their physical healing neglected the healing of a much more important sort. They disregarded Him who had the power to heal not just physical bodies, but give spiritual life as well.
Without Christ our souls are diseased. We are without hope, like the Samaritan leper, needing spiritual healing to remove the stain of sin from corrupted hearts.
Ten were healed. But to the Samaritan, more than physical healing occurred.
“…Your faith has made you well.” Jesus said.
The Thanksgiving season is a great time to count our blessings and name them one by one. It’s a time to say “thank you Jesus for healing my soul,” to back up and remember the Giver who transformed our hearts. Thanksgiving Day is a wonderful time to share with families and neighbors the testimony of redemption. For that truly is the greatest of all miracles.
True thanksgiving transforms hearts.
Sharon
Thank you Sylvia, for that wonderful challenge.
Sylvia Schroeder
Thank you Sharon. Being thankful is something I fail at so often. November is always a good reminder to me. Thank you for reading and commenting!
linda k williamson
May we all be grateful not only at Thanksgiving but each and every day for all the unexpected blessings that come our way!
Sylvia Schroeder
Oh yes, Linda! I do want to develop a heart of gratefulness, and fall short so often. You are so right that each and every day is full of unexpected blessings. I want to be more aware of them! Thanks so much.
Debbie Wilson
I love this story and pray I’ll be one who lives each day in awe of what Jesus did for me.
Sylvia Schroeder
Thanks Debbie. There are some really great Bible stories about thankfulness, but this one is always meaningful to me at Thanksgiving time. Sometimes I just have to be reminded to turn back and give thanks. Thank you for reading and commenting!
Annie Yorty
I’m challenged by this story to experience life transformation through a consistent attitude of Thanksgiving. Thank you!
Sylvia Schroeder
Annie, I am one who needs the challenge! Too often I miss the blessing of a grateful heart and do the opposite. Thanks for reading and for sharing your thoughts!
Brenda Griswold
Thank you for keeping thankfulness at the forefront and encouraging me to do the same!
Sylvia Schroeder
Brenda, hold me accountable. I slide down the opposite hill far too often! Thanks!
Katherine Pasour
What a beautiful reminder, Sylvia, to be thankful for what we have and the new gifts we received from our Father on a daily basis. Thank you for the blessing you have shared through your message. Happy Thanksgiving!
Sylvia Schroeder
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well Katherine! There is so much everyday that I’m not even aware of for which to be thankful. I’m always glad the month of November makes me look around me and take notice! Thank you!
Nancy E. Head
“As they went, healing occurred.” If they hadn’t gone… May we always recognize God’s work and be grateful for it.
Sylvia Schroeder
Yes. May we go in obedience and know He does what is right and just along the way. Thank you!
Candyce Carden
“True gratitude produces profound humility.” I love this. I think being truly grateful means understanding that all we have to be thankful for is from God. It is humbling that He loves his sinners so much.
Sylvia Schroeder
Thank you Candyce. As you say, it is humbling that He loves his sinners so much. There is so very much just in that to be grateful for, isn’t there?!
Jeannie Waters
Sylvia, what a unique perspective on Thanksgiving. I love these points: “True gratitude produces profound humility.
True gratitude recognizes the Person as greater than the miracle.” Thank you for leading us to think about gratitude transforming our hearts.
sylvia schroeder
Thank you Jeannie! Have a wonderfully thankful Thanksgiving!
Nancy
I want to fall at His feet in praise and thanksgiving. I don’t do it nearly enough. Jesus deserves so much awe and reverence! I don’t even know how. Perhaps, “as I go” and choose to praise, He will heal my soul and teach me.
Tammy Kennington
Oh, my. I love the beautiful truth you’ve drawn from this story. I’ve always marveled that only one leper returned to thank Christ, but I think I fail to live in gratitude more often than I’d like. Thanks for the reminder.
Blessings,
Tammy
Sylvia Schroeder
Thank you Tammy! Happy Thanksgiving!
Kathy
I, too, want to be like that one leper who came back to thank the Giver of the miracle. I like what you said about that, Sylvia: “True gratitude produces profound humility.
True gratitude recognizes the Person as greater than the miracle.”
Sylvia Schroeder
Thank you so much Kathy!
Joanna Eccles
Thanks for the reminder to thank God for His healing not only of our physical bodies, but also our souls.
Sylvia Schroeder
I’m so grateful for spiritual healing! Thanks Joanna!