The One Leper

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? 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.” Luke 17:11-19

During these times, leprosy was contagious, chronic, an incurable disease. Lepers were the outcasts of society, living in isolation. If one found themselves in this situation, they were looking for healing, hope, a new life. With the news of Jesus and his power traveling through the land, it is understandable that ten lepers approached him. They were desperate.

Jesus miraculously heals the ten.

100% of the lepers receive grace and are healed, and nine, or 90%, of the lepers leave the scene. Not pointing a finger at the individuals that ran away, as they were probably elated and left in complete wonder and amazement. But notice the one and his reaction. This one former leper forever gives us a picture of what the recognition of grace looks like.

This one leper is healed and begins to run away in joy and excitement. Then he stops and turns back to Jesus. The leper falls on his face before Christ giving thanks. Unabashed humility and praise as he worships the one who changed his life and gave him hope. He recognized the grace that he was given by Jesus.

Grace is never pictured as a flippant recognition of Christ. When grace is given and recognized, people’s lives in the Bible are radically changed. Over and over this is a picture of grace in scripture.

Mary Magdalene was cured of “seven demons” by Christ. After receiving grace, the Bible gives us a picture of a woman of faith that never leaves his side. She was following him when he was arrested. She was at the crucifixion watching him die a brutal death. And, Mary was the first at the tomb after his death, witnessing the empty grave. She received grace and there was an out-pouring of love, humility, and obedience in her life. Mary Magdalene was a changed woman by the grace she was given.

Matthew, a tax collector, Peter, a fisherman, Paul, a persecutor of those that followed Jesus, all had one thing in common. They were all radically changed. The recognition of grace in their lives gave them hope, humility, a new life, a new purpose.

When I wake up in the morning, for whatever reason, my mind is immediately flooded with tasks that need to be accomplished, things left undone, my failures, the person that I am not, etc. Before my feet hit the floor, the day has the potential of being lost. Maybe that is just me, but, in my mind, there is a freight train of mental obstacles in front of me with the potential of crushing the day before I get started.

It is the recognition of grace that immediately stops the wave of overwhelming thoughts. The recognition that I, too, was one of those lepers that needed hope. The recognition that, for whatever reason, I was given complete, undeserved grace. It is the recognition of grace that propels me into the day, removes shame, gives hope, fills me with humility and praise.

And, by noon, I need to remember that grace again.

Thank God for the picture of the one leper, a reminder of grace.

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