Jesus was travelling along the border between Samaria and Galilee, on his way to Jerusalem where he met ten lepers. Although Jews and Samaritans did not mingle with each other, in this passage we see them together -they all had a common need -their healing from leprosy. Lepers in those times were expelled from the society and they lived out of the camp.

 

On hearing that Jesus Christ was coming that way, these lepers eagerly waited to receive His healing touch-they might have heard about Jesus and His miracles.  They called out in a loud voice “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” They expected Jesus to heal them too; so they cried out to Him.  A similar cry is heard when Bartimaeus shouted in a loud voice “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:46-52).  Jesus hears our cry or groaning from our heart at all times.

 

• Their address of Jesus as ‘Master’: The leapers realized that Jesus is Master of everything and that He is able to heal their incurable disease. They stood at a distance because in Leviticus 13:45 -14:6 we see how lepers were to be treated, “unclean!”

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Isaiah 1:6 talks about the pitiable spiritual condition of a sinner. A sinner can be compared to a leper full of wounds and sores- he cannot be at peace with God. Only Jesus can heal him from this sinful condition. Knowing his condition if the sinner cries out, Jesus Christ is ready to cleanse our sins with his blood and heal our wounds.


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• Their Faith: When Jesus told them “Go show yourselves to the priest,” they simply believed His word and began to walk . In Leviticus 14:2-3, we see that lepers were sent to the priest to get the certificate that they are healed. These lepers simply obeyed and went; on the way they were cleansed.

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Similarly, in the pitiable condition with the leprosy of sin, you will be devoid of peace and joy because of sores and welts in your heart. But in faith if you ask Jesus to forgive your sin and cleanse you, we have His promise in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” After we have repented, confessed our sins and accepted His forgiveness we have to live and walk in faith as a child of God.

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• Their Worship: When one of the lepers realized that he is healed, he returned to worship Jesus. He fell down at His feet and gave Him thanks. Realization leads to thankfulness! In Luke 7:36-50 we see a similar incident of a sinful woman who worshipped at Jesus’ feet, anointing His feet with the Jar of perfume and her tears- her sins were forgiven, and her act of worship acknowledged.

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Romans 3:23 says, “...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...”  Like the lepers, such live out of the grace of God. Only Jesus can bring us back into God’s Great Grace! As with the lepers here, Jesus hears the cry for mercy and His blood shed on the cross of Calvary will cleanse our sins. We have to put our complete trust on Him and surrender our lives to Him. And then as believers, we should always have a heart of gratitude giving thanks to Jesus Christ for what he has done! With the Psalmist let us say, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

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Prayer:

Our Loving Father we come before Your holy presence and we thank You for what You have done in our lives by giving us Jesus Christ as our Savior and Master. May we have a heart of gratitude in all situations.

In Jesus name. Amen