Gratitude for GOD’s Grace!

Luke 17:1-19

Thursday, 04 September 2025

“Then one of them, upon seeing that he was cured, turned back, recognizing and thanking and praising God with a loud voice;”- Luke 17:15 [AMP]

Jesus was met by 10 lepers while passing the border between Samaria and Galilee, on his way to Jerusalem. Although Jews and Samaritans did not mingle, 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 lived outside of common living areas.These ten lepers desperate in need of healing, may have heard about Jesus and His miracles and so were eager to receive His healing touch They called out in a loud voice “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”—with an expectancy that He would consider their plea!  A similar cry is heard when blind Bartimaeus shouted in a loud voice “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:46-52).  Jesus hears our cry and groaning from our heart at all times. Psalm 34:18 says: The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Let’s see how the ten lepers received their healing:

Their address of Jesus as ‘Master’: The lepers 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!”

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 Christ 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 made by sin.

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 certified that they are healed. These lepers just obeyed and went; and on the way they were cleansed.

Similarly, in the pitiable condition with the leprosy of sin, a person will be devoid of peace and joy because of sores and welts in his/her 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.

Their Worship: When one of the lepers realized that he was 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.

Romans 3:23 says, “...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...”  Like the lepers, some live outside 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 is able cleanse our sins and our consciences. On our part, we have to put our complete trust in 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! 

In Gratitude: Praise the LORD, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases… (Psalm 103:2-3)

Listen: 'Only by Grace'