The Thankful Worshiping Leper

The story begins....

"Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"

We see Jesus on his way to Jerusalem, he is taking a very specific route and heads into a village. There is purpose in every step Jesus takes.

The lepers must have heard about Jesus and knowing that they could only see him from a distance because of their contagious disease ALL ten of them yelled out in a LOUD voice that he would have pity on them. They most likely had heard that Jesus was a miracle man.

"When he saw them, he said "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And AS THEY WENT, THEY WERE CLEANSED. "

Here we see the power of the WORDS of Jesus. Something miraculous happened to every single one of them in response to their obedience to Jesus' command to "Go, show yourselves to the priests."

Can you imagine living with a body ravaged by a skin disease that alienated you from all society, including your family, and then in ONE moment being completely free of disease?


ONE OF THEM, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He THREW himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him - and he was a Samaritan.

Would my response to this miracle be loud words of praise to God, throwing myself at the feet of Jesus, telling him how thankful I was? I so hope so.

Jesus asked "Were not ALL ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? Then he said to him "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

ALL ten lepers were healed in their bodies but only one came to a saving relationship with God through his faith in Jesus.

Last night our pastor made the statement that our salvation is a miraculous work of God.

I have learned alot from the Thankful Worshiping Leper on the appropriate response to the miracle of salvation - shouting loud praises to God, throwing myself at the feet of Jesus and pouring out thanksgiving for the mercy and provision of God.

Not that I ever doubted the role of music in the church but for those seeking salvation what a testimony it is to see the body of Christ singing loud praises to God at the feet of Jesus and giving thanks for his great mercy.

I imagine there have been hundreds of sermons based on this story but this morning it was like I was reading this for the first time.

Bible Reference: Luke 17:11-19