Luke 17
11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
God’s ways are not our ways. Galilee is to the North of Samaria and Jerusalem to the South of Samaria (see this map or this link to read more). So from our text it seems like the order is wrong, first Samaria then Galilee and then back through Samaria and to Jerusalem.
Jesus did not use man’s logic but obeyed His Father’s voice. Although He was on His way to Jerusalem He first had to pass by Samaria, then Galilee and back towards Jerusalem.
The Lord Jesus obeyed God’s voice and understood God’s voice. Humanly speaking He went the wrong way, but from God’s perspective it was the right way. He heard the Holy Spirit’s prompting and obeyed instantly and went from Samaria first through Galilee towards Jerusalem.
God’s will meant everything to Him. Jesus was zealous to do God’s will and help those in suffering and need. It was because of His great love for His Father. The Bible says love is strong as death (Song of Solomon 8:6). Death is strong but love even stronger. God’s love reaches to the lowest hell. Jesus was full of this Godly love.
In the same way we ought to love our Lord for His love towards us, reaching even us. Our love for Him ought to grow daily.
Leprosy was a terrible disease and there was no cure for it in those days. Such people endured great pain. Their whole body was covered with sores. It was also terribly contagious. Such people were under quarentine, an outcast from society and had to stay in the mountains. When people brought food for them they would put it down and leave and only then would the leprous person come to eat of the food.
That’s also why when they saw Jesus they stood afar off and shouted their plea.
So when Jesus heard their plea He felt pity for them, even as He felt pity for those thousands of people whom He fed after they were with Him the whole day.
These 10 men had faith else they would not have cried to Jesus for help, for they have heard about Jesus. When Jesus commanded them to show them to the priests they also obeyed and was healed on the way. If they did not obey to go and show themselves to the priests for examination they would not have been healed.
Among them there was a Samaritan, one of the most despised groups of people by the Jews. But when he noticed that he was healed he turned around to Jesus and gave thanks to God with a loud voice. Just imagine the longing he had to see his family, but in stead he first went to thank Jesus, praising God. He humbled and denied himself.
Jesus was grieved to see that only one turned around to give thanks and praise to God.
It is terrible if someone does something good to you and you cannot even say thank you.
Although the other nine were made well physically this Samaritan also received salvation for Jesus said to him, “your faith has made you whole”. Jesus made his soul whole as well; he was saved because he returned to give thanks and praise to God.
The other nine had a debt to God and if they did not repent from their thanklessness after that they would be lost in hell today.
They were full of pride, going their own way to hell. As it is fitly said, a proud person thinks that every good thing that’s done to him was a debt to him, he ought to have received it, he deserved it.
So this Samaritan was cleansed not only from physical leprosy but spiritual leprosy as well.
The Bible says we ought to thank God at all times for all things for that is the will of God.
In Romans 1 we read that because people did not thank God and gave Him praise, He gave them over to all manner of perversions.
Thankless people are going satan’s way and are on their way to hell unless they repent.
Do you thank God every day for what He has done for you and done for your soul? It is difficult for such a humble, thankful person to become unfaithful, for he is ever mindful of the great mercies he receives from God.