Jesus Cleanses the Ten Lepers: A Luke 17 Devotional

Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,[a] who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17:11-19 (ESV)

Hello lovelies! Let's take a quick peek at a few verses from Luke 17 for today's post. 

As I read, I had a few thoughts. In stream-of-consciousness form, here's what I wrote down as I studied this scripture:

Note 1

The lepers are cleansed on their way. → The beginnings of obedience open the door for their healing. We don't receive the miraculous provisions of God by sitting on our bottoms and waiting for something good to happen. We receive the miraculous provisions of God by moving ahead in obedience.

We know how to obey God by reading scriptures and knowing His commands.

Note 2

One leper turns back. → He abandons the task set before him by the Lord, but exclusively to the glory of God. He doesn't decide going all the way is unnecessary, or that he can stop after his healing and just...silently go on with life.

He stopped and praised and returned to the feet of Jesus. He did not stay anonymous, quietly waiting on the back pew for church to be over so he could run out before he had to talk to anyone. He did not cease his act of obedience because he thought it was silly, or he knew in his heart that Jesus would heal him without all this rigamarole. 

He kept going until he was healed, then he plowed forward, like an unstoppable force, in an act of inspiring worship.

Note 3

They stood at a distance. → Jesus can heal from any distance! Near or far, in the church or in your living room, at the highest peak of passionate faith and the lowest valley of I-only-have-faith-as-small-as-a-mustard-seed. Jesus knows no boundaries.

Note 4

"Show yourselves to the priests." → The Samaritan agreed. It was against his culture/religion/upbringing, but "your faith has made you well" - He believed in Jesus Christ. He had maybe seen or heard of Jesus's saving grace and power. The Samaritan did not argue that it wasn't his religion or he needed special instructions and accommodations particular to his faith, social group, or for any other reason.

Truth does not make allowances and we shouldn't bend God's instructions to fit our lives before we move forward in obedience.

Note 5

"Where are the nine?" → The Lord notices your absence and your lack of praise. Whatever you're doing instead of returning to worship the Lord after He answers your prayers, He notices.

Whatever you're doing instead of glorifying Him for the blessings in your life, He notices.

And if you ask me, He sounds a little put out with the nine that never came back.

Note 6

"Show yourselves to the priests." → Jesus is setting up the local churches as figures of support and healing, involving priests, and showing believers what can come of attending church and belonging to a Bible-believing Christian community.

If Jesus involved a community of believers, so should you. Tap into your local church and your local Bible study groups. And I mean it when I say local. You need to be able to see people face-to-face and have them come to your home. You need the support of local believers, not just mega church preachers on YouTube.

That's all for today!

All the love,

Emily

P.S. Feel free to contact me at admin@tulipsandbasil.com!