Jesus is Miraculous

He Heals the Lepers

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” (Luke 17:17-19).

It’s that “extra-thankful” time of year again. On Reformation Day, October 31, we thank our gracious God for our heritage of the gospel and our free salvation in Jesus Christ. A few weeks from now, on Thanksgiving Day, many in our country take a step back from their normal routines to ask, “Why should I be thankful?” Pause today to ponder this … Have you ever thanked God that you do not have leprosy?

Common in Jesus’ day, leprosy was a terrible affliction. It was painful—your fingers and skin would begin to decay even though you were still alive. It was emotional—who wants to be known as “dead man walking?” It was lonely—lepers could only live with other lepers miles away from everyone else. No hugging your kids. No kissing your spouse. No walking through your front door. No turkey dinner with your family— not on Thanksgiving Day or any day. Leprosy was a terrible affliction. The losses it caused were staggering.

One day, 10 lepers stood at a distance from Jesus (they had to stand at a distance from everyone) and in loud voices, asked him for mercy. Jesus simply told them to show themselves to the priests. If someone ever was healed of leprosy, you couldn’t just stroll back into town and say, “I don’t have leprosy anymore!” Who would believe you? First, you had to show yourself to the priests. They would officially pronounce you to be clean, and then you could go back to your family. As they started to walk, they were still lepers … but along the way they were cleansed by the miraculous power of Jesus!

Nine of the lepers kept walking—too many things to do now since they were healed. However, one decided that resuming normal life could wait a couple more hours. He came back to thank Jesus. He threw himself at the Lord’s feet and praised him in a loud voice. Imagine the joyful tears falling from his eyes! Jesus has cleansed us of a far greater devastating condition than physical leprosy. The Bible teaches: “The blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:9).

Jesus has taken away our sin. We are no longer isolated from God; rather, we can live joyfully with him in peace. We have good reason to take a break from normal life to thank Jesus deeply, thoughtfully, gladly. Among all the blessings that God gives us in life, the most important is Jesus, our merciful and miraculous Savior!

Are you content? Happy? Generous? Grateful? Consider all of God’s great earthly and eternal gifts that are yours in Christ Jesus. He will direct your attitude and life so that you tell of his great gifts and live your life to his glory.