LEARNING DAILY

Luke 17:17, So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?”

Read the entire passage regarding the cleansing of the ten lepers. Pastor Newton, Lead Pastor at Community Bible Church, used this passage about Jesus cleansing the ten lepers as an example of be thankful, of showing gratitude. Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem; it was time for Him to fulfill His mission on earth. Pastor said, “Jesus was not in such a hurry that He would not stop to meet the need of anyone. That included going through Samaria to meet the needs of ten lepers.”

When He entered the village, He was greeted by the cries of “ten men who were lepers. ‘’Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’” Read the passage. Did you notice what Jesus did not do? Pastor Newton pointed out, “Jesus did not tell them they were healed. He told them to get up and show themselves to the priests.” Look at the last part of verse 14. “And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.” Most of the time I read too fast and when I do, I miss so much! As soon as they obeyed, by beginning to walk to have the priests announce they were clean, they began to be healed!

All ten had the same experience of being obedient and being healed. Only one of the ten returned. “Nine continued on to the priest to be declared healed; one returned to the ‘High Priest’.” Only a Samaritan returns (verse 16), falls at the feet of Jesus and gives Him thanks. Gratitude! Jesus’ question is not necessarily one of anger; it is more of a rhetorical question. The nine were Jews (from verse 18) and Jesus is wondering why they did not return to the place they were healed and bow in worship to the One who healed them. Lepers were separated from their loved ones because of their terrible disease. They should have returned to the One who had set them free from being separated, praising Him for allowing them to be declared clean and return to family, friends, and loved ones.

Pastor Newton said, “Our cry for healing is loud; the praise for what Jesus does in our life needs to be as loud as the cry to be healed!” Do not dismiss what the Lord Jesus Christ does each day – the large miraculous things but also the little things He does to guide and protect you. Be thankful for the times He uses you to speak to others about Him or when He uses you to pray for others. Be thankful for the people He brings into your life to just listen to or give you the opportunity to bless them.

I am so thankful for how God has used my wife and me, for His many blessings and the opportunity we have had to help those around us. I look forward to giving Him praise and thanksgiving for what He going to do in 2025! I am going to do my best to walk the narrow way with Jesus as my guide and to have spirit of gratitude each day! Don’t hold back! Will you commit to joining me?