Dave spoke this morning from Luke 17:11-19, a story where Jesus healed ten lepers… but only one returned to give Him thanks.
Lepers were at this time outcasts, for the disease was incurable and all who had leprosy were isolated, unable to live within the normal society. They were effectively ‘living dead’, without hope, so even to cry out to Jesus for mercy was a bold move. Jesus told them to go to the priest – to act as if they were cleansed, and it was only as they went that they did receive cleansing and healing.
In effect, this physical healing was what they had wanted and the majority were satisfied with this. One, a Samaritan, realised that Jesus had done more than offer physical healing, however. He saw that this cleansing paved the way to salvation, to a wholeness that encompassed more than the body. The majority were happy to be ‘normal’ again, to be able to dwell in society and take part in normal activities, but this one man was ‘more than normal’. He came back to Jesus because he realised that He could do more than heal.
Jesus gave His life to save us and offers us both cleansing and healing. We too can be grateful and thankful because He offers us the miracle of eternal life, a life that is supernatural, a life that is more than normal.
