Why Come Back? Where Are the Other Nine?

So why DID Jesus want them to come back? Or might I add, why did He expect all of them to have come back? Was it simply for gratitude? Maybe, but this one leper took it a step further. Let’s take a look at Luke 17:15-19

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.

Jesus says in verse 18 “There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.” He doesn’t mention that this grateful leper also fell down on his face at his feet and thanked him. Jesus noticed the gratefulness first. That was expected. That’s like me handing you a gift simply to give you a gift. I would expect that you would thank me. I didn’t give it to you for the thanks. I gave it to you because I wanted to. But I still would expect a thanks. Wouldn’t you? But then the person I hand the gift not only thanks me but gives me a huge hug of gratitude as well. I wouldn’t have expected that, but Jesus would have.

This popped up when I did a google search: The Oxford Dictionary defines the word grateful as “showing an appreciation of kindness.” This is where the difference lies; being thankful is a feeling, and being grateful is an action. I love this! That one leper who ran back sure did take action didn’t he?

Jesus didn’t mention anything about the leper humbling himself as he did. The gratefulness poured out of the leper so much so that he fell at Jesus feet thanking him. What is the significance of falling at his feet? That is a humbling gesture.

Reminds me of the woman mentioned in in the book of Mark having an ‘issue of blood.‘

^{Mark 5:25-34. 25} And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,²⁶ And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,²⁷ When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.²⁸ For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.²⁹ And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.³⁰ And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?³¹ And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?³² And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.³³ But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.³⁴ And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

This woman was healed when she touched Jesus garment. It wasn’t until after she had fallen at his feet that Jesus told her, “Your faith hath made thee whole.”

The leper and this woman both had faith in Jesus. And they were both first healed of the disease on their physical body. They both fell at Jesus feet and end up being made whole. Coincidence? No such thing when it refers to the Bible.

So lets end this post with this. Jesus expects us to be grateful in anything he has done for us. What are we doing to show our gratefulness? What action are we taking? I don’t know about you, but I not only want healing whether it be emotionally, mentally or physically. But I want to be made WHOLE. And if I have to humble myself and fall at his feet then step aside and make room for me, leper and woman, cause here I come!