Tragedies make strange bed-fellows. There were 10 lepers who met Jesus as he travelled to Jerusalem. They were a mix of Jews and Samaritans but they shared the common bond of rejection from society. When they asked for mercy were they seeking healing or simple an audience with him? Jesus’ response may have sounded like the words others had shouted at them, “Go away.” But that is not what Jesus said; he commanded them to present themselves before the priests. They could only go to the priests if they were healed. I picture them slowly turning away from Jesus with their heads bowed, trudging toward the synagogue. But with each step toward the water of cleansing they must have noticed a difference in how they felt. Eventually, they realized they had been healed, and quite possibly restored of missing parts. With 10 toes on their feet and 10 fingers on their hands their trudge turned into a sprint as they anticipated their close reunion with family and friends. But the one man stopped. This moment wasn’t about him being made clean. It was a moment of giving thanks. He turned and ran to Jesus to offer his thanks to God. Wouldn’t it be neat if this Samaritan was from a city called Sychar? (John 4)
It took me 15 minutes to read this passage.
Stuart
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