Jesus was in the healing and restoration business. The Gospels tell us that everywhere He went, large crowds came to Him to be healed of their sicknesses and diseases. Word about Jesus spread rapidly, bringing to Him more and more people seeking to be healed. We assume from this story in Luke that these ten lepers had also heard about Jesus and therefore they begged Him to be made clean and whole.
After being healed, only one man came back to say “thank you.” It seems clear that Jesus expected the others to do the same. But only one man, who was a despised foreigner, showed his gratitude for what Jesus had done.
When I lived on the mission field I encountered beggars every day. They lined the streets of the town asking for money. I couldn’t give to all of them so I tried to be intentional in giving to the same people in the hopes of building a friendship, a relationship. They sometimes said “shukran” (Arabic for “thank you”) when I gave them a few dirhams. A few recognized that I am a Westerner and, assuming that meant I was French, would say “merci beaucoup.” One young man who walked with a crutch always smiled when he saw me coming. He eagerly welcomed me and he enjoyed when I would sit and chat with him for a few minutes in the very broken French I could muster. One day he grabbed my hand, looked me in the eye and said, “thank you.” Suddenly I had the urge to empty my pockets and give him everything I had, because I was so moved by his genuine gratitude to me, and the clear effort he made to say it in a way I could understand.
It strikes me and I wonder to myself, “If I am that moved by one young man’s sincere and heartfelt expression of thanks, is my God perhaps not also moved in the same way when we, His children, take the time and make the effort to say ‘thank you’ to Him?”
I’m going to take a minute right now and tell God “thank you” for the many incredible ways He has brought hope and healing and restoration in my life and in our world. Perhaps you would like to do the same thing.