Don't Forget to Say Thanks

Forty-Two.

That was the number. 42. And from the beginning to the end, each and every one changed lives.

1 Turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana

2 Jesus heals an official’s son at Capernaum.

3 Wondrous catch of fish on the lake of Gennesaret

4 Jesus drives out an evil spirit in Capernaum.

5 Jesus heals the fever of Peter’s mother-in-law.

6 Jesus heals many sick and oppressed in Capernaum.

7 Jesus heals the sick and demon-possessed.

8 Jesus cleanses a man with leprosy.

9 Jesus heals a paralytic let down through a roof.

10 Jesus heals a man at Bethesda.

11 Jesus heals a man’s withered hand on the Sabbath.

12 Jesus heals a great multitude of people.

13 Jesus heals a centurion’s slave in Capernaum.

14 Jesus raises a widow’s son from the dead in Nain.

15 Jesus heals a blind, mute, demon-possessed man.

16 Jesus heals an 18-year long crippled woman.

17 Jesus Calms a Storm on the Sea.

18 Jesus casts demons into a herd of pigs.

19 Jesus heals a woman with an issue of blood.

20 Jesus raises Jairus’ daughter back to life.

21 Jesus heals two blind men.

22 Jesus heals a demon-possessed and mute man.

23 Jesus heals many people.

24 Jesus Feeds 5,000 (plus women and children.)

25 Jesus walks on water.

26 Many sick are healed by touching Jesus’ garment.

27 A gentile woman’s demonized daughter is healed.

28 Jesus heals a deaf and mute man.

29 Jesus heals the mute, blind, lame, and impaired.

30 Jesus feeds 4,000 plus women and children.

31 Jesus heals a blind man at Bethsaida.

32 Jesus transfigured on the mount.

33 Jesus heals a boy with an unclean spirit.

34 Temple tax miraculously found in a fish’s mouth.

35 Jesus heals a man born blind.

36 Jesus cleanses ten lepers.

37 Jesus heals a man with dropsy on the Sabbath.

38 Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead in Bethany.

39 Jesus restores sight to Bartimaeus in Jericho.

40 Jesus curses the fig tree.

41 When being arrested Jesus heals a servant’s ear.

42 Last miracle: another miraculous catch of fish.

I want to talk about just one of those miracles today. Miracle #36.

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. The Bible tells us he was walking between Samaria and Galilee and He had just entered a village.

“…he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11-19 ESV

Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases back in the Bible times. Leviticus chapter 13 speaks about the laws regarding leprosy, but basically if a person developed a skin problem, he or she would go to the priest and get examined. If leprosy was determined, the infected person would be forced to isolate, for life. There was no cure.

According to Jewish law, a leper could not associate with the general public and would be forced to live outside of the community until they died. As an outcast, a leper would more than likely live with other lepers.

It was not just the physical suffering, it was a mental and social torture. Lepers were not allowed to join worship services and most Jews considered lepers as worse sinners; their illness was proof of that.

And here we have a group of 10.

Notice the wording: “…And as they went they were cleansed.”

The simple act of walking away as Jesus told them healed all 10 of them, so why does verse 19 end with Jesus saying to the one, “…your faith has made you well.”

If his actions had already made him well, what does faith have to do with it?

Well, Jesus was not talking about his physical healing. The verse would read better if it said, “Rise and go your way; your faith has saved you.”

That one man, a Samaritan no less, knew what had just happened. He had just been healed by the Son of God, and he “turned back, praising God with a loud voice.”

Jesus is actually saying, “Your actions healed you; your faith saved you.”

Friend, don’t forget to thank Jesus for what is has done for you, for what He is doing for you, and for what He will do for you. Have the faith of the Samaritan and be saved.

by Jeanette Stark – Monday, May 8, 2023