“WHERE ARE THE NINE?”

Luke 17:11-19                                     (ESV)

“11 On the way to Jerusalem HE was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.

12 And as HE entered a village, HE was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance

13 and lifted up their voices, saying, "JESUS, Master, have mercy on us."

14 When HE saw them HE said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed.

15 Then one of them, WHEN HE SAW THAT HE WAS HEALED, TURNED BACK, PRAISING GOD WITH A LOUD VOICE;

16 and he fell on his face at JESUS' feet, giving HIM thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.

17 Then JESUS answered, "Were not ten cleansed? “WHERE ARE THE NINE?”

18 Was no one found to return and give praise to GOD except this foreigner?"

19 And HE said to him, "Rise and go your way; YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL." 

There are many “parables” in the Bible, “a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson”.  This is not one of those!  JESUS is passing through an area north of Jerusalem, and a bit south of Nazareth, the place of HIS earthly residence.  There were Jews who believed that they were better than the Samaritans and Galileans, simply because they were born of more noble ancestry?  These people were not the upper level of society, and the ten that JESUS was about to ministering to were even thought to be less than human!  

JESUS was shouted at by TEN LEPERS as HE was entering a village.  They had to shout because they were required by law to keep their distance, because they were considered to be “unclean” being diagnosed with leprosy.  Keep in mind, leprosy was almost a death sentence in this time and the chances of recovery were not anything to write home about.  For JESUS to simply SPEAK and all ten of these people be “cleansed” was monumental, maybe even a MIRACLE!  

Of course, we now know that JESUS simply SPOKE and CREATED the universes!  Yet nine of the ten evidently were so excited to be healed that they didn’t have time to pause and be grateful to the ONE WHO healed them.  Why was it just the one that came back and “fell on his face at JESUS' feet, giving HIM thanks”?  “WHERE ARE THE NINE” others who were delivered from certain death and agony?  “WHERE ARE THE NINE” who JESUS had just healed and restored their health?  

From personal experience, when you SEE that you have been healed, that you aren’t just a “lucky”, or “fortunate” individual, PRAISING GOD is something that cannot be suppressed!  Until, and UNLESS, your EYES are opened and you SEE, as the tenth leper, that GOD had mercy on you, “WHERE ARE THE NINE” will be said of you by the Master!  Don’t allow the excitement of temporary earthly healing overshadow your HEAVENLY ETERNAL HEALING!  “WHERE ARE THE NINE” didn’t recognize that GOD healed them, even when HE was right in front of them.   The one did!  Which will I be????