To Be A Leper

Today's Reading: Psalm 25, Genesis 24, 1 Chrronicles 29:1‐22a, Luke 17:11‐37

Luke 17:11-37 – We serve a God who is omniscient. He knows everything that will happen. As such, he knew that when he healed the lepers, only one would come back to thank Him. Did that stop Christ from healing? No! He didn’t heal for thanks. He healed because it was the right thing to do. Did you notice who came back to thank Christ? It was the Samaritan leper.

Lepers were the scourge of ancient society. Lepers were relegated to living outside of the town. With no known cure, leprosy was easily spread and it killed. Jesus loved to heal lepers. He healed some by touching them. It would have been the first time in years that they had felt another human being touch them. He could have just healed with his words, like he seemed to do here, but for some, it was His touch. If lepers were society’s scourge, then Samaritan lepers were several steps lower, as far as a righteous Jew was concerned. The Samaritans were enemies of the Jews. These races hated each other. And yet Jesus healed a Samaritan. It would have been a valuable lesson for His followers. Jesus loved Samaritans. Jesus loved lepers. And, Jesus loves you.

Leprosy has largely disappeared from the medical world today, but Christ’s love still reaches out to those who are society’s outcasts. So should our love be!

For notes on all of today's readings click here.