Here in the West, the focus in the month of November (October in Canada) often drives towards the Thanksgiving holiday. It is that time of year, when people gather to celebrate all they are thankful for - or do we? Has Thanksgiving merely turned into a springboard to Christmas? Or Black Friday/Cyber Monday? Is it just time off of school and work? Why do we reserve just a few minutes around a table once a year to reflect on what we are thankful for?
Here is a great, and true demonstration of thankfulness (Luke 17:11-19, NKJV):
11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
Let’s review. First, leprosy is a terrible, contagious, skin disease that can spread from one person to another. Lepers had strict rules to abide by, including living in a banishment camp away from healthy people. The physical pain, and mental duress this disease brings is unfathomable. Second, the men who were sick recognized Jesus, and recognized He had the authority to heal them.
Third, nine unthankful men (Jews, most likely) were healed on their way to the priests; one thankful man (a hated Samaritan, most likely) was healed at the feet of Jesus.
We have a lot to be thankful for as Christians - especially those of us who live in the West. We face some adversity, but it does not compare to what many of our brothers and sisters in other countries face. Let’s review this passage through the eyes of missions and evangelism:
First, sin is a terrible disease that has been known to spread from one person to another through acts of enticement, malicious intent, and retaliation. Second, those who are bound up in sin may only know the saving power of Jesus Christ if they are told about Him - many, like the lepers, live in remote villages of the world. Third, the impact of Jesus’ grace and love on most “foreigners” is humble thankfulness - they, in turn, feel compelled to share what He has done for them.
Be thankful every day, and go into all the world.
