Luke 17
Only one of ten cleansed lepers returned to say thanks. Jesus asked, “Where are the other nine?” What can you thank God for that has gone unrecognized? Thank him now. Why did Jesus say to the ex-leper who returned to praise Him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Lk. 17:19b)? All ten of the lepers had already shown faith by calling out to Jesus for healing and then obeying His command by heading off to show themselves to the priests. They all had faith. They were all made well. Was Jesus simply restating the obvious to this one who came back? Or was there something more in His words?
I have been seeing faith lately as a belief in the possibilities; as not limiting God. So if this one healed leper had faith beyond what the other nine displayed, what exactly was it? I believe Jesus healed people to show them that He had the power to change their lives – inside and out. I doubt, though, that all of them got the message. This story seems to indicate that. So perhaps this man’s faith was in recognizing that Jesus could have something more for him. He alone seemed to understand how undeserving he was of his external healing. And perhaps returning to Jesus out of that humble acknowledgment came from an underlying belief that Jesus could likewise heal his unworthiness.
Hos. 6-7
How could you “press on” to know the Lord? Also, Jesus quotes 6:6 often. What does it mean and why is it important? The first part of Hosea 6 is a clear prophecy of Jesus’ work on the cross. “…on the third day He will restore us, that we may live in His presence. Let us acknowledge the LORD;” Hos. 6:2b-3a). The healing Hosea speaks of comes when we acknowledge Jesus as Lord and as the sacrifice for our sins. Even the first half of verse 6:6, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice”, .speaks of Jesus’ work. It was through Jesus’ final sacrifice on the cross that God was able to replace the sacrifices required by the law with His mercy. The second half of the verse then says that we need to acknowledge God’s mercy through Christ rather than continue serving the law.
Another thing I see in Hosea 6:6 is the Samaritan leper’s faith, from Luke 17 which we just read. He did exactly what this verse says. He was on his way to perform the sacrifices and offerings necessary to be declared clean. Instead of completing that mission, however, he returned to acknowledge God and His mercy instead. Hosea tells us that it is this faith, not adherence to the law, that restores us to God.