Luke 17:15New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁵ One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!”

After the carols are sung and eggnog consumed, Americans will hit the roads to return unwanted gifts. We will return as much as $284 billion dollars of unwanted gifts. The gift to be remembered?

Jesus gave 10 lepers in Luke 17:11-19 a gift of healing to their bodies. These men had a flesh eating disease that would ultimately take their lives. The men were unclean and would be placed in a colony to live out their lives separate from everyone else.

In this story, Jesus hears the lepers calling out to him, “Help us! Have mercy on us!” Jesus immediately sends the gift of healing to their bodies. He tells them to go show themselves to the priests. As they started walking, the healing happened.

For me today, my thought goes to the nine. Why did they not come back? Why did they not return to Jesus and thank him? Did they think they were owed? Were they ungrateful? We do not know. Scripture is silent.

Yet, one did come back. This one man who received healing came back to praise Jesus. He got to his knees with his face in the dirt. What was interesting was that he was a half-blood. He was half Jewish and half gentile. He was a Samaritan. He received the gift of healing and was grateful. 

Many will hit the malls and stores to return gifts after this Christmas holiday. These gifts will be forgotten. Do not forget the gift of Jesus. Hold dearly your gift of salvation. Also, do not forget the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He was a gift to our world. He came to save. Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of salvation and your abundant grace.

Strength and Courage

Michael