I was just reading William Barclay’s The Gospel of Luke commentary about Jesus healing the ten men with leprosy. Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

I’ve read this account so many times and yet, today, I thought of it from a different perspective. The nine lepers that left did what Jesus instructed. They made their way to show themselves to the priests. It would have been wonderful if they had turned back first to thank Jesus, but, still, they obeyed. In Jesus’ day that was what they were told to do…show themselves to the priests who could declare if they were cleansed of the leprosy; but would the Samaritan have been able to go to the priests? What did he do when he saw he was cleansed? He returned swiftly to Jesus, our High Priest, to praise God in a loud voice, and threw himself at Jesus’ feet thanking Him. Jesus not only could declare him cleansed…he cleansed him! The Samaritan went to the source of our healing, praising and thanking Him in a loud voice!

Given the choice to go to the priests or to go to Jesus, the Samaritan chose Jesus who saved him from a life of isolation and cleansed him. He chose to go directly to Jesus. I find that so deeply uplifting and I’m so grateful for his example for us recorded by Luke.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:2. The Samaritan blessed the Lord and forgot not all His benefits! I’m so thankful he did that for Jesus; and I’m grateful for God sharing this with all of us in his Scripture.