Ten men, all with leprosy asked Jesus to have pity and heal them. They stood at a distance and made their request, because it was the law that they stay clear of "clean" people. There was no hocus pocus used special elaborate demands made on the men. Jesus simply said, go to the temple. They followed Jesus' simple instruction and as they went, they were healed.

Some things are left out of this account in the gospel. Such as, did the men ever physically approach the priests. Scripture says they were healed "as they went" implying their action in obedience to Jesus' word, was enough faith to them to find healing from their horrible disfiguring disease. But something else is curious about this account.

One man returned to thank Jesus and give God the praise but nine did not. Jesus praise his grateful spirit and then completed the man's healing with a statement, "Rise up; your faith has made you whole. But what about the other nine men?

Jesus denounced the ungrateful spirit of the nine for I imagine they ran for home rather than go to thank Jesus for their healing. That leads me to think the healing the nine was short-lived. After a while I imagine they regathered and assumed their unclean beggar status. Of course there was one man who was not there to rejoining the group. He was probably following Jesus for a while to learn more about the God who loved him even though the law said he was unclean.

Have you been healed from the dreaded disease called "sin?" Sin is far worse than leprosy, for a leper can die and still find eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Sin however will kill the body and spirit of the person who fails to approach the Lord and find cleansing for the curse of sin on their life.

1. Pray Through the Word - 365 devotionals on the subject of prayer by James R. Green (Num 12; Lu 17)
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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