Luke 17:14 “And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.”
Jesus heals 10 lepers in Luke 17:11-19. They cried for mercy in verse 13, Jesus answered them in verse 14, and it says after Jesus answered in verse 14, “And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.” Miraculous! An amazing things happened to these 10 lepers. Their life was changed completely in just 2 verses of scripture. Today the world is crying out for mercy. Truth be told, a book could be written about all the bad things happening, but I want to focus in on all the good that is in the world today. The weather this year is beautiful. I personally thank God I have not experienced a flood this year, or a tornado, or a hurricane, or a landslide, or a raging forest fire, or…I could go on! Sometimes these happen to people, but I do not know anyone who has had to deal with them all at once. God is so good! I am so happy to live in the USA. It may seem crazy right now, but the world is crazy too. I am glad I live through these crazy times being free, armed, and abounding in the USA. There are so many good things that have happened to me over the last year, and I hope everyone can take some time to reflect on how good God is.
Picking up the story in verses 15-19, the Bible tells us, “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
Many times I focused in on this verse to realized the second blessing bestowed upon this Samaritan leper. The 9 were cleansed but this 1 was made WHOLE! God offers a second blessing to people who glorify God and are thankful: Be thankful. Reading this again, I noticed something different. The word used here to be read as “whole” means “to save, to deliver.” This man was not just cleansed, he was SAVED! They cried to Christ for mercy and received the desire of their heart, but after one turned back and Jesus told to the “stranger” that he was saved through his faith.
I cannot speak for the 9 lepers who did not turn back, but I know this 1 Samaritan was delivered not just from his earthly problems. This man asked for mercy from Christ, glorified God for what was done, and Jesus confirmed the salvation of his eternal soul. The reason God is so good to man is because of his longsuffering desire. 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God is the giver of all good things we experience in life. He wants to give man good. James goes so far as to say it this way, James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” God does it all with one things in mind: salvation. Why is Heaven so sweet? God wants man to go there. Why did he give so much to allow our forgiveness? God wants us to be saved. All good things point to God, and God wants to give you a second blessing. Remind those around you when things are going good from whom good things come. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, consider all the good that has been done in your life. God is doing good for you in the hopes that you will be saved, and then the second blessing begins.
Pastor Jesse McCammon
Calvary Baptist Church | Flora, IL
