GOD’S WORDS OF WELLNESS (3)

“And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your FAITH has made you WELL” – Luke 17:19

The Attitudes of Gratitude and Faith are vital virtues that engender GOD’S WORDS of WELLNESS: “And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your FAITH has made you WELL” (Lk.17:19). The Lord Jesus, on His way to Jerusalem, encountered a group of ten lepers at the border of Samaria and Galilee. They stood at a distance because those diagnosed with such infectious disease as leprosy, were isolated and banned from society. Apart from the fear of the disease, leprosy made a person ritually unclean. To touch a leper defiled a Jew almost as much as touching a dead person. In a sense, leprosy was a sign of God’s disfavour. Up till this moment, in all Biblical history, only two persons had been cured of leprosy: Miriam (Num.12: 9-15) and Namaan (2 Kings 5).

It wasn’t uncommon for lepers to group together. They couldn’t have much social contact with other members of society, so they formed their society of the “unclean,” the “untouchables.” Having no land to till or livestock to tender, they were completely dependent upon others for pity and pittances. When Jesus and His band of disciples drew near, the lepers immediately recognized Him and called out His name. They asked, not really for healing, but for pity, a familiar cry that they had been uttering ever since they were diagnosed with the disease and cast out of the village. All they needed was whatever might be given – food, clothing, shelter. They probably knew Jesus’ reputation for compassion and healing, but the text doesn’t indicate their expectation for such.

What the lepers received from the Lord was an Instruction: “Go, show yourselves to the priests” (v.14a). The significance of the priests in this instruction, was that, only priests, according to Jewish law, could declare a person healed of leprosy – clean and fit to re-enter society (Lev.14). Jesus didn’t say that they were healed, but certainly implied it, and the scriptures confirms that “as they went, they were cleansed” (v.14b). By faith, demonstrated in their action of obedience to Jesus’ command, the ten lepers were healed! One cannot imagine the celebration that could have broken out as they continued on toward the priests’ village.

All of the ten lepers experienced Healing and realized they were healed, but only one broke through into WELLNESS through an Attitude of Gratitude: “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan” (vv.15-16). This thankful Samaritan came all the way back to Jesus, praising and extolling God – “with a loud voice” – for His mercy in healing him. The lepers had called out loudly to ask for mercy; but only this leper offered loud thanksgiving and praise. Our thanksgiving should be louder that our demands!

The leper threw himself at Jesus' feet in utter humility. Rather than recoil from his touch, Jesus received his thanks graciously. The Lord took notice of the Unthankful Nine, and that the only grateful soul was a non-Jew, foreigner or Samaritan: “So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” (vv.17-18). The account concludes with the Blessing of Wellness: “Arise, go your way. Your FAITH has made you WELL” (v.19b). The phrase "made you well" or "made thee whole" (KJV) is Greek sōzō, commonly translated "to save." In this context it means: "to preserve or rescue from dangers and afflictions, keep from harm; specifically, "safe or free from disease."

Today's text hints at the fact that Jesus blessed this leper more than the others. They all received a specific healing of leprosy, but this Samaritan received a deeper salvation in addition – Wellness. His faith had prompted him to return to the feet of Jesus in thanks, and that personal contact and submission signified a Holistic Healing – spirit, soul, body – a manifestation that was more than skin deep.