Contemplative Bible Reading

Luke 17:12-14 (New Living Translation)

12 As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.

This is a (hi)story of Jesus healing ten men with leprosy. Note, Jesus did not immediately heal them.

They came to Jesus asking for mercy. Jesus told them to show themselves to the priests. This was part of the old law. When a skin disease dissipated, a person was to go to a priest. The priest would examine the person and declare they were well. There were a few things to happen after that, but first things first.

This case differs from others where Jesus healed a leper, everyone could see the healing, and Jesus told the leper to go to the priest. In this case, the lepers were healed while they were traveling to the priest.

Wait a minute. I’m a leper. I obviously still have leprosy. Jesus tells me to go to the priest as if I were healed. Uh, isn’t Jesus supposed to heal me first? Well, what do I have to lose. I’ll go. While going, I notice I am healed. Was that the attitude of the ten lepers? It seems they had much more faith. It seems they believed in the power of Jesus and went on just as if all was well.

I guess I read a message into that faith. Jesus has cleansed me and forgiven me. I still stumble and bumble. Regardless, I am to go on just as if all is well with me. All is well with me. And all is well with many people I see everyday. They don’t seem so well and good, but that is just my perception. I don’t see with the eyes of Jesus. I should, but many times I don’t. Yet, all is well. Please God, give me the faith I need and help me in my unbelief.