The One Who Came Back

The Story

As Jesus entered a village on the border between Samaria and Galilee, ten men with leprosy came out to meet Him. They knew the rules. People with leprosy had to keep their distance. So they stood far off and shouted, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”

Jesus didn’t touch them or pray over them this time. He simply said, “Go shew yourselves unto the priests.” A priest was the one who could declare someone healed and allow them back into normal life.

It was a test of faith. They weren’t healed yet. But they turned and started walking.

And as they went, they were healed. Skin that had been eaten away became whole again.

Nine of them kept going. Maybe they were eager to see their families, get back to work, and rejoin the world they had lost.

But one of them stopped. When he saw that he was healed, he turned around and came back, praising God at the top of his voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him. And the Bible adds: he was a Samaritan, an outsider.

Jesus asked, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” Then He said to the man, “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”

Reflection