THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26
“Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, ‘Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.’”
Luke 17:15-19 (ESV)
JESUS CAME FOR GRATEFUL PEOPLE
On the morning of September 8th, 1860, The PS Lady Elgin, a wooden schooner sunk in the murky waters of Lake Michigan when a smaller boat collided with it. Over 300 passengers had been enjoying a round-trip sightseeing tour from Milwaukee to Chicago when the tragic accident happened. Only a handful of people were able to reach the lifeboats. That morning, a student from Northwestern University, Edward Spencer, a strong swimmer, rescued 17 people over a 6-hour period until he finally collapsed. Years later a reporter was writing a follow up story on the event and went to interview the now elderly Spenser. When asked what was the one thing that stood out about the incident in his mind, Spenser replied: “I remember that of the 17 people I saved that day, not one of them ever thanked me.”
Jesus had a similar situation in Luke 17, however one person did thank Him. In the story Jesus heals 10 people with leprosy. No doubt they had been considered outcast from society and this healing was life changing. An interesting note to the story is the one who returned to say thanks was a Samaritan. The Jewish religious leaders of the day hated Samaritans. Yet Jesus commends this one because of his gratitude for healing.
We are all in the same boat when it comes to our need for spiritual healing. This week we’ve been reminded that it doesn’t matter if we’re religious or moral. What matters is that we graciously receive God’s gift of salvation through Jesus. Take a little time and read Luke 17:11-19. Then take some time to tell Jesus thank you for coming to save you.
