Luke 17:11-19
Jesus Heals Ten Lepers
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Isaiah 61:1-3
The Year of the LORD's Favor
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
When I visit someplace I haven’t been and see people I am unfamiliar with who dress differently or seem out of place to me I can get a feeling of being uncomfortably and even anxiousness...I can get those feelings when I think that someone ought to be this way or be doing this more in the way I think...And when it comes to health issues, being around people who are ill, can make me feel the same way...For instance, if a group of lepers were in my presence, I am sure I would feel very much worried and anxious...I would be thinking all the while (and even after they left) could I get “their” disease...I might even go out of the way not to have to pass by these type of people, who make me feel uncomfortable...
Jesus goes out looking for the poor, the captives, those who mourn, the brokenhearted, and prisoners...Jesus thinks differently than man...His concern for His own personal comfort is something to study...Jesus doesn’t care with the way someone dresses or does not care about one’s wardrobe...He cares about the person and people...So I do not think when He met the group of ten lepers, He was concerned one bit about His own personal health, or what He might catch...I think, He was thinking compassionately toward all of those who had leprosy...He wanted to help each of them and He did....He made them healthy again...He has positive thoughts about all men and women and children -whoever they are and whatever situation they are in...I am not even sure there is one person who would make Him feel uncomfortable in that respect...He loves all mankind, poor or rich, sick or healthy...He wants to help them...Jesus thinks healthy thoughts...And I really think, He wants me to think more like He thinks about people and things and less like I actually think about people and things...