And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
Ten men corrupted by loathsome leprosy stood afar off at a distance from society as Jesus came within sight entering a village, kept apart by prescribed limits lest they contaminate others. Their shared suffering had overcome the hostility between Jews and Samaritans, for nine were Jews and one was a Samaritan stranger, and having heard of His works they looked to Him as Master alone able to relieve suffering and cried in great need and faith for healing mercy. Jesus tested their faith by bidding them go show themselves to the priests, and obeying at once without delay they started on their way believing in His power, and as they went divine power cleansed them and made them entirely whole. He healed all ten for the sake of the one who would make right use of health, yet only the Samaritan stranger returned to give God glory while the nine passed on without thanks and forgot Him. Restored health places the healed under renewed obligation to return with gratitude and praise rather than remain silent, and the lesson is pity and perseverance toward unappreciative sufferers without weariness, satisfied if even one in ten is grateful and saved.
The Lepers' Plea
The cry comes from ten men corrupted by loathsome leprosy, meeting Jesus as He came within sight entering a village, standing afar off at a distance because prescribed limits set by the authorities restricted them from society lest they contaminate others. Isolated and excluded because of their disease, they lift their voices to Him from that distance. Their common misery had overcome the hostility between Jews and Samaritans, so that those who otherwise would have stood apart stood together in one company. That company included nine Jews and one Samaritan stranger.
They had heard of His works of healing and therefore sought His help. They looked to Him as Master who alone has power to relieve suffering, and in great suffering they called to Him for mercy and help. Their cry expresses desperate need and weakness and an appeal for healing mercy. It is made in faith in Christ's power to heal, even when disease was brought on by a sinful course in violating natural law. Jesus pities their weakness and does not stand aloof for fear of contamination.
So the poor and afflicted receive His assurances, while those who think themselves righteous and in need of nothing reject Him.
Christ's Healing Response
Jesus did not heal on the spot but tested faith by commanding the men to go show themselves to the priests, and they believed in his power to heal and started on their way at his word. They obeyed at once without delay, willing to venture on any prospect of healing, and the tones of his voice thrilled their hearts and inspired hope, faith and confidence. As they went the disease left them and they realized they were cleansed. They were not only cleansed but made entirely whole, divine power working a new creation in them.
He healed the whole ten for the sake of the one stranger who would make right use of the blessing of health and return with gratitude. The other nine passed on without appreciating the work or rendering grateful thanks, forgetting the one who had healed them. Only one appreciated the gift, and that one was a stranger and a Samaritan. He did not cease his efforts for one suffering soul even when most showed no lasting benefit and returned to the indulgences that caused disease.
The healing was an act of God's mercy and care in sickness, showing what God does in every age through Jesus Christ the healer whom he sent. He continually works to benefit mankind by pouring out blessings and imparting bounties, raising the sick from beds of languishing, delivering from peril unseen, and commissioning heavenly angels to save from calamity and guard from pestilence in darkness and destruction at noonday. Every healing is a good and perfect gift from above, placing the healed under renewed obligation to the Creator. Yet most who receive it center all thoughts on themselves, remain unimpressed, and do not give honor to God.
Bodily healing alone does not cleanse the soul. Faith in Jesus as the one who pardons sin brings healing to the soul as well as the body. The Samaritan's gratitude in returning showed that Jesus' love and mercy reached Samaritans as well as others.
Gratitude and Faithful Service
Of the ten who cried for mercy, all were healed, but only one — the Samaritan stranger — turned back to find Jesus and give God glory, while the nine went on without appreciating the work done for them and forgot the one who had healed them. The nine stand as an example of hearts untouched by mercy who did not return. Their earnest crying for recovery while sick was right, and when mercy came it called for an answer of gratitude and praise rather than forgetfulness or silence.
Restored health places the healed under renewed obligation to the Creator to return with a heart touched by mercy, gratefully acknowledging His care in sickness instead of being like the unthinking nine. Those who have received mercy should raise their voices in praise for His righteousness and glory, since every healing is a good and perfect gift from above. Christ healed the whole ten for the sake of the one who would make right use of the blessing of health.
That act teaches pity, sympathy, patience and perseverance toward debased, unappreciative sufferers without becoming discouraged, disgusted, or weary in well-doing, being satisfied if even one in ten or twenty is grateful, makes right use of health, and is saved. He did not cease His efforts for one suffering soul even when most showed no lasting benefit and returned to the indulgences that caused disease. Apparent discouragement and defeat through ingratitude should not stop labor for sufferers, for He shall not fail nor be discouraged and shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied.
If but one soul accepts the gospel of His grace, Christ would to save that one have chosen His life of toil and humiliation and His death of shame, and if through labor one human being is uplifted and ennobled, fitted to shine in the courts of the Lord, there is cause for rejoicing and thanking God and taking courage. The nine correctly represent Sabbath-keepers who come as patients to the Health Institute, receive much attention and even free or reduced-price treatment, and should realize the anxiety and discouragements of physicians and be the last to cause unnecessary care and burdens. Instead they are frequently the most difficult to manage, more free than any other class to complain and question the management and, while receiving attention, speak disparagingly to other patients of the means employed for recovery, while worldlings, strangers, and professed Christians of other denominations appreciate the efforts for recovery more and on returning home exert a stronger influence in favor of the Institute. The Lord regards ungrateful complaining Sabbath-keepers as He regarded the nine lepers.
Prayer for recovery of the sick must not lose faith in God whatever the outcome, accepting bereavement as a bitter cup held by a Father's hand.
Ten men corrupted by loathsome leprosy stood afar off at a distance from society as Jesus came within sight entering a village, kept apart by prescribed limits lest they contaminate others. Their shared suffering had overcome the hostility between Jews and Samaritans, for nine were Jews and one was a Samaritan stranger, and having heard of His works they looked to Him as Master alone able to relieve suffering and cried in great need and faith for healing mercy. Jesus tested their faith by bidding them go show themselves to the priests, and obeying at once without delay they started on their way believing in His power, and as they went divine power cleansed them and made them entirely whole. He healed all ten for the sake of the one who would make right use of health, yet only the Samaritan stranger returned to give God glory while the nine passed on without thanks and forgot Him. Restored health places the healed under renewed obligation to return with gratitude and praise rather than remain silent, and the lesson is pity and perseverance toward unappreciative sufferers without weariness, satisfied if even one in ten is grateful and saved.
The Lepers' Plea
The cry comes from ten men corrupted by loathsome leprosy, meeting Jesus as He came within sight entering a village, standing afar off at a distance because prescribed limits set by the authorities restricted them from society lest they contaminate others. Isolated and excluded because of their disease, they lift their voices to Him from that distance. Their common misery had overcome the hostility between Jews and Samaritans, so that those who otherwise would have stood apart stood together in one company. That company included nine Jews and one Samaritan stranger.
They had heard of His works of healing and therefore sought His help. They looked to Him as Master who alone has power to relieve suffering, and in great suffering they called to Him for mercy and help. Their cry expresses desperate need and weakness and an appeal for healing mercy. It is made in faith in Christ's power to heal, even when disease was brought on by a sinful course in violating natural law. Jesus pities their weakness and does not stand aloof for fear of contamination.
So the poor and afflicted receive His assurances, while those who think themselves righteous and in need of nothing reject Him.
Christ's Healing Response
Jesus did not heal on the spot but tested faith by commanding the men to go show themselves to the priests, and they believed in his power to heal and started on their way at his word. They obeyed at once without delay, willing to venture on any prospect of healing, and the tones of his voice thrilled their hearts and inspired hope, faith and confidence. As they went the disease left them and they realized they were cleansed. They were not only cleansed but made entirely whole, divine power working a new creation in them.
He healed the whole ten for the sake of the one stranger who would make right use of the blessing of health and return with gratitude. The other nine passed on without appreciating the work or rendering grateful thanks, forgetting the one who had healed them. Only one appreciated the gift, and that one was a stranger and a Samaritan. He did not cease his efforts for one suffering soul even when most showed no lasting benefit and returned to the indulgences that caused disease.
The healing was an act of God's mercy and care in sickness, showing what God does in every age through Jesus Christ the healer whom he sent. He continually works to benefit mankind by pouring out blessings and imparting bounties, raising the sick from beds of languishing, delivering from peril unseen, and commissioning heavenly angels to save from calamity and guard from pestilence in darkness and destruction at noonday. Every healing is a good and perfect gift from above, placing the healed under renewed obligation to the Creator. Yet most who receive it center all thoughts on themselves, remain unimpressed, and do not give honor to God.
Bodily healing alone does not cleanse the soul. Faith in Jesus as the one who pardons sin brings healing to the soul as well as the body. The Samaritan's gratitude in returning showed that Jesus' love and mercy reached Samaritans as well as others.
Gratitude and Faithful Service
Of the ten who cried for mercy, all were healed, but only one — the Samaritan stranger — turned back to find Jesus and give God glory, while the nine went on without appreciating the work done for them and forgot the one who had healed them. The nine stand as an example of hearts untouched by mercy who did not return. Their earnest crying for recovery while sick was right, and when mercy came it called for an answer of gratitude and praise rather than forgetfulness or silence.
Restored health places the healed under renewed obligation to the Creator to return with a heart touched by mercy, gratefully acknowledging His care in sickness instead of being like the unthinking nine. Those who have received mercy should raise their voices in praise for His righteousness and glory, since every healing is a good and perfect gift from above. Christ healed the whole ten for the sake of the one who would make right use of the blessing of health.
That act teaches pity, sympathy, patience and perseverance toward debased, unappreciative sufferers without becoming discouraged, disgusted, or weary in well-doing, being satisfied if even one in ten or twenty is grateful, makes right use of health, and is saved. He did not cease His efforts for one suffering soul even when most showed no lasting benefit and returned to the indulgences that caused disease. Apparent discouragement and defeat through ingratitude should not stop labor for sufferers, for He shall not fail nor be discouraged and shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied.
If but one soul accepts the gospel of His grace, Christ would to save that one have chosen His life of toil and humiliation and His death of shame, and if through labor one human being is uplifted and ennobled, fitted to shine in the courts of the Lord, there is cause for rejoicing and thanking God and taking courage. The nine correctly represent Sabbath-keepers who come as patients to the Health Institute, receive much attention and even free or reduced-price treatment, and should realize the anxiety and discouragements of physicians and be the last to cause unnecessary care and burdens. Instead they are frequently the most difficult to manage, more free than any other class to complain and question the management and, while receiving attention, speak disparagingly to other patients of the means employed for recovery, while worldlings, strangers, and professed Christians of other denominations appreciate the efforts for recovery more and on returning home exert a stronger influence in favor of the Institute. The Lord regards ungrateful complaining Sabbath-keepers as He regarded the nine lepers.
Prayer for recovery of the sick must not lose faith in God whatever the outcome, accepting bereavement as a bitter cup held by a Father's hand.