The Lopsided Ratio of Gratitude!

"Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?

The question about the other nine has intrigued many over the years.  One person asked me, on the phone one morning, “What happened to the other nine lepers:  Were they healed?  And, if they were healed, but didn’t return to thank Jesus, did they get it again?  I mean, if they didn’t have faith like the one who did come back, and thank Jesus, did they get leprosy again?”

First I laughed!  Thinking that she was going in another direction having to do with her own issues.  

Then I responded: Thats a great question!  I don’t think anyone has ever asked me that before.  The truth is, we are not told what happened to them.”

The phone conversation went on, in different directions, having nothing to do with the lepers.  But later I began to wonder about what this leper story actually did say about the nine.  And I began to imagine this healing as a parable instead of one of Jesus’ many healing events  

I imagined that Jesus was telling a parable about gratitude.  And since there are always, at least two messages in a parable, I asked my self what would Jesus’ two points be in this story?

Well one could be that only one leper returned from showing himself to the priest.

The second, nine did not!  Being free to enter civilization again, they probably went back to their family and friends to enjoy life as usual.  

However, the one!  The one who came back.  Not only came back to say an ordinary thank you.  He came back “praising God wit a loud voice.”  Then it says he prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet in gratitude.  That is, he fell face down on the ground at Jesus’ feet.  

A position of reverence showing complete humility. 

He laid himself out in total gratitude for having his life restored by healing the curse of leprosy.  

Jesus’ response?  “Your faith has make you well.”

I thought to myself, that is the key point!  

The one who had not only been healed, made clean, from a terrible disease by God.  But he had been “made well” by his faith.

A faith in what God Almighty had accomplished through Jesus.   He perceived — realized — God in Jesus.

Here is the clue!  It comes in Jesus’ words in a prayer in John 17:  

"Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent….”

Did you catch it?

The “one” who returned — the samaritan leper — got the key to  the eternal life.  He saw God in Jesus!

The Non-Jew!  The outsider!   The non-believer in Jewish tradition!  Knew!  He recognized that he had been touched by the hand of God.  He had seen, experienced, God.  

Point one:  So he responded with the purest form of Gratitude!   Gratitude for the powerful presence of God at work in the skin of the man Jesus.

Point two:  God, through Jesus, made this one “well.”  Eternal Life Well!  Enlightened with complete comprehension of God.  Spiritually well!

As for the other nine, well my parable image them as free of leprosy!  Made all clean!  But maybe not “well” spiritually!  Possibly not fully alive!  Fully well!

And then I wonder what this imagined parable might say to us today.  And I’m thinking about the ratio of gratitude this parable lays out.  All ten where cleanse of the dreaded skin condition that had them expelled from their village.  But only one was made “well!”

One in ten!

That ratio plays itself out approximately the same way in today’s world.  Most people “believe” in God.  They to know they can count on God.  Especially when they need his help the most.  But otherwise they don’t give much time, or thought, to God.  

However, all — all — believers receive God’s grace, God’s care and forgiveness. 

11 For God shows no partiality. (Rom. 2)

All who believe will be saved.  We will all see God one day.  Because, God does not play the game of best or better.  The game of some win and some don’t!

And yet, I am thinking that, it does seem to me that there is a huge difference in the quality of life for those who live each day grateful for God’s presence.  Grateful to God for all he does in their lives.  

If the story, of the cleansing of the ten lepers, was actually a parable what would it be telling us today?

Where would we fit into this two sided story?  

How do we respond to the blessings God gives us each day?

And, how do we offer our gratitude?

Are our eyes open to perceive it when God touches our lives in almost unnoticeable ways?   

A silent message that comes seemingly out of no where?  

When we hear, or read, scripture and suddenly experience a fresh understanding?  

Natural life lessons learned the hard way?

11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well." 20 Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, "The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; 21 nor will they say, "Look, here it is!' or "There it is!' For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you." (Luke 17)