Living in the Image of God M02S11
Interactions with a man healed from leprosy convey a message that God expects a recipient of favor (benefit provided by others) to appreciate the favor, appreciate the benefactor, and appreciate God for empowering the benefactor. Further, he expects the recipient to show appreciation by giving testimony. Also, his expectation of a favor recipient is the same even for those that could claim the favor as an entitlement. The man was one of ten healed in the event but he alone returned to give thanks. Christ criticized the nine but acknowledged the one and confirmed his faith had healed him.
We discuss Christ interactions with a man healed of leprosy to understand that God expects appreciation from every recipient of favor (i.e., benefit provided by others) and expects the recipient to show appreciation by giving testimony. Even if the favor is done to fulfill an entitlement, God expects appreciation and testimony from the recipient. As we discuss previously in Understanding Appreciation, appreciation means thankful recognition of benefits received, the human provider of the benefits, and God that empowers the provider. Testimony regarding appreciation provides opportunity to share the information with others and inspire them (especially the benefactor) to do more likewise.
The man was one of a group of ten men that Christ healed from leprosy during the event. However, only the one man (a foreigner) returned to give thanks. The other nine did not return. Jesus criticized the nine for failing to return to show appreciation, notwithstanding they could claim to be entitled to the favor because they were Jews from Israel. We learn from his criticism that their response differs from what God expects of a favor recipient. In contrast, his interactions with the one man that returned convey a message that appreciation and testimony regarding appreciation are important to God.
Appreciation pleases God. He wants every recipient of favor to appreciate the favor, appreciate the benefactor, and appreciate God for empowering the benefactor. Furthermore, he wants the recipient to show appreciation by giving testimony. Also, his expectation of a favor recipient is the same even for those that could claim the favor as an entitlement.
Ten Men with Leprosy
Ten men that had leprosy encountered Jesus on his way to Jerusalem along the border between Samaria and Galilee. The men were in a group and stayed away from other people as required by law. From a distance, they called out to Jesus and asked for his kindness [Luke 17:13]: “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” Jesus directed them to go show themselves to the priests: “When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests’” [Luke 17:14].
His instruction meant they should report to the priests to be examined believing they will be clean by the time they got to the priests. The men accepted the instruction by faith and proceeded to report to the priests. They became clean on their way.
Healing by Faith
Under Jewish law at the time, priests had the authority to declare that a person had leprosy or that a person had been healed from leprosy (Leviticus 13:40–46). A person declared to have leprosy was required to isolate from other people. In contrast, a person declared to have been healed from leprosy was permitted to re-integrate into society.
Therefore, Christ’s instruction to “Go show yourselves to the priests” contained a promise that they will be healed by the time they got to the priests for an examination. The men accepted the healing by faith and proceeded to report to the priests. They were healed on their way.
One Man Returned to Give Thanks
When they realized they were clean, one of the men turned back and returned to Jesus to give thanks. He threw himself down and thanked Jesus [Luke 17:15–16]: “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.”
Jesus Rebukes the Nine
Jesus criticized the nine that did not return. They were healed but did not return to show appreciation [Luke 17:17-18]: “Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’”
His criticism conveys a message that the nine failed to respond to the healing as was expected of them. God expects appreciation from every recipient of favor (i.e., benefit provided by others). He expects the recipient to appreciate the benefit, appreciate the benefactor, and appreciate God for empowering the benefactor. Furthermore, he expects the recipient to show appreciation by giving testimony. The nine failed to respond to their healing accordingly and Christ criticized their behavior.
Entitlement Not Exempt from Appreciation
Christ criticism of the nine also shows that God’s expectation of a favor recipient is the same even for those that could claim the favor as an entitlement. The one man that returned to give thanks was a foreigner (a Samaritan) whereas the nine that did not return were Jews from Israel. The nine could claim to be entitled to favors from Jesus because “…I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel [Matthew 15:24].” However, even favor recipients with such a claim are expected to appreciate the favor and show appreciation by giving testimony.
Therefore, Jesus criticized the nine vehemently for failing to return to give thanks [Luke 17:18]: “Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”
Jesus Congratulates the One
Jesus acknowledged the one man that returned to give thanks. He congratulated the man and declared his healing complete: “Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well’” [Luke 17:19].
He congratulated the man for responding to the healing as was expected of him: i.e., he recognized he was healed, recognized Jesus as the benefactor, and thanked God for the event. Furthermore, he testified publicly to show appreciation. Christ congratulated him as a recipient of healing by faith: “your faith has made you well.”
Summary of What We Learned
Interactions with a man healed from leprosy convey a message that God expects a recipient of favor (benefit provided by others) to appreciate the favor, appreciate the benefactor, and appreciate God for empowering the benefactor. Further, he expects the recipient to show appreciation by giving testimony. Also, his expectation of a favor recipient is the same even for those that could claim the favor as an entitlement.
The man was one of ten healed in the event but he alone returned to give thanks. Christ criticized the nine but acknowledged the one and confirmed his faith had healed him.