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Where Are the Nine?

Jesus was on His way up to Jerusalem. His path took Him between Galilee and Samaria. This latter place was considered worthless by many, as its inhabitants were mingled half-breed sons of Abraham. As Jesus and His disciples approached yet another small village, there was a group of ten lepers standing at a distance. They did that—stood at a distance. It was a habit, as they were shunned by society as “unclean” and “untouchable,” as the law commanded (Num. 5:2). There was no cure for what they had, but they had heard about this Jesus who was approaching. So they cry out to Him, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (Luke 17:13). Jesus turns to them and says, “Go and show yourselves to the priests” (17:14). He had not cleansed them in that moment. Jesus had sent them to the priest as there were certain rituals that must be obeyed in order to be made clean (Lev. 14:1-9). As the ten went toward where they were to meet the priest, they were cleansed. Before even reaching their destination they were healed. Upon seeing this, one of them turned back and shouted with a loud voice and glorified God. He fell on his face before the feet of Jesus and thanked Him. “Then Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?’ And He said to him, ‘Stand up and go; your faith has made you well’” (Luke 17:17-19). What had this foreigner, a Samaritan, done that the other nine had not? He showed gratitude.

When Jesus asked, “Where are the nine?” He was essentially saying that all should have been grateful for what He had done and the blessing they had received from God. Shouldn’t we have cause to be the most thankful? Not because we’ve been cleansed of a physical uncleanness but cleansed of a spiritual death from which there is no cure without the grace of God and the death of His Son.

The Bible speaks of gratitude toward God. “Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good” (Psa. 107:8-9). “Be thankful… singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Col. 3:15-17). “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1Thess. 5:18).

Thinking of all the things that God has given us, we must be careful to remember to stop, bow and give thanks as the Samaritan did. We should not be counted among the nine in our worship and service to God as those are also ways of showing gratitude for all that He has done for us.