Leprosy...blindness...and in-between places...thoughts on Luke 17:11-19

In reflecting on the text for this coming Sunday somethings to ponder...

Jesus is in the 'border' lands...those 'in-between' places where you are neither here nor there. Like the lepers in the story, Jesus is outside the acceptable places. It says something about where we should be as Christians. Too often we want to be in the right places and the good places, but here is a reminder that we need to be in the wilderness places, the border places, the 'in-between' places. C.T. Studd a missionary in China, Africa, and India said
"Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell." Interesting site for a building.

Jesus doesn't heal the men of leprosy, but then they haven't asked for healing, just 'mercy' or 'pity'. Jesus commands them to show themselves to the priest and it is on the way that they are healed. Ultimately the priest is the one who will declare them clean. Jesus simply instructs them to do what the Law of God requires.

Verse 15 is of interest. Luke writes that "one of them saw that he was healed". The reference to sight leaves us with the thought that the other 9 were still blind in some way for the 'sight' makes the man abandon his trip to the priest, disobey Jesus' command, and turn to Jesus in pure worship and thanksgiving. How powerful is the vision that this man sees! Also of note is that this man is described to us as a 'Samaritan'. Someone who dwelt outside the kingdom of God. Someone blind to the true religion.

This ties in a bit with last weeks reading from Luke 17:5-10. Maybe we don't really need more faith. Maybe what we need is to have our blind eyes opened to the blessing and the presence of God and his grace in our lives and in our world. Then we will understand Martin Luther's comment on this text. He was asked to describe the nature of true worship.

His answer: the tenth leper turning back.

May we all turn back to Jesus this Sunday.