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Devotionals
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The Samaritan Leper
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The Samaritan Leper
(By Steve Brand)
[Edited and partially written by Chris Long]
"...and he was a Samaritan." (Luke 17:15)
Have you taken time to consider the Samaritans in Scripture lately? There are three stories in the gospels that focus mainly on Samaritan individuals. Of course, in Luke, we have the story of the Good Samaritan who is such an apt picture of Christ.
And who can forget the classic Sunday School lesson from John's gospel about the Samaritan Woman who went to Sychar's Well where she found the Saviour Waiting? She had Sinned Wickedly, yet the Lord loved her. He told her about satisfying Living Water that He could give her so she would never thirst again. He taught her about the Father's great desire for Spiritual Worshippers. She believed him and, leaving behind her Stone Waterpot, ran into the city. There she became a Sincere Witness to her friends and family, telling them what great things Christ had told her.
I'm sure that these first two Samaritans are some of the most familiar figures in Scripture for most of you, but what about the third Samaritan? We find him in Luke 17, and for simplicity's sake, let's call him the Samaritan leper.
The Lord found this dear man one day with nine other lepers. Scripture doesn't say much about the other nine, but I suspect that the other lepers may have been Jews since the Holy Spirit makes a special point of noting that this man was both a Samaritan (17:15) and a stranger (17:18).
The interest that the Lord Jesus Christ took in him was remarkable for two reasons. First, because our Lord was a Jew and this man was a Samaritan. Remember that "the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans," as the woman at the well once told Christ. But secondly, and more remarkably, this man was a leper - condemned by an awful disease that we can hardly fathom today..
Most Jews of that day would've had nothing to do with this man and his companions, but Christ isn't like most people! His heart was moved by their cry, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." The Lord Jesus' response to them was such a simple command. "Go show yourselves unto the priests."
They all went their way and were cleansed of the leprosy, but the Samaritan was the only one of the 10 to come back to Jesus. As soon as he saw that he was healed, he turned back and fell on his face in thanksgiving before the one who had healed him - the great, eternal High Priest whose ministry knows no national boundary - our Lord Jesus Christ. And there, on the dusty village road, the "Great High Priest for ever" (Hebrews 4:14; 6:20) pronounced him cleaner than any earthly priest ever could. Luke writes, that Jesus "said unto him, Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole" (17:19).
Can you see yourself in this story? ...Like a Samaritan, you were outside of God's covenant with Israel. Like a leper you were completely corrupted by sin. Yet, the Lord Jesus Christ by His death, has opened up a great eternal Priesthood whereby you have free access. There is not a sin he cannot cleanse. There is not a sinner that he cannot pronounce clean.
His heart is full of mercy and compassion. He is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities." He understands all, for He "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." His desire for us is that we "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15, 16).
The first question is: Will we come?
The second is: Will we thank Him?
Thank Jesus today for all He has done in your life!
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Davidwayne Lackey 07/15/2015 22:34 |
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