"Were not all 10 cleansed?"

Ten men were cleansed from leprosy, a skin disease, by the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 17:11-14

Only one of them, 10 percent, returned to thank Him and glorify God. Luke 17:17-18

Not only that, this man was a Samaritan, Luke 17:16 a group usually unliked by Jews. John 4:9; 8:48

Jesus called him a foreigner. Luke 17:18

Additionally, this cleansed leper's thanksgiving wasn't what most of us tend to do --

"Thank you, Lord, for this food. Amen."

The Bible says that when he saw that he was healed of the disease, he returned to Jesus.

When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice.

He fell facedown at Jesus' feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan. Luke 17:15-16

Do you think that he ran back to Jesus?

I do.

Whether he walked or ran, the healed man was "praising God in a loud voice" as he returned.

Now THAT is what praise and thanksgiving can be.

Nothing fake.

Nothing half-hearted.

Not urged on by worship and praise leaders.

Not inspired by music.

Not doing what others' do to fit in.

No lip service. Matthew 15:8-9

A body touched by the healing power of the Lord is supposed to energize our spirit and voice to love the Healer.

Someone asked Jesus, "Which commandment is the most important of all?" Mark 12:28

Jesus replied,

"This is the most important: 'Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'" Mark 12:29-30

The healed leper was loving the Lord his God with his total being.

Praising God in a loud voice. Luke 17:15

Falling on his face at Jesus' feet giving Him thanks. Luke 17:16

No one prompted him to bow his head, close his eyes, kneel, or lay face down as some do when told by spiritual leaders.

This was pure and unfiltered worship that was also untainted by peer pressure because he was the only one to return to Jesus. Luke 17:17-18

How long did the healed man stay on his face at Jesus' feet to give Him thanks and glorify God the Father?

If we read the Bible verses at a normal pace, maybe it was 8 or 9 seconds.

That may not seem like a long time.

But there were usually large crowds that followed Jesus. Matthew 19:2; 20:29; Luke 14:25

So, this act of worship, praise, and thanksgiving was probably seen by many.

Would we respond as he did IF we thought that others might mock us?

Those who want to be seen like this or in giving, prayer, or fasting have their mere human reward. Matthew 6:1-2, 5, 16; 23:5-7

This man gave an EXPECTED response that the Father and Jesus deserve. Revelation 4:9-11; 5:1-14

The healed man wasn't looking for compliments from people. John 12:42-43

He wanted to praise the Lord and he did.

"Were not all ten cleansed?" Jesus asked. "Where then are the other nine?" Luke 17:17

Jesus expected ALL TEN to return to give thanks.

As the healed man was on his face at Jesus' feet giving thanks and praising, how long would he have stayed in that worshipful position? Luke 17:16

As long as it took to give adequately what the Father and the Son are worthy of?

In the throne room in Heaven, Revelation 4:2 there is never-ending adoration.

And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within.

Day and night they never stop saying:

"Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" Revelation 4:8

It was Jesus Who told the man that his thanksgiving was enough.

Then Jesus said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well!" Luke 17:19

WHO ARE WE?

Are we one who returns to glorify the Lord?

Or are we one of the nine who doesn't?

Were not we cleansed from our sins by His shed blood for us? Luke 22:20; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Revelation 1:5

Haven't we obtained mercy and found grace to help in our times of need? Hebrews 4:16

Haven't we been healed, Mark 16:17-18; James 5:14-15 sometimes even when we weren't aware of His power working in us, perhaps while sleeping? Psalm 127:2; Proverbs 3:24; Ephesians 1:19; 3:16

Haven't we been delivered from evil and the evil one, spared from so many hurtful things? Matthew 6:13; John 17:15; Acts 27:20-26, 42-44; 2 Corinthians 11:32-33; Colossians 1:13

Hasn't He set us free? Luke 4:18; John 8:31-32; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:1

Haven't we been given much more than we deserve? Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13; Romans 6:23

Hasn't He written our names in Heaven? Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:2-3; Revelation 3:5

If Jesus looks down from the Father's right hand, Psalm 110:1; Mark 12:35-37 might He say,

"Were not ALL of these blessed? But where are they? Are there only 10 percent who return to give glory to God?"

Your thoughts?

R. Jason