One fine day, Jesus was on his way to a village. He wandered through the land to tell of God. On his way, ten men approached him. These men were sick. They had a terrible disease called leprosy. Their skin hurt and people were afraid of them because they thought the disease was contagious. Therefore, the sick men had to live far away from their families and friends.
The ten men stood at a distance and shouted loudly: “Jesus, help us!” They had heard about Jesus and knew that he could heal people.
Jesus looked at them kindly and said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” At that time, it was the priests who determined whether someone was healthy again.
The men obeyed Jesus and set off. And what a miracle! When they were on the road, they suddenly became healthy. Her skin was clean and no longer hurt. They were so happy that they ran away to tell everyone.
But one of the men, when he saw that he was healthy, stopped. He turned around, ran back to Jesus and thanked him profusely. He praised God with a loud voice, fell on his knees before Jesus and said: “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Jesus rejoiced over the thankful man, but he asked: “Were there not ten men who were healed? Where are the other nine?” Only this one came back to thank God.
Then Jesus said to the man: “Get up and walk. Your faith saved you.”
Message of history
God is pleased when we say thank you. Gratitude shows that we recognize God’s love and rejoice in it.
Bible passage
The story of the ten lepers who are healed can be found in Luke 17:11-19:
“And it came to pass, when he was going to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And when he came to a village, he met ten lepers who stood from afar and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” And when he saw them, he said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And it came to pass, while they were going, that they were cleansed. But one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and praised God with a loud voice, and fell on his face at his feet and thanked him; and that was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, “Have not ten been cleansed?” But where are the nine? Has there been no one else who has repented to give glory to God except this stranger? And he said to him, “Get up and go.” Your faith saved you.”
