by Emily Wooten
Psalm 107:19-21 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
In Luke 17:12–19 we see ten men that were lepers, who lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them turned back, and glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks. Jesus said, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.” And he said unto him, “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
As we read this reference, we see Jesus going about teaching and healing. Ten men were cleansed or healed, but only one chose to turn back and express his gratitude. He was a Samaritan. Jesus called him a stranger. In ancient times, Samaritans were shunned and considered impure by the Hebrew nation. Both the Samaritans and the Hebrew nation had left the true worship of the one true God.
Scripture tells us the ten were healed as they went, so they weren’t healed before they went. Receiving their healing required them to start moving toward showing themselves to the priest before their skin had changed. Scripture says only the one who returned to give thanks was made whole. Ten were healed and cleansed yet there was more to be had. We know that lepers suffered various stages of sores to the point where sometimes they lost fingers, a nose or other elements to the disease. The word for being made whole or well (soso) carries the deeper meaning of being saved. By returning to fall at Jesus’ feet and give thanks, the Samaritan connected the physical gift of healing to the giver, Jesus. His gratitude demonstrated a living faith that restored his soul, not just his body.
In Mark 3 there was a man which had a withered hand. Jesus said to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. He stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. Before he had been unable to stretch forth his hand. We see that his hand had been shriveled up but when he made the effort to stretch it forth, faith caused the bones to align, skin covered a normal hand and the man experienced a miracle.
In John 5 we see a certain man was there, which had been paralyzed thirty-eight years. In verses 8-9 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked:
If the man had lain there he would not have received the healing offered.
These people had been stricken with an affliction. One man had never known what it was like to have two good working hands. Spiritual or physical healing requires we act on God’s word he sent to heal us. Are we receiving the healing and restoration God is offering?
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