One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.  He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Luke 17:15 – 18

This is quite late in Jesus’ ministry.  He tried to reveal himself to the Jews, who by this time, in the large, considered him a trouble maker, a false teacher.  Jesus poured out his life for the Jews and the Gentiles, but the Jews had no time for this imposter!

Jesus met this group of lepers, presumably all were Jews but one, a Samaritan.  Jesus healed them all! That is, in itself, shocking.  What happened next is even more alarming.  The Samaritan returned to Jesus and thanked Him.  The nine Jews simply vanished – with their new health.

The ones we would have expected to rush to thank Jesus for healing were the nine Jews.  The shock of the incident is that the Samaritan, considered by the Jews to be unclean was the only one of the ten to rush to Jesus and thank him.

My entire life was filled with the surprise that some Jews believed in Jesus, but through the years, non-Jews flocked to him.   Like me!  I may have a drop or two of Jewish blood, but I am indeed a Samaritan!  I praise my Jesus forever for healing me and keeping me all these wonderful years.  Praise his name forever!