Gratitude: The Power of One

by Marilynn Chadwick

“He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done.”

Luke 17:16 NLT

We can learn some lessons from a leper about being thankful. Let’s look at the story of Jesus healing ten lepers. Only one came back to thank him. But there is much more to the story. Take a few minutes to reflect on this passage:

As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you” (Luke 17:11-19 NLT).

Jesus instructed the ten men to visit the priest. According to Jewish law, a priest must perform the religious ritual for lepers to be pronounced cleansed. Miraculously, all ten lepers were healed—even before they got to the priest.

But only one of them thanked Jesus. When the leper saw he was healed, he ran back to Jesus. He praised God and fell to the ground at Jesus's feet, lavishing him with thanksgiving.

Jesus wonders that none of the others came back to thank him. Only one out of the ten. Only one gives glory to God. "Stand up… and go," Jesus tells the Samaritan leper. "Your faith has healed you." The word translated "healed" is “sozo,” which can also mean "saved." It seems the man was also spiritually saved and acknowledged Jesus as Lord.

This man was not only a leper but a despised Samaritan. A pagan, according to the Jews. Yet he was the only one out of ten. The one who gave God glory.

Do you want to be the one? The one to notice when Jesus blesses you abundantly. To go back to Jesus and thank him—to give him glory. I want to be that one.