WHERE ARE THE NINE?

Thanksgiving is coming up and I recently thought about a story in the Bible concerning 10 men who had a disease called leprosy. Leprosy was a dreaded and incurable disease that we read about in the Bible. In Luke 17 we find the story of the 10 men who had the disease, and Jesus completely healed them of it. However, the text reveals that only one of the 10 lepers even thanked him for it. This prompted Jesus to ask, “Where are the nine?”

Have you ever wondered what happened to the nine who did not return to thank Jesus for healing them of this terrible disease? The following is how I have imagined it in my mind, concerning where they were all found when a search was made for their whereabouts: 

LEPER #1: FAMILY MAN – He was found at his house. When asked why he never went back and thanked Jesus for healing him, he said that he simply got too busy with his family to go back and thank Jesus for healing him. However, he promised to thank Jesus if he ever gets time out of his busy family schedule to go see him.

LEPER #2: PARTY MAN – This man was found at a party thrown in his honor by his family and friends. There was a big yellow bow on a tree in his yard, and a sign that read, “WELCOME HOME, JAMES!” He too promised that he would go back and thank Jesus after the party was over. Word on the street is that he’s still in party mode but has not invited Jesus to the party.

LEPER #3: BUSINESSMAN – This one was found at his place of business located close to the Sea of Galilee. He was found repairing a boat for a customer. He reportedly said, “It’s a good thing Jesus healed me when He did, because my boat building and repair business was about to go under. I plan on taking a day off soon to go thank Jesus for saving both my life and my business, but right now I just have too much work to catch up on.”

LEPER #4: FUN LOVER – This dude was found over at “Delilah’s Disco.” He said he was catching up on some fun since he’d spent the last several years sitting on a rock in the leper colony miserably scraping his sores. Like the other former lepers, he too has good intentions about going to Jesus and thanking him some day. However, he’s enjoying his freedom too much right now to take the time to go.

LEPER #5: BOOK WRITER – This guy was located at a Christian bookstore in Jerusalem doing a book signing. Turns out he decided to write a book about being healed from leprosy. His book is titled, “You Too Can Be Let Loose From Leprosy.” He was heard telling his admirers, “With a “love offering” of $50 I will give you an autographed copy of my book, and I’ll even come and speak at your church about being healed of leprosy—for a small honorarium of course.” However, he still had not gotten around to thanking Jesus for healing him.

LEPER #6: FITNESS GUY – This muscular guy was located down at the Samaritan Spa and Fitness Center working out on a treadmill and weights. He said that leprosy had taught him to appreciate his health and fitness, and that he would not put anything before his health and fitness ever again.” Since his healing he had made good on that promise because he has yet to go back and thank Jesus for restoring him to health.

LEPER #7: THE LONER – It was hard to find this guy because since being healed of leprosy he has turned into such a recluse and germaphobe that he stays inside most of the time, and rarely interacts with other people. He’ll only speak to people through text message or social media, and he has started a blog that focuses on how to avoid contracting leprosy. He would like to go thank Jesus, but he’s too afraid that he would catch something if he goes and shakes Jesus’ hand.

LEPER #8: WORLD TRAVELER – This guy was found down at “Levi’s Camel-Coach and Travel Agency” working on travel plans for his next exotic travel adventure. He said that having leprosy made him realize just how short life is, and he wants to travel so he can see the world and experience all of God’s creation before he dies. He did promise to go thank Jesus whenever he gets his travel bucket list completed.

LEPER #9: CHURCH MEMBER – This high church guy was found over at the “Healed from Leprosy Church” on miracle boulevard. He has become what some call a religious fanatic. On each fifth Sunday of the month his church has a Leper’s Potluck dinner after the Sunday morning worship service. On Monday nights there is a “Former Leper’s Elder’s and Deacon’s Meeting.” On Tuesday mornings there’s a “Bring A Former Leper Friend Prayer Breakfast.” On Wednesday nights they all get together and talk about what it was like to be healed of leprosy. On Thursdays the church gets together to meditate, but on Friday nights they have a “Leper’s Fun and Games Night”—including a Lock-In. There is constantly something going on at his church, but this guy is too involved in the church to go thank Jesus for healing him of leprosy. 

LEPER #10: THE THANKFUL LEPER – This guy spends most of his time going around telling everybody he meets just how thankful he is for all that Jesus has done for him, and how awful life would be without Him. (Mark 5:19.) He routinely visits Jesus just to say, “Thank You!”

Which of the 10 are you? -- Steve