sōzō

On His way to Jerusalem, passing along the border between Samaria and Galilee, Jesus met ten men with leprosy who lived isolated from society. They stood at a distance and cried out, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" (Luke 17:13)

Interestingly, they did not directly ask for healing, but only pleaded for mercy, acknowledging Jesus as the Master with the highest authority and placing their full hope in Him.

Jesus did not heal them immediately but commanded them to go and show themselves to the priests. At that time, all of them were still suffering from leprosy, so the command seemed illogical.

The Bible records that as they went, they were cleansed. From this, we learn that miracles can happen in the midst of the process of obedience. Faith is not only believing when results are already visible but continuing to move forward even when circumstances haven't changed. God is still at work even if we haven't seen the signs.

Out of the ten who were healed, only one returned to Jesus to glorify God and give thanks. This man was a Samaritan, a community looked down upon by the Jews.

The other nine likely remained grateful in their hearts, but it didn't compel them to return to the Miracle-Giver. There is a difference between feeling grateful and expressing gratitude. A heart that truly knows Jesus will return to Him to glorify Him.

This story is not just about gratitude but also about knowing Jesus. The nine continued their journey to the priests according to the tradition of the Law, while the one Samaritan realized that the true High Priest was behind him, namely Jesus Himself. He chose to return to Christ, unlike his nine companions. This reminds every believer not to merely follow traditions or spiritual habits but to have a living and intimate relationship with Jesus.

When Jesus said, "Your faith has saved you," the word "saved" comes from the Greek sozo, which means not only to save but also to heal and restore completely to one's original condition, both physically and spiritually.

Ten people received physical healing, but only one experienced spiritual salvation because he returned to Jesus in faith and thanksgiving.

As followers of Christ, we must continue to walk in obedience and believe that God is still at work in the midst of the process. Let us not be like the nine who only wanted to enjoy the blessings.

Every believer is called to be like the one Samaritan who returned to Jesus with a heart full of gratitude. Let not God's blessings make us forget the Giver of blessings.

True faith is always manifested through obedience, worship, and thanksgiving to Christ, who provides restoration and salvation for everyone who comes to Him.

The Lord Jesus blesses.