photo #7704799

Where Are The Nine?Luke 17:15-17 - “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?”In Luke 17:11-18 we find the story of ten lepers who met Jesus along the way. Seeking cleansing they cry out to Christ for mercy. He tells them, “Go show yourself unto the priests.” Along the way all ten find that they are cleansed. One of the ten goes back and with a loud voice glorifies God. He falls down on his face and gives thanks unto Christ. Christ asks, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” Makes you wonder why very few ever give glory unto God and thanks unto Christ for His mercy and kindness.Where are the nine?Why didn’t they return unto Jesus who had healed them?Were the other nine not grateful?Did they not realize who He was and what He had done for them?Note the reply of Jesus to this man, “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” It was not their faith that healed them, it was the compassion of Christ and the sovereign power of God! But, this man’s faith led him back to Jesus Christ to give God glory and to thank Jesus for healing him.Do you recognize that it was this man’s faith that led him to see that Jesus was indeed God? This man’s faith in Jesus Christ made him whole. The word “whole” means “to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction” (Strong’s Concordance).Jesus said in Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”The word “save” in Luke 19:10 and the word “whole” in Luke 17:19 are actually the same word in the Greek. Through Sovereign compassion Christ healed ten lepers. Because one of them showed faith to return to Christ and glorify God and give thanks, he also received salvation. God makes His sun to rise on the evil and good and He sends rain on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5: 45). Oh, that more people, by faith, would recognize the goodness of God in their life!Romans 2:4 “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”Where are the nine?