Jesus, knowing His death at Passover is imminent, withdraws from northern Judea and travels north through Samaria and part of Galilee. He then joined the pilgrims there traveling to Jerusalem for Passover. Historically the normal route from Galilee was to cross the Jordan River and travel south through Perea, avoiding Samaria. Jesus apparently followed this route. From southern Perea He then crossed back across the Jordan to Jericho, and walked from there up to Jerusalem. While passing through a village Jesus meets a group of ten lepers who remained at a distance. Leprosy is an infectious disease that is characterized by disfiguring skin sores, nerve damage, and progressive debilitation. In Biblical times people with leprosy were forbidden to live among the healthy community and were forced to live in isolation outside the camp. Many would form colonies as we see in this portion of scripture. As Jesus approached the lepers they cried out loudly to Him for mercy, calling Him "Master". They must have been able to tell who Jesus was even from a distance and they desperately needed help! They didn't even ask for healing, their suffering had gone on for so long all they could ask for was that He show some compassion towards them. I think Jesus purposely went this way; He seeks those who do not seek Him and goes out of His way to reach them. Jesus doesn't say anything to the lepers about healing but tells them to go show themselves to the priest, the law stated that the priest decides who has leprosy and who was clean and could enter the community once again. It is evident that Jesus valued and followed the Old Testament laws here and as the ten lepers obediently followed God's Word themselves and went to see the priests, they were healed of their leprosy on the way. Obedience produces wonderful things in our lives. Only one came back to thank Him though, Jesus noticed the ingratitude of the others too, He knows how important it is to acknowledge the blessings we receive from Him. The first chapter of Romans reminds us of what happens when we continue on our merry way without acknowledging His mercy in our lives..."because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened". One leper did return, prostrating himself and glorifying God. Jesus continued to have mercy on Him, not just physically but spiritually... and now Jesus said, "Your faith has made you whole". Not just healed but WHOLE!
...and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority. Col 2:10
