Where are the other nine or 19,999?

A few nights ago the NBA Championship was decided. The Boston fans, understandably, were jubilant in there celebration. I wonder what would have happened if only one fan in the entire crowd would have celebrated wildly at the end of the game, complete with green and white face paint, fist pumps, and screaming until hoarseness took over. Imagine every other fan in the building quietly gathering up the family and very quietly and orderly leaving the building. That would be a surreal site, especially considering that the home team won the championship. Could all of these fans have witnessed the same thing and reacted so differently from the one fanatic fan? Consider the following account from the gospel of Luke.

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-19)

To me this is as surreal as the hypothetical Boston Celtic, one-fan celebration. Jesus asked “Was no one found to return and give praise to God?” Have you ever been in a worship service and seen some worshiping so intently and sincerely while nearby others seemed to take part in an almost routine way? This might naturally cause you to wonder if they all witnessed the same miraculous change in there life? Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed?” The Leper who returned to praise and give thanks, did what you would expect from someone healed of such a horrible disease, one that was physically, socially, and emotionally debilitating. The actions of the other nine lepers is baffling. Our praise for God should be like the Samaritan leper.

Bringing healing and victory to us cost Jesus His very life, don’t be among the nine. Rise up and praise Him, He deserves our love.