March 19, 2021 (Friday)
The Bible tells us about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and his going to Ephraim afterwards, but as far as I know, does not tell us exactly how long he stayed there and when he departed Ephraim for Jerusalem, so we do not know how long Jesus was “on the road” to Jerusalem for that final journey. I think of it as about a week, but it could have been a longer or shorter period. Scholars seem to agree that the triumphal entry of Jesus took place on what would have been on our calendar (different from the calendar of Israel) April 2, 30 A.D.
Jesus leaves Ephraim and travels north, away from Jerusalem, to the border of Galilee and Samaria, where he meets ten men who have leprosy.
As Jesus made his way to Jerusalem, he went along the border between Samaria and Galilee. He was going into a village when he was met by ten men suffering from a dreaded skin disease. They stood at a distance and shouted, “Jesus! Master! Have pity on us!” Jesus saw them and said to them, “Go and let the priests examine you.” On the way they were made clean. When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself to the ground at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. Jesus spoke up, “There were ten who were healed; where are the other nine? Why is this foreigner the only one who came back to give thanks to God?” And Jesus said to him, “Get up and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-19).
Jesus knows he is on His way to Jerusalem for the final time. There He will be arrested, illegally tried, crucified, buried and rise from the dead. That knowledge must have been overwhelming to Him, still He took the time to heed a plea for help from Samaritans, who were hated by the Jews. Any study of Jesus’ life that does not recognize His compassion for all people is inadequate, to say the least.
Jesus came to earth because of God’s love for us all. Let us never forget that. He showers all of us with His grace.
I cannot go through even one day without recognizing that God loves me. I may not understand everything that’s happening in my life, and sometimes I may feel that God is far away, but I cannot trust my feelings. He is always with me. And you. When the lepers pleaded with Jesus to help them, he healed them. Only one thanked Him. Let us not make the mistake of failing to thank God for His love.
Words by James Rowe Tune by Howard E. Smith 1912 I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, now safe am I. Refrain: Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, Love lifted me! All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling, In His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing, Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs, Faithful, loving service, too, to Him belongs. Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves, He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves; He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey, He your Savior wants to be, be saved today. |
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