Luke 17:11-19
This past week’s readings were full of lepers. From 2 Kings, there was Naaman. In the Luke reading, there are 10 lepers, all of whom are healed, yet only one turns back to give thanks. What this common biblical skin ailment would be called in today’s medical terminology is uncertain; but what is certain is that leprosy was a horrible condition that required those afflicted with it to be ostracized from the community.
The 13th chapter of Leviticus, all 59 verses, is a guidebook for diagnosing and treating leprosy. The priest was the one responsible to examine the spots and sores and then to pronounce a person clean or unclean. If found to be unclean, the person was required to live alone, outside of the camp, away from friends and family. When others approached, lepers had to shout out “Unclean, unclean.”
Chapter 14 of Leviticus goes into the purification ritual once the leper is deemed clean by the priest. It’s a complicated process. The priest goes out of the camp to examine the leper. If it looks good, the patient is allowed back into the camp, but must live outside his or her tent for the next seven days. There is a ritual involving birds, one of which is sacrificed, and one set free. Then everyone waits until day eight at which time the healed leper is to bring two male lambs, one ewe lamb, a grain offering, and a log of oil to complete the ritual. But, if the person is poor, there are other options – only one male lamb or even two turtledoves or pigeons. Suffice it to say, a sacrifice of blood was required for atonement to be made and the leper deemed clean.
Now we fast forward to the Luke reading. Jesus is between Samaria and Galilee –kind of in a no-man’s land, neither here nor there. Out here in the hinterlands, he is hailed by a group of lepers, calling out for his mercy. As I reflected on this, three things stood out. 1) There was no pre-qualification. Jesus didn’t ask nationality, ideology, religious affiliation, or anything related to their identity or status – he just healed them all. 2) When the one turned back, Jesus didn’t send him out to evangelize, write a book, do a talk show…Jesus just told him to get up and go on his way. 3) Even though the other nine did not give thanks, Jesus did not undo his mercy and blessing of healing.
God, in Jesus, came to earth in human form to reveal His true nature to us. From the three points in the previous paragraph, what I see revealed is that 1) Jesus came for all people. 2) Living as a follower of Jesus is about doing the work we’ve been given, loving God and our neighbor, not proselytizing and judging. 3) God’s providence is for all people, God’s care extends throughout the universe. Not because of who we are. Because of who He is.
Here in today’s reading is Jesus, moving toward Jerusalem and his great act of salvation. His earthly time is coming to an end. In this final journey, we are given amazing insight into the nature of God, particularly in this encounter with the leper. In Matthew, Jesus tells us that he did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. And here it is – that fulfillment right here in this beautiful story. By law, what happens when a leper wants to be pronounced clean? He is brought to the priest, and the priest must go out of the camp to meet him. He is examined. A sacrifice is made. He is restored to his place in the community.
Jesus goes out of the camp – he’s in between Samaria and Galilee, outside a village. He meets the lepers. He tells them to go to the priest. Off they go – and yet one of them got it – he discerned the true identity of Jesus. The High Priest and the Lamb of God. So he returned and fell at his feet in gratitude. Then Jesus sent him on his way to be restored to his family and community.
The Law was a shadow of the good things to come. Here in Jesus is the Gospel. In our crying out for mercy, here is our High Priest. In our extreme poverty, here is our Lamb. The Law fulfilled. Atonement made. The unclean now clean. Relationship restored. Life redeemed.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world. Have mercy on us.
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