The Lord of Mercy and the Faith of a Foreigner

In Luke 17:11-19, as Jesus enters the outskirts of a village, he is met by ten lepers. Rather than cry out “unclean” as the Law commanded (Leviticus 13:45), they cry out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” (17:13). The request for mercy comes often to Jesus in the Gospels: Matthew 9:27; 15:22; 17:15; 20:30–31; Mark 10:47–48; Luke 18:38–39. Whether the suffering is leprosy, blindness, demon oppression, or demon possession, and whether it’s for you, your son, your daughter, or another loved one, an appropriate cry to Jesus is “Have mercy on us.”All ten lepers were healed, but only one turned back with gratitude. The Samaritan leper who had been healed “…fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks.” The distance had been closed. To him Jesus said, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well” (17:19). This is a response of faith to God’s mercy and grace. Sin, like leprosy, isolates. Jesus, through healing and forgiveness, brings us near to God.“Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me! O LORD, be my helper! You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!” (Psalm 30:10–12).