Hallelujah

One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

Luke 17:15-19

I often hear that we live in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately kind of society, but I think that when we think about the past, present trouble becomes exaggerated. It seems as though we always consider the olden days to be the golden days. I think a case can be made for the concept that modern technology and media only reveal a selfishness in humanity that has always been. The modern era only exacerbates a problem.

Here in Luke 17, we get a glimpse of what I’m talking about. Ten people see Jesus walking into their town and beg Him for healing. He grants their request, and in their haste, only one thinks to come back and thank Him. The people were more than willing to go to Christ when they were hurting and needed help, but when they were healed? They rejoiced in their healed wounds rather than rejoicing in the One who healed the wounds in the first place.

Now, the other nine were obviously caught up in their excitement, probably running to tell people that they had been healed. Potentially, they went shouting to others that Christ had healed them, but Christ asks a very interesting question to the one who returned. He asks if no one else was going to return to give glory or praise Him for what He had done. Only one of the people went back to actually spend time with Christ and thank Him for all He had done.

How often are we like the nine? Stuck in a selfish mentality that focuses on what we can get when we can get it? Christ heals our wounds. How much time do I spend actually thanking and praising Him for all He’s done? It feels like most of the time I think I am seeking Him, I am actually seeking myself and what can be done to comfort me in times of trouble and confusion.

Why don’t I seek Him for who He is just to be with Him? Just say hallelujah, You are king.