The healing power of faith!
Luke 17:19- Then he said to him, “Get up and go your way. Your faith has saved you.” (EHV)
If you could ask God for one thing what would it be? A million dollars? Wisdom? Good health? More years to your life? Now how would you react if he came through with your request? I would hope you would thank and praise him for the great thing he had done for you! It seems like a no brainer right? But in the gospel account from St. Luke, that wasn’t the case, was it? Ten lepers begged God to heal them and he did, but only one came back to thank and praise God.
The shocking part was who came back to thank him, it was a Samaritan. As enemies*, Jesus did not have to heal him, but he did! Jesus’ gracious and merciful gift caused a trust in the Samaritan that Jesus was more than the Savior for the Jews, but Jesus came to heal all people. Listen to Jesus explain this trust, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Jesus was not only talking about his physical healing. Jesus was pointing the Samaritan to the spiritual healing which Jesus gave him as well. Jesus merciful heart cured the Samaritan from his sin!
The amazing love our Savior has shown his enemies extends to all of his enemies. And who are his enemies? Anyone who sins is an enemy of Jesus!!! That would include you and me. Just like the lepers, we cry out for mercy. And how does Jesus respond? He feels sorry for us and our predicament and so he showered us with mercy. He heals us from all sins. And he proved that we are healed through baptism. His mercy is in the water that flowed over us and washed all unrighteousness away.
But how can we be certain that we are completely healed even when we do not feel like it? “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Faith is more than knowing the Jesus healed us. Faith is knowing and holding it dear to us. Faith connects us to Jesus and his healing power. Faith connects us to the cross and the empty grave. Faith connects us to eternal life we have in Jesus. Faith gives us confidence that Jesus heals us from all sins.
Dear Savior, thank you for being merciful to your enemies and healing us from all sin. Strengthen our faith in you and make us confident that we have a place with you forever. In your name we pray. Amen!
*The Jews saw the Samaritans as enemies because they were not pure blood Israelites. When Assyria destroyed the northern tribe of Israel, they brought in people of other nations to inhabit the northern territory that became Samaria. Any Jews that were left in the northern tribes intermarried with the people the Assyrians moved into the region. This lead to animosity between the Jews of Judah and the Samaritans.