Giving Thanks for Who Jesus Is
Sunday’s Verse:
From Luke 17:15 ESV
"Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice..."
Ten lepers cried out to Jesus from afar, “Have mercy on us, Lord!” All ten were outcasts—unclean, untouchable, cut off. And Jesus answers—not with a touch or a spectacular healing—but with a word: “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
But only one came back. Only one returned to give thanks. A Samaritan, of all people.
It’s easy to moralize this story. “Be grateful!” But that’s not the whole point. The point is faith and mercy. All ten had enough faith to cry out for mercy. All ten obeyed the word of Jesus and were healed. But only one came back to the Healer. Only one saw beyond the healing to see the Healer. Only one saw Jesus as the very presence of God. And he didn’t just say thank you, he worshiped.
The words of Jesus to this man are stunning: “Your faith has made you well.” But hadn’t they all been made well? Yes, but only this one received more than physical healing. This man received salvation.
We are like these lepers, aren’t we? Sinful, broken, and sometimes very far away. But Jesus comes to us. He meets us with mercy. Not always with instantaneous healing, but always with grace. He speaks His Word to us. He points us to His cross. He gives us His body and blood. And He calls us back—not just to be made well, but to be made whole.
So this Sunday, come back to Jesus. Fall at His feet. Thank Him—not just for what He gives, but for who He is. The Giver. The Savior. The God who has mercy.
Prayers
A Prayer for Today:
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us. Heal our hearts. Forgive our sins. And give us faith to see You clearly, follow You boldly, and worship You gladly. Thank You for Your mercy. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
The image above was licensed through Unsplash+