The better part

The Other Good Samaritan

by Emily Freeman

Ten men, who were lepers, were gathered together in a village where Jesus was.

They were some way off–forbidden by law to approach anyone clean.

They shouted from a distance, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”

And when The Savior saw them, he said unto them go show yourselves unto the priest.

Interestingly, this is something a leper would do in order to be declared ceremonially clean once they were cured. 

Yet Jesus was instructing them to do it before the miracle.

Perhaps in anticipation.

As the men walked the path that headed to the priest, all of them were healed.

We are not told how far they traveled before they experienced the change.

I cannot believe that gratitude was not among the feelings that every one of them had.

But only one had the right state of heart to return to the Giver of the gift.

And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

I often wonder where the other nine went.

I am certain it was somewhere noble and admirable.

But they missed the better part.

Only one of the ten heard the Lord proclaim, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.”

Jesus was interested in cleansing more than the shell.

I love this story.  I hear it every year around Thanksgiving and I never get tired of it.

The part I missed until today was the line: “and he was a Samaritan.”

The “other Good Samaritan” Once again, another outcast whose example stands the test of time.

A man shunned for his illness and his birthplace who still managed to exercise faith that has now blessed billions.