Michelle Bauer ~ When Jesus Sees You
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17: 11-19 (NIV)
As we enter into a season focused on thankfulness, take a moment to name one thing that you are grateful for today. Offer your gratitude to God for this gift.
Slowly reread through Luke 17:11-19. You may want to experiment with reading it out loud. Pause in between each verse to allow time for the words to really sink in. Can you imagine yourself in this story? Are you an observer? Are you one of the men who have leprosy?
This group of ten men made contact with Jesus as he was going into the village. They were not allowed into the village because of the contagious disease they carried. What must it have felt like to be excluded from village life? Even though these men were marginalized from society, perhaps they had formed a community among themselves. In what places do you find community?
It seems as if these men were anticipating Jesus’ arrival. What do you imagine their hopes and fears were as they waited for him? Have you ever sensed yourself waiting for Jesus to arrive into a situation or season of your life? What were your hopes and fears?
When Jesus does arrive, the ten men keep their distance. What keeps them from approaching him? Have you ever been hesitant to approach Jesus? Calling out in a loud voice sounds a little undignified, doesn’t it? What, if anything, would make you nervous to address Jesus in this way?
To have pity on someone means to feel sorry for them and to be moved to show them compassion. Are you comfortable asking Jesus to have pity on you? Is there something specific in your life or history that you would like Jesus to have pity on?
Offer a prayer to God. Thank him for the blessings of your day. Ask him for guidance as you live the rest of your day. And leave this time in peace, knowing that you are seen by Jesus.