The Samaritan Outcast

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-19 ESV).

Song of Ascents is a title given to fifteen of the Psalms, 120–134 (119–133 in the Septuagint and the Vulgate), each starting with the ascription Shir Hama'aloth (Hebrew: שִׁיר המַעֲלוֹת‎‎, meaning "Song of the Ascents"). They are also variously called Gradual Psalms, Songs of Degrees, Songs of Steps or Pilgrim Songs. The Songs of Ascents were the pilgrim songs for those traveling Up to Jerusalem. Jesus was traveling along the border between Samaria and Galilee where normally He could Expect Opposition. Typically Jews and Samaritans would have kept separate, but common adversity creates strange fellowship. Outside of the village, ten men with leprosy all Cry Out, “Have Mercy!” Jesus hears their cry, sees them, and tells them to “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” This would have meant something slightly different to the Jews and to the Samaritans. For the Jews, showing themselves to the priests would mean they had been cleansed, so they anticipated healing and went. The Jews present would have viewed the Samaritan as doubly unworthy, first because he was a Samaritan, and second because he had leprosy. Leprosy could be cured, one’s ethnicity couldn’t be. To which priest would (or could) the Samaritan go, given that he’d still be considered unclean even if he’d been physically healed? It would have been a logical conundrum: do you go to a Jewish priest as their law required, knowing you might be rejected? Or do you show yourself to a Samaritan priest? Does that count, after all, Jesus—a Jew—said priests (plural)? One thing became clear: Jesus made him clean. So he returns, praising God! Either way, his perspective showed he knew the right answer. The other nine were content following religious procedures. This Samaritan, blessed with leprosy in order to be physically healed by Jesus, receives a further and more significant blessing: saving faith and eternal spiritual healing. “Your faith has made you well,” Jesus says. All of us have been outcasts because of our sin. Jesus has made each of us whole! Easter celebrates that healing!