Only the Samaritan Returned—Luke 17:11-19
*This article is an attempt to reflect on a scene from the Bible. It does not assert any specific denomination or position; please read it while respecting the freedom of religion, thought, and conscience.
Introduction
It can be said that everyone has moments in their life when they feel they have been "helped."
It might be someone's kindness, an unexpected coincidence, or an event that releases them from long-standing suffering.
However, how one responds to that "help"—that is where differences appear depending on the individual.
Such human questions are also depicted in ancient stories.
It is the story of ten people suffering from a skin disease who were healed, and only one of them returned to say "thank you."
He was a Samaritan, who was looked down upon as a foreigner at the time.
This event was recorded by Luke, a physician who looked at Christ from the perspective of a foreigner.
Luke seems to be quietly suggesting, beyond differences in country or ethnicity, that "faith lies in a heart of gratitude."
In this article, through this scene from Luke chapter 17, I would like to consider the relationship between being "healed," "giving thanks," and being "saved."
Luke 17:11-19
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? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
Reflection
1. The Healing of the Ten and the Return of One
In Luke chapter 17, ten people suffering from a skin disease appear.
They called out to Jesus from a distance, asking, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us."
When Jesus said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests," and they followed his word and set off, it is told that all ten were healed.
However, only one of them returned. He praised God, threw himself at Jesus' feet, and gave thanks. The Gospel of Luke states clearly—"He was a Samaritan."
2. What Only the Gospel of Luke Contains
This episode of the "healing of the ten" appears only in the Gospel of Luke among the four gospels.
Matthew and Mark also record the healing of leprosy, but the story that "ten were healed, and only one returned to give thanks" is unique to Luke.
Why did only Luke record this story? It is thought thathis own background and theological interestsare strongly reflected in it.
3. The Perspective of Luke the Gentile
It is said that Luke was the only Gentile (non-Jewish) Christian among the authors of the New Testament.
He is also said to have been a physician and an intellectual who accompanied the Apostle Paul on his missionary journeys.
While deeply respecting Jewish law and tradition, Luke is thought to have had a strong interest in the theme of "salvation for the Gentiles."
The setting of this story written by Luke is precisely "the border between Samaria and Galilee." From the perspective of a Jew, it was a "halfway" region—a place placed "in between" socially and religiously, neither pure-blooded nor foreign.
4. The Symbolism of the Samaritan
In the Bible, the Samaritan sometimes appears as a symbol of those who are "looked down upon."
The background to this is the circumstance that Samaritans were considered ethnically "mixed-race."
After the Kingdom of Israel split, the Northern Kingdom (the Samaria region) was conquered by the Assyrian Empire; many of its inhabitants were taken away, and foreign peoples were resettled in their place. Because of this, it is said that the people of Samaria came to be despised by the Jews as "those who lost their pure blood" and "those who do not correctly observe the Law."
Even so, Luke portrays this Samaritan as a model of faith.
Just like in the "Parable of the Good Samaritan" (Luke 10), in this story as well, the "one who lives on the margins" demonstrates true gratitude and faith.
Nine out of the ten—likely including Jews—were healed and went on their way.
However, only the Samaritan returned "to praise God."
It also seems to symbolically show that while Jewish society at the time rejected Christ, the teachings of Christ would eventually spread to the world of the Gentiles.
5. The conclusion: "Your faith has saved you"
Jesus said this to the Samaritan:
Rise and go; your faith has made you well.
The other nine were also healed.
However,only this manwas told that he was "saved."
In this scene, Luke seems to clearly distinguish between "healing" and "salvation."
It is not the miracle itself, but gratitude to God and faith that save a person—
that seems to be the core of this story.
6. A question directed at us today
When reading this story, it reminds us that we Japanese are also "Gentiles."
If we, who live in a distant land that is neither Judea nor Rome, receive the grace of God and are those who return in gratitude, it may be considered that we are walking the same path as this Samaritan.
God's salvation transcends ethnicity and national borders and is open to all who possess gratitude and faith—this scene in the story seems to be speaking to us even now.