Several months ago, I was preparing for a Sunday sermon on thanksgiving. The Lord brought to my attention the Samaritan leper’s thanksgiving recorded in Luke 17 verses 11 to 19. This is a very familiar story among Christians. The story goes like this, there were 10 Samaritan lepers who asked Jesus for mercy. Jesus told them to show themselves to the priest. While going there, they found out that they were healed. Sadly, only one of them came back to thank Jesus.

Being a firm believer in expository preaching, I dug deep into the greek words used in the text. I looked up the greek words for “Thanks.” The word here is the word “eucharisteo.” This is where we get our word for “Eucharist.” Eucharisteo is also the same word used in the Gospels when Christs gives thanks for a meal. In the Epistles, the apostle Paul often uses this same word

Eucharisteo can basically be broken down into two words. “Eu” to mean good or well and “charis” which means to favor, thank or to respond to a good favor. This word is also used as the verb form of “favor” or “Charis” in Greek. Often, the word “Charis” is translated as “Grace” in English.

Looking back at the story and the greek words used, you can clearly see the message that the message that our Lord is trying to convey here. The Lepers were asking for “Mercy” but only one leper got “Grace.”

Oftentimes we interchange “Mercy” for “Grace.” We usually think that they mean the same thing. However take note that there is a difference between them. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace on the other hand is getting what you don’t deserve. Because we are sinners, we deserve to go to Hell. But because God is merciful, we are spared from the punishment of eternal damnation. Recieving the gift of eternal life on the other hand could only come because of grace. We do not deserve forgiveness of sin nor do we deserve eternal life, nevertheless we received it because of God’s GRACE.

Scripture tells us in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8 and 9 that “For by Grace are you saved through faith, it is the gift of God, not works lest any man should boast” The gift being reffered to here is “Saving faith.” What this verse is trying to tell us is that even the faith to believe in Jesus Christ is given to us by God. We are so depraved that by ourselves alone we do not have the natural ability to believe the promises of God. What we have is only natural faith. “Super natural faith” is required before we could fully understand what salvation in Christ truly means.

Thanks be to God for giving us “Supernatural faith,” for the faith to believe. Truly it is not because of our own natural ability that we have the faith to believe in Christ, it is only because of Him alone.

Since he was given what he does not deserve, the Samaritan Leper expressed his thanks to Jesus Christ and the verse says that he “turned back and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks”

The Bible says that Jesus asked him saying, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? There are none found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.”

And I love this last part, Jesus continues and tells him “Arise; go thy way. Thy faith hath made thee whole.” Literally he is saying to this Samaritan Leper “Your faith has saved you.”

Truly, the Samaritan Leper got more than what he asked for. He asked for mercy but he got grace instead and with that salvation. Being truly thankful is certainly is worth it !