Crossing borders – Naaman and the samaritan leper

Summary

Crossing the borders of culture.  Leprosy ostracised the victim from their community and even family. Naaman is bereft at his condition until a servant girl, who was an enemy and victim of Namaan¨s raiding on Israel tells him of Elisha the Prophet. Think of the borders the girl had to cross to in order to tell Namaan of Elisha. You would think she would want Namaan dead. She is a slave because of him, perhaps her family was killed in the raid that captured her, and yet, she shares the good news of God¨s prophet Elisha with him. It is news that eventually results in Naaman¨s healing, and coming to believe in the One God, the only healer. In order to believe though, Naaman had to let go of his hate of the Israelites and all that they were.

In the story of the ten lepers in Luke¨s gospel, we confront many of the same borders, yet they should teach us even more, for it is our Lord and Saviour who is crossing them.  As Jesus and his disciples crossed from Galilee into the border region with Samaria they entered enemy territory. The Samaritans are now the most detested and hated of the Jews enemies.  When the ten ostracized lepers call for mercy, he sends them to show themselves to the priests. Their hope is justified for before they arrive the lepers discover they are healed, they are clean. Yet only one turns back to thank Jesus, all the while praising God. That is is the Samaritan who returns, who proclaims his faith by falling at Jesus feet and worshipping him is the main point of the story. We know this because Jesus asks the rhetorical question, “Were not ten made clean was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

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