The miracles of Jesus - Classical Christian Literature by Athleo.net

THE TEN LEPERS 273
in commenting on this passage, points out, in his terse
and shrewd manner, as one of these— " How often
are those most grateful from whom least is expected "
Dr Taylor, in his book on the Miracles of our Saviour,
turns this thought round and says, " We are reminded
by this narrative, that we often get least where we
might have looked for most." The nine Israelites, in
spite of their higher training and greater privileges,
accepted their
healing without acknowledgment, took
it almost as a matter of course, while the man who
returned full of gratitude was a despised Samaritan.
These, however, are lessons of worldly wisdom, such as
any observant man would be able to find in the course
of a day's dealings with his fellow-men, rather than the
essential feature of this miracle.
A much finer lesson
is mentioned by Dr Taylor, where he says that this
incident shows how " gratitude for one blessing
secures the reception of another and a higher. This
man came to thank Jesus for the cure of his leprosy,
and received from Him the salvation of his soul."
And yet I cannot help feeling that there is something
deeper and finer still to be learned from this beautiful
incident. Perhaps it can be best put thus— " What
gives true value to our temporal blessings is that
principle of gratitude and faith which recognises
everything as the gift of God's love and goodness."
1. This makes the difference between the worldly
man and the Christian.
The secular temper takes everything as it comes,
without any realisation of its divine source ; the
spiritual temper refers everything to its heavenly
origin and author. " Where does the corn come
from " " From the ground," says the materialist
s