Aug 23, 2020
Jesus was heading south and passed along the border of Galilee and Samaria. Samaria was an area between southern Israel (Judea) and northern Israel (Galilee). The Samaritans were known as half-breed Jews from the Assyrian conquest of 721 B.C. and were hated by northern and southern Israelite Jews (2 Kings 17:22-24). Ethnic prejudice and hatred starts in a heart of sin not the heart of God (Gal. 3:26-28; Eph. 2:13, 14). As Jesus came to a border village, 10 men with a skin disease called leprosy (Gr. lepra, ‘scaliness, to peel, flake’) called out to him. Leprosy was a bacterial infection producing skin lesions and nerve damage which, over time, created disfigurement. Leprosy was the most feared condition in the ancient world as it had no cure and was a death sentence. God allows hostility and desperation to exist so His peace and life can shine!