One day, Jesus healed ten lepers who cried out to him in their affliction. Yet only one of the ten came back to Jesus with gratitude “praising God in a loud voice.” That man alone heard Jesus declare: “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:12-19).

How often are we like those nine lepers who being healed do not turn back to God in praise and gratitude?

Or even worse, how often do we not even ask for healing or forgiveness or mercy in the first place because we think that we are already whole?

In another time and place, Jesus was in the home of a Pharisee named Simon. (See Luke 7: 36-50), When a woman who had lived a hard and sin-filled life learned that Jesus was in town, she came to him and began to anoint him with her tears and with expensive perfume.

Simon responded with indignation and disgust that Jesus would allow this woman to touch him. He doubted whether Jesus was truly a Prophet of God because he felt that a man of God would not allow such a woman near him.

Jesus discerned what was in Simon’s heart and he called Simon out for his harshness and lack of compassion.

The woman had shown great love for Jesus because she knew how much she needed forgiveness. She had wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. She had kissed his feet. She had poured perfume on his feet. And she had come away forgiven no matter how great her sins. Though they had been like scarlet they had all been washed white in the radiance of the forgiving love of the Savior.

But Simon had not seen his need for forgiveness. He did not realize that he stood in need. He was filled with self-righteousness. He thought that he was showing Jesus honor just by allowing him into his home. He did not give him water for his feet. or kiss his cheek, or pour oil on his head. He had recognized Jesus as a master, a teacher, and an example. But he had failed to recognize how much he needed Jesus as a Savior.

And because Simon was forgiven little, he did not have gratitude. His love was cold. He went through the motions of his religion but without passion or devotion. He was not forgiven or transformed by the love of the Savior.

As Beth Moore explained, “[f]ew people have grateful hearts like captives who have been freed and the afflicted who have been healed.”

Do we see ourselves as captives who have been freed by the grace of God, or free men who merely need some guidance on the way?

Do we see ourselves as the afflicted healed from sin at the Master’s touch, or merely as good people striving to be better?

How we understand what the Savior did for us will determine whether we will fall at his feet in gratitude or stand to the side with disdain. It will determine whether we love him much or little and whether we get to hear Jesus declare “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”