a right now God, seeking a right now people

Text: Luke 17:11-19

The account of the grateful Samaritan is unique to Luke. It introduces the third section of the travel account of Jesus going up to Jerusalem (cf. 17:11 with 9:51 and 13:22). Jesus continued toward Jerusalem, where he would die (9:22, 31, 44), for he must fulfill his passion in the holy city (13:33). However, although He was knowingly on the way to His death, He took time out to give life, spiritually as well as physical; eternal, as well as presently.

Luke begins with Jesus’ healing ten lepers at a distance (17:12, 14; cf. 7:6–10). Lepers had to live apart from society (Lev 13:38–46; Num 5:2–4), and to reenter society they had to be declared clean by a priest (Lev 14:1–32). As they proceeded to the priests, they were healed. One of the lepers upon observing his healing returned to give thanks to Jesus. It is then pointed out that this leper was a Samaritan. This one had been not only physically healed but spiritually healed as well (17:19). Whereas the other nine received God’s word and believed for a time, they fell short of the ultimate healing, i.e., experiencing the divine salvation. They had “been enlightened … [and] tasted the heavenly gift” (Heb 6:4) in their experience of divine healing, but they fell short of saving faith.

I.      Jesus is a right now God

1.       He sees our trials, right now (vs. 11-12) - Jesus was on the border between Galilee and Samaria and was met by a band of ten lepers. We know that the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans; yet in this band there was at least one Samaritan. Here is an example of a great law of life. A common misfortune had broken down the racial and national barriers. In the common tragedy of their leprosy they had forgotten they were Jews and Samaritans and remembered only they were men in need. If flood surges over a piece of country and the wild animals congregate for safety on some little bit of higher ground, you will find standing peacefully together animals who are natural enemies and who at any other time would do their best to kill each other. Surely one of the things which should draw all men together is their common need of God. Notice that Jesus did not categorize them as Jews or Samaritans. He categorized them as people who needed help.

2.       He hears our cries for help, right now (v. 14a) – Jesus heard their cry for help and responded with healing. The problem is that only one of the Lepers was looking beyond the physical. After going to the priest, only one of the lepers came back to show his gratitude for what Jesus had done for him. How often we lose interest in the Lord after He has blessed us, answered some prayer, healed some sickness, or fulfilled some financial shortage.  How often men remember Jesus only in times of distress.

3.       He heals our infirmities, right now (v. 14b) – Notice that he offered not one, but two healings. However, nine of them put their faith in what Jesus could do; but only one placed his faith in whom Jesus is. They all sought healing of their flesh, but only one sought healing of his soul.

II.    Jesus seeks a right now people (v. 16b)

1.       He seeks people to give testimony to God the Father, right now (v. 15) - If the nine had taken time to think about what had happened, instead of what they wanted to happen, they might have understood what Jesus was trying to teach them; that He is a right now God, seeking a right now people. He seeks people who will give testimony to the Father by placing their faith in the faithfulness of the Son.

2.       He seeks people to give thanks to God the Son, right now (v. 16b) – Jesus seeks people to give thanks to God the Son by leading sinners to saving faith in the Son of God.

3.       Often we are ungrateful to our fellow-men. Few of us have not at some time owed a great deal to some fellow-man. Few of us at the moment, believed we could ever forget; but few of us in the end satisfy the debt of gratitude we owe. It often happens that a friend, a teacher, a doctor, a surgeon does something for us which it is impossible to repay; but the tragedy is that we often do not even try to repay it.

III.   Jesus is a right now rewarder (v, 19).

1.       He heals the body and soul of faithful believers right now (v. 19) – Jesus gave the Samaritan eternal life for returning to give thanks. Often we are ungrateful to God. In some time of bitter need we pray with desperate intensity; the time passes and we forget God. Many of us never even offer a grace before meat. God gave us his only Son and often we never give to him even a word of thanks. The best thanks we can give him is to try to deserve his goodness and his mercy a little better. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” (Psalm 103:2.).

2.       He keeps an open door for the unthankful, so that they might come to Him. The time to come is right now.

3         Why did only one cleansed leper return to thank Jesus? The following are nine suggested reasons why the nine did not return:

a.        One waited to see if the cure was real.

b.       One waited to see if it would last.

c.        One said he would see Jesus later.

d.       One decided that he had never had leprosy.

e.       One said he would have gotten well anyway.

f.         One gave the glory to the priests.

g.        One said, “O, well, Jesus didn’t really do anything.”

h.       One said, “Any rabbi could have done it.”

i.         One said, “I was already much improved.”