Sermon Tone Analysis

Story of the Ten Lepers -

As it was the custom of Jesus to pass through Samaria (not because the distance was shorter between Galilee and Jerusalem or that He didn't have the hang ups of the Jews), He entered a city where He was met by Ten Leprous men.

We don't know how many of them were actually Samaritans because it only reveals this about one of them.

One thing's for sure, they probably had a good understanding of the Mosaic Law because their behavior gives it away!

They didn't approach Jesus but stood afar off.When Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests, a requirement when one is healed of Leprosy, they immediately left.They obviously were waiting for Jesus and acknowledged Him as Master.

Yeah, they had heard all about this miracle maker!

And they came to see Him because they needed something badly!

They needed to be healed of this dreadful disease, and they knew that only one person could do it, the Son of God!

I think they even had great faith, because they simply did what He told them to do without any argument and without proof of the healing.

Nothing happened until they were on their way to the priests.

Yes, they had great faith!

It's what happens next that is a bit bewildering!

On their way they realize that they’ve been healed but just keep to their priestly appointment.

Is this wrong?

No not really, after all it's what Jesus told them to do, right?

Perhaps we should consider that the nine lepers were actually faithfully serving Jesus as He commanded?

And, Maybe the one guy who turned back to find Jesus was wrong for not obeying?

I wonder, what is our opinion on these things?

Actually, if it wasn't for the fact that Jesus was surprised that the others did not return with the one, we might be teaching this much differently, perhaps more in line with the scenario just described!

Yet, this perspective is defective because it is missing something -

What clicked in this Man's heart that turned him around and brought him to the feet of a Jesus?

Better yet, what didn’t click in the nine?

I think it was love!

Let me tell you something.

I think it is far too easy to take what we want from God, yet never truly love Him!

And I only say this because we see the evidence of it playing out every day.

People who view God as the universal supplier of all their earthly desires.

People who's salvation is based solely on what they get out of it.

People who's legalism is the bases for their faith in Christ.

People who have never truly fallen in love with the bride groom.

(since we the church are the bride of Christ, what kind of engagement is this?)

If the great commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, Mark 12:28; Deut.

6:4, then what is the problem?

A lack of true love!

I.

The world needs to see the real Jesus.

I'm convinced that only one of the lepers saw Him for who He was.

The others were caught up in their new condition.

The Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 saw the real Jesus, and she ran back to the village to bring everyone to see Him!

When we are in love with someone, we want to be with them, and we want to show them off to everyone.

And, so it is with Jesus!

If we are in love with Him, it should be evident in our daily lives and walk with Him.

People will see it, and we will bring them to Him.

II.

The heart needs to be infected by Him.

Nothing of what I said in the previous point can be manufactured.

It must come from an emotional place of gratitude and thanksgiving.

Illustration:

Some years ago I was conducting a word study, and was referencing the word love in E.W. Bullinger's Critical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, when I came across this statement by Dr. Bullinger: Hence, in the N.T. PHILEO is never used of man's love to God, but AGAPEO.

As I was later reading in my Greek N.T.

I came across this verse in 1Cor.

16:22 that reads, "If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed."

The word for love in this place is not AGAPEO but PHILEO.

Dr. Bullinger was wrong!

Why do I bring this up?

Because so many over the years have somehow believed that our love for God is void of emotion and should just happen or be obligatory.

I disagree!

Our love for Jesus must come from an infected heart of gratitude and thanksgiving.

Conclusion:

Ten Lepers.

All believed that Jesus could perform such a miracle.

All experienced God's healing.

All were obedient.

But only one had faith that was exhibited by true love.

Who in this story better represents you?