Ten Cleansed; One Saved

Rev. Lauri Ferring

Life and Teachings of Jesus • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Luke 17:11–19

Thankfulness

0 ratings

· 5 views

God in His gracious nature answers many prayers, yet few give thanks and allegiance to Him in return.

Notes

Transcript

Ten Cleansed; One Saved

Psalm 66:1–12 NASB95

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; Sing the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You. “All the earth will worship You, And will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name.” Selah. Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men. He turned the sea into dry land; They passed through the river on foot; There let us rejoice in Him! He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah. Bless our God, O peoples, And sound His praise abroad, Who keeps us in life And does not allow our feet to slip. For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins. You made men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water, Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance.

{

Luke 17:11–19 NIV

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Luke

Introduction

Ironside’s Rebuke on Not Giving Thanks

I have felt for a long time that one of the particular temptations of the maturing Christian is the danger of getting accustomed to his blessings. Like the world traveler who has been everywhere and seen everything, the maturing Christian is in danger of taking his blessings for granted and getting so accustomed to them that they fail to excite him as they once did.

Emerson said that if the stars came out only once a year, everybody would stay up all night to behold them. We have seen the stars so often that we don’t bother to look at them anymore. We have grown accustomed to our blessings.

The Israelites in the wilderness got accustomed to their blessings, and God had to chasten the people (see ). God had fed the nation with heavenly manna each morning, and yet the people were getting tired of it. “But now our whole being is dried up,” they said, “there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!” (v. 6).

Nothing but manna! They were experiencing a miracle of God’s provision every morning; yet they were no longer excited about it. Nothing but manna!

One of the evidences that we have grown accustomed to our blessings is this spirit of criticism and complaining. Instead of thanking God for what we have, we complain about it and tell him we wish we had something else. You can be sure that if God did give us what we asked for, we would eventually complain about that. The person who has gotten accustomed to his blessing can never be satisfied.

Another evidence of this malady is the idea that others have a better situation than we do. The Israelites remembered their diet in Egypt and longed to return to the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. They were saying, “The people in Egypt are so much better off than we are!” Obviously, they had forgotten the slavery they had endured in Egypt and the terrible bondage from which God had delivered them. Slavery is a high price to pay for a change in diet.

In his book Folk Psalms Of Faith, Ray Stedman tells of an experience H.A. I had in a crowded restaurant. Just as Ironside was about to begin his meal, a man approached and asked if he could join him. Ironside invited his to have a seat. Then, as was his custom, Ironside bowed his head in prayer. When he opened his eyes, the other man asked, “Do you have a headache?” Ironside replied, “No, I don’t.” The other man asked, Well, is there something wrong with your food?” Ironside replied, “No, I was simply thanking God as I always do before I eat.” The man said, “Oh, you’re one of those, are you? Well, I want you to know I never give thanks. I earn my money by the sweat of my brow and I don’t have to give thanks to anybody when I eat. I just start right in!” Ironside said, “Yes, you’re just like my dog. That’s what he does too!”

Warren Wiersbe, God Isn’t In a Hurry, (Baker Books; Grand Rapids, MI, 1994), pp. 77-78

Source unknown

I suspect we have all had experiences of doing a kindness for someone, only for them to receive it with an air of expectation instead of gratitude. Israel had really become expectant of things from God. Perhaps that is why Jesus was not received any better than He was by Israel’s leaders. They put too much stock in who they were “God’s chosen people” instead of who God was, “God almighty, Creator of all people and all things.” They carried with them an attitude of “entitlement” forgetting that it was not their worth why God chose them, but it was an act of God’s grace.

We are stepping back a bit today in Jesus journey in order to look at the subject of the importance of being thankful.

Pray

I. Danger of Taking Your Blessings for Granted

Nothing but manna! They were experiencing a miracle of God’s provision every morning; yet they were no longer excited about it. Nothing but manna!

Warren Wiersbe, God Isn’t In a Hurry, (Baker Books; Grand Rapids, MI, 1994), pp. 77-78

Unfortunately, Israel did not seem to learn their lesson. Today’s story is further evidence of this.

Luke 17:11 NASB95

While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee.

As you know, there were a lot of tensions between the Samaritans and Judah. You could label it sibling rivalry. The Samaritans were populated and influenced by those few who remained of Israel, i.e. the divided northern kingdom of Israel. When the nation of Israel became discontent with Solomon’s son Rehoboam as king, an Ephraimite stepped in. His name was Jeroboam and he took ten of the tribes of Israel and they refused to follow Rehoboam. Instead they set up their own places of worship and followed Jeroboam and their own kings that followed. The northern tribes were never obedient to God, even though they set up their own system of worshiping Him.

Most of them were carried off into captivity and there were not many who returned. However, the bitterness between this part of the country and Judah remained.

As I mentioned earlier, we are stepping back in Jesus life to the beginning of His trek to Jerusalem. He is beginning to make His way to Jerusalem, so crosses from Samaria into Galilee. Today’s event takes place somewhere in this border area when Jesus is approached by Ten lepers. Ten hurting mean crying out of healing. Look with me at vv 12-14.

A. There were ten hurting; ten healed (vv 11-14)

Luke 17:12–14 NASB95

As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed.

1. Leprosy

*Unknown skin ailments

Leprosy was not limited to the degenerative skin ailment we associate it with. Leprosy was any unknown skin infection and were not always necessarily infections. However, the lack of medical knowledge demanded extreme measures to protect the camp/village.

*Concern for the welfare of a camp or town

*The Law

Since there was a lack of medicine to prevent diseases from wiping out whole camps or villages of people, they had to have harsh laws to protect the whole.

Numbers 5:2 NASB95

“Command the sons of Israel that they send away from the camp every leper and everyone having a discharge and everyone who is unclean because of a dead person.

Numbers

Leviticus

Leviticus 13:45 NASB95

“As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered, and he shall cover his mustache and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’

*Death Sentence

To be declared a leper was like a death sentence. You could not work as you could not touch people or things people would be touching. The ability to eat depended on someone caring enough to throw food to you from a distance. It was a lonely existence and being alone and outside a camp or village opened you to other dangers of predators.

*Rejection and need draws enemies together

In a leper colony, it did not matter what your nationality or belief system. It was just nice to have some companionship and there was safety in numbers. For this reason, they would gather together with other lepers if they could.

In today’s story, we learn later that nine of them are Jewish, but one is a Samaritan. Where in health they would not associate with each other, we find in this situation that their common ailment has fostered a companionship among them.

Being a leper was a lonely existence. People feared and voided them to keep from becoming contaminated themselves. The leper was blamed for his/her disease as people believed it was caused by sin in a persons life.

It is bad enough being ostracized and feared, but being blamed for something you have no control over is an even worse rejection.

*The rejected today

Things have not changed much. People still fear and reject what they do not understand. People that look different whether it be for medical reasons or nationality reasons, tend to be avoided. When people do talk to such as these, they tend to be hesitant. It can make people feel isolated, rejected, and misunderstood.

We call nationals from other countries, foreigners. We call foreigners living in our country, aliens. We often describe someone by a disability rather than by their strengths. Even when we talk to someone on another side of town that is a different financial category, we tend to feel a bit uncomfortable.

The lepers in today’s story can represent any number of people who feel isolated or rejected.

2. They cry out to Jesus

For the safety of all, the Law of Moses gave specific instructions for the leper.

Leviticus 13:45 NASB95

“As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered, and he shall cover his mustache and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’

Leviticus 13:45–46 NASB95

“As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered, and he shall cover his mustache and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ “He shall remain unclean all the days during which he has the infection; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.

Leviticus 13:45

It is interesting that in this particular case, these lepers do not cry out, “Unclean! Unclean!” as the law prescribed. Instead they cry, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

The term “Master” is significant as it means “Chief.” They recognize Jesus as a higher authority that is not afraid of their leprosy. They have evidently heard or observed enough to realize that Jesus would not be afraid or intimidated by their infirmity and their assumption is proved just.

3. Jesus acts accordingly

Jesus does not rebuke them for their lack of protocol. Jesus does not question them regarding their infirmities. They have been judged and rejected time and time again. Jesus acknowledges them like He would anyone. How refreshing that must have been after all the rejection!

Acts 10:34 NASB95

Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,

Jesus simply says, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” Now there is only one reason why they should do so. By law, you went before the priest to be declared clean. The fact that Jesus is directing them to go before the priests indicates that their request for healing has been answered.

Leviticus 13:46 NASB95

“He shall remain unclean all the days during which he has the infection; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.

Leviticus

The Jewish priests were always accusing Jesus of breaking the Law, but once again Jesus proves he obeys the law as he instructs these men to go to the priests.

Acts 10:34 NASB95

Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,

Matthew 5:17 NASB95

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

This law was important. It was not to cause people to be rejected, but it was to keep people safe. Jesus gave these men dignity by acknowledging their need without making it highlighted, yet at the same time, keeping the law. How grateful these men should feel to hear those long waited for words from a priest, “You are clean!”

These men did not question Jesus about their healing. They instantly believed which is evident that without further discussion they turned to go to the priests. In that moment of obedience, they were all instantly healed. Then we see...

B. There are nine going; one grateful (vv 14-16)

Luke 17:14–16 NASB95

When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan.

These men should all be commended for believing, however, we see a very typical response on the part the nine which were Jews. Once again, this sense of entitlement seems evident. Instead of turning and thanking Jesus, they just continued on to the priests.

If they had gone some distance from Jesus, I could understand that they might feel they need to get approval from the priests before someone accuses them of improperly being in town. Then they can safely go find Jesus to offer thanks. However, this is not the case. Jesus is directly behind them. All they have to do is turn around and say, “Thank you ever so much!” Instead, they just keep going. It feels like that sense of entitlement. “Well we are God’s chosen people, it is only right that He should heal us as we requested!”

Too many prayers are offered to God today in the same manner. We are fast to ask, but slow to acknowledge and give thanks when the answers come. I am sad to say I have made the same error at times. I sometimes realize that I remember to tell others about what has occurred before I take time to kneel and thank the God who answered. Nothing says I am entitled to those answers. Nothing I have done makes me deserving of those answers. God has answered out of the love and grace that is His and for no other reason. He deserves my instant thanks!

Interestingly, one does stop, turns around declaring praise to God in a LOUD voice and prostrates himself before Jesus in profound gratitude for what He has done. Who is he? The one we would call the “foreigner” or maybe even, “the alien.” It is one of those dreaded “Samaritans!” He fully acknowledges that there is no reason for Jesus to do what He did, but this poor man is so grateful Jesus did that nothing is more important than first saying “Thank you!” This man receives the greatest mercy of all, because he is not only pronounced clean, but he is pronounced saved!

C. There are nine pronounced clean; one pronounced saved! (vv 17-19)

Luke 17:17–19 NASB95

Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? “Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”

Jesus had already pronounced this man healed, so saying “your faith has made you well,” is a reference to spiritual healing. The others were not interested in a relationship with Jesus, they just wanted Him to heal them. However, this man is a different case and Jesus offers him relationship with Almighty God.

The nine got what they wanted, but the one got the best gift of all!

Reporter Charles Brown wrote nine excuses why he felt the nine lepers didn’t return. The are as follows:

Why Didn’t the Nine Lepers Return?

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

• One waited to see if the cure was real.

• One waited to see if it would last.

• One said he would see Jesus later.

• One decided that he had never had leprosy.

• One said he would have gotten well anyway.

• One gave the glory to the priests.

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

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

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

Charles L. Brown, Content The Newsletter Newsletter, June, 1990, p. 3

Have you ever found yourself providing answers to answered prayer beyond the actions of God? I am sad to say, “I have.” Satan is good at whispering in our ear that the reason things happen are other than God, however, even though circumstances may at times provide answers, we need to remember who is behind the circumstances!

The sad truth of it all is that many will receive answers to prayer, but only a small percentage will turn in thanks giving their love and allegiance to God. I pray you are part of that small percent!

Conclusion:

Instead of me preaching some concluding remarks today, I want us to do something different. We are facing some really big changes. These changes are due to answered prayers. One of the things we fail to do in the church is celebrating our successes by giving thanks to God for what He has done.

I want us to close in a different way this morning. We are facing some really big changes. These changes are due to answered prayers. One of the things we fail to do enough in churches is celebrate our successes by giving thanks to God for what He has done.

However, with changes come some sense of grief and loss.

This building has seen many successes throughout its lifetime. It began around 1930 when a few people bought a house and this surrounding property that were on the market for unpaid taxes. A few short years later, they built this church. It has grown at times and declined at times. The house was later added onto and it has housed a school and youth programs.

That is what happens with churches. Like a family, it expands at times and decreases at times. Ministries change with the needs of the times. Focuses change with the change of the community. However, the story of God remains the same and as we minister then and now, we are written into that story.

Today I want us to remember, celebrate, and give thanks to God for all He has done and is doing. So I am going to give you time to share. If there are enough stories, we will continue in the Bryant center throughout our meal.

STORIES...

Dismissal: I have brought over some pictures and old directories I found in the office. They are on a table for you to look at as you wish.