Where Are The Other Nine?
Notes
Transcript
I. Introduction
I. Introduction
In today’s passage from Luke, Jesus is on a road trip, moving between Samaria and Galilee on his final journey to Jerusalem. As he enters a village, 10 lepers approach him and call out from a distance, raising their voices together, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (Luke 17:13).
Leprosy is a “generic term applied to a variety of skin disorders from psoriasis to true leprosy, which can lead to the loss of digits on the fingers and toes” (Chad Brand et al., eds., “Leprosy,” Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary [Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003], 1025)
By Mosaic Law, lepers knew that they were to keep their distance and live in quarantine from the community. They also had to alert anyone who was approaching them of their condition.
Social/physical distancing mandates and caring for your neighbor is not new.
I. Ten called out for mercy and were healed; One returned
I. Ten called out for mercy and were healed; One returned
The ten were desperate for healing, but due to their illness didn’t dare rush up to Jesus. So they called out, “Jesus, have mercy on us!”
Jesus instructed the ten to go and show themselves to the priests.
They chose to follow Jesus’s instructions, and as they went, the ten were healed.
We do not know where or how far they went before they were healed, but only one of the ten returned to Jesus.
One in ten; a 10 percent return in gratitude on 100 percent of mercy granted.
That’s pretty meager. But is it much different today?
How many people today acknowledge the source of the grace and mercy in their lives?
Mind you, the other nine lepers did exactly what Jesus told them to do. They were obedient. They followed instructions. They were doing the will of God. Doing what was acceptable.
BUT gratitude and thanksgiving move us beyond what is acceptable or ordinary.
A gracious attitude and lifestyle make a person extraordinary, a blessed cut above the rest.
II. Jesus calls out ingratitude
II. Jesus calls out ingratitude
Ten were healed, one returned. It’s easy math. Where are the other nine?
Jesus knows what he did and has expectations of our response.
We are all accountable for our actions and inaction toward God and one another; our gratitude and ingratitude toward God and one another.
Jesus will not mince words as he questions our choices.
“Were not ten made clean? Where are the other nine? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
The biggest surprise is that the one who returned was a Samaritan.
This would shock most of Jesus’ followers, because Samaritans were frowned upon, members of the wrong race, region and religion; not a respected member of the community but one to be avoided.
Yet, he is the only one to count his blessings. And that, according to Jesus, makes all the difference.
It showed Jesus that while the others had experienced the same healing of their bodies, this guy found the deeper healing in his soul.
Jesus slams the nine perfectly respectable, but ungrateful former lepers who went on their way without so much as a thank-you.
Perhaps the nine felt they were somehow entitled to be healed. Perhaps the nine just moved on in their self-centered, Israelite-privilege. So much else had their attention that they couldn’t take a moment to return to Jesus and express their gratitude.
But this ONE who returned came praising God with “a loud voice” (v. 15). Now clean, he came and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him v. 16).
He was physically healed and spiritually turned. His heart turned to Christ as he trusted and obeyed. He asked, believed and received the gift of healing, then, in his new physical wholeness and in an act of spiritual holiness, he turned with his whole heart thank the Lord, throwing himself at the feet of Jesus.
Gratitude draws us into the presence of God.
The movement within our heart is what moves our minds and mouths, our hands and feet to demonstrate our gratitude in different ways.
God knows our hearts, the place from which true gratitude emerges.
I’m not taking about the superficial ‘thank you Lord’ or ‘thank God’ that some say as a sign of relief like they’ve just received a latte or dark chocolate after an ordeal.
I’m talking about that gratitude that brings up deep-seated emotion, radiant smiles, singing hearts, tears of joy, the happy dance that could care less about who’s watching, the overflow of praise in a loud voice that cannot and will not be contained!
Gratitude that compels a person to fall at the feet of Christ in thanksgiving!
Gratitude for the one who makes way, who is the WAY, when humankind says stay away, get out of the way, or there is no way!
“Your faith has made you well,” says Jesus to the one.
Jesus gives him the sacred high five not so much for the faith that asked for healing; all ten had this faith; Jesus gave him a high five for the faith that returned to give thanks, that returned to give something back to God.
I like the way Larry Kaylor put it, “It’s a grateful faith — not a gimme faith — that saves us.”
A grateful faith receives and responds; gathers and gives.
One of the beloved sages of our age said before she passed, “I’ve learned that you cannot go through life with catcher’s mitts on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. ~Maya Angelou
This grateful one experienced the soul-healing that so many of us need today, and we’re not going to experience that until we’re able to count our blessings; not unless we receive and respond; to gather and give.
III. Be the one!
III. Be the one!
o We don’t know what became of the other nine. Their bodies were healed but they missed out on the better part that comes by drawing nearer to God.
o One in ten turned back to express gratitude for what the Lord had done.
o It doesn’t matter whether you are a leper on your last leg or seated at the center of privilege;
o It doesn’t matter whether you are grateful for a Caramel Machiado latte with oatmilk and lots of froth or the sun warmly kissing your left cheek, heartfelt gratitude draws us nearer to God; opens us to extraordinary experiences regardless of any pre-existing condition.
In these times of distraction and denial, of uncertainty and conflict; in this season of perpetual pivoting and creeping pandemic fatigue, BE THE ONE!
o BE THE ONE who recognizes the graciousness and merciful work of God happening among us and within us now.
o BE THE ONE who counts their blessings moment by moment and expresses gratitude for even the little things.
Story: There was an elderly woman among a group departing from a large gathering. Many moved ahead of her and around her in their hurry as she walked with a younger aide. As they crossed the parking lot, the elder woman paused and slowly reached down. She picked up a penny that many ignored and passed over. Her younger aide asked why she bothered with that old penny. The woman said, “That’s not a penny, that’s a blessing. Too many folks are in too much of a hurry and miss their blessings. Count your blessings small and large. I’m grateful for this blessing.”
Parable of the talents teaches that if you tend to the small things, you will be entrusted with bigger things. Tend to your blessings.
Why does this matter?
o Research shows that people who express gratitude tend to be more joyful.
o Research is showing that people who count their blessings may find themselves sleeping better, exercising more and caring more about others.
o People who consciously count their blessings one by one, every day show significant improvements in mental health, and even in some aspects of physical health regardless of their season or circumstances in life.
o Count your blessings, not your hassles. Inspire others to do the same.
o There are enough cantankerous, complainers in the world.
o We need more people bursting with blessings…praising God in a loud voice.
o You can be grateful for what makes your heart sing
o The smell of fresh baked bread, or Thanksgiving dinner, elk hunting, fly fishing, golf greens,
o generous friends or loving family members, Walmart greeters,
o perky pansies peeking through snowfall.
o You can even thank God for internet access, Weeknd or the Rolling Stones!
o We can develop a lifestyle of thankfulness by intentionally expressing our gratitude and practicing spontaneous appreciation throughout our day.
o The response of the one leper who returned to Jesus was spontaneous.
o In 1967, at the age of 17, Joni Eareckson Tada was injured in a diving accident that left her a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, without the use of her hands. During her rehabilitation, Joni spent long months learning how to paint with a brush between her teeth. Her high-detail fine art paintings and prints are sought after and collected. To date, she has written over 40 books, recorded several musical albums, starred in an autobiographical movie of her life, and is an advocate for people with disabilities. Her life has been hard and she has other health challenges arising. But Joni personifies joy. She says, “Today, look around you. Surely there are small blessings, little joys, tiny hints of God’s favor, for which you can be grateful. Don’t take things for granted today. Take them with gratitude” [Joni Eareckson Tada, “Gratitude for Granted” Feb. 11, 2015, http://www.joniandfriends.org/radio/1-minute/gratitude-granted/].
Conclusion
Too often we overlook the mercies granted us or give credit to sources other than God. In this season of trials, our giving thanks to God from the heart can move us away from pandemonium and bring us closer to the Prince of Peace. Where are the other nine? I don’t know. I encourage you to be the one who receives and responds. Count your blessings and demonstrate your gratefulness. Draw nearer to Christ. He’s ready for your response. Amen
[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Lk 17:18). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
[i] Chad Brand et al., eds., “Leprosy,” Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary [Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003], 1025.