Luke 17:11-19 NIV (Have congregation read from their Bibles with you)
“And it happened that while traveling toward Jerusalem, [Jesus] was passing through the region between Samaria and Galilee. And as He was entering into a certain village, ten men met Him - lepers, who stood at a distance.
“And they raised their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ And when He saw them He said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’
“And it happened that as they were going, they were cleansed. But one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice.
“And he fell on his face at [Jesus’] feet, giving thanks to Him. And [the man] was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, ‘Were not ten cleansed? And where are the nine?
“’Was no one found to turn back and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ And [Jesus] said to him, ‘Get up and go your way. Your faith has saved you.’”
So, it is easy to assume that all the ten lepers needed to do was “show themselves to the priest” and they’d get the big thumbs up and move back into their home right away, but not so, my friend!
When Jesus heals a leper in Luke 5 He tells the man not only to go to show the priest but to offer the sacrifices as well.
Luke 5:14 NIV
“Then Jesus ordered him, ‘Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.’”
But, let’s take a look at the sacrifice for the ceremonial cleansing of a person who was healed from leprosy.
Leviticus 14:1-20 NIV (Have congregation read from their Bibles with you)
Leviticus 14:25b NIV
“The priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.”
Leviticus 14:28 NIV
“The priest shall then put some of the oil … on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, on the place of the blood of the guilt offering.”
When I read this again I was thinking, “This is so strange it almost seems like hocus-pocus or voodoo or something like that!”
What a strange ritual but … we don’t have a hocus-pocus God we have a God of order and meaning.
Leprosy - symbolic of sin
- The healings of lepers in the Bible are not symbolic but they were actual
events
- One site on the internet called the healing of the ten lepers “a nice
parable”
- Sin is like leprosy because it starts small and spreads until it consumes
you and brings death
- In the Bible times there was no healing of leprosy apart from the Lord
What is the meaning of the blood?
- Blood cleanses us from sin
Hebrews 9:22 NIV
“In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
1 Peter 1:18-20 NIV
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors …
“But with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.”
This is talking about salvation - realization of our lost condition, sorrow for sin, repentance, belief in Jesus, confession, etc.
What is the meaning of the oil?
In the Old Testament oil was used as representation of the Holy Spirit and His presence upon the one receiving the anointing.
In the New Testament the anointing of oil in its actual function is replaced by the anointing or infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Just as the shedding of blood for sin was done by the priest performing the sacrifice the blood of Jesus for forgiveness of sin is applied directly by Jesus to our spiritual being.
There is no longer a need for a priest to anoint with oil as Jesus is our High Priest and the Holy Spirit anoints with His Holy presence in our innermost being.
Why is the oil applied over the blood?
The blood in the ceremony of the leper represents the forgiveness of sin for salvation and the oil represents the filling of the Holy Spirit.
The filling of the Holy Spirit NEVER precedes the forgiveness brought about by the blood of Jesus. His blood cleanses us from sin and THEN we are filled by the Holy Spirit. This is rightly symbolized by the application of the blood and then the oil being applied over the blood.
So, what is the deal with the right ear, thumb, big toe?
Why the ear?
The ear symbolizes the ability of the person to receive the instruction of the Lord.
The person with the sin forgiven is now able to hear the Word of God.
The person with the aid of the Holy Spirit can now understand the Word of God.
Hearing the Word of God was important then because no one had their own copy of what we would now call the Bible. Mainly the law of Moses and later on the writings of the prophets.
You didn’t just go down to your local Jewish Bookstore and pickup a copy of the Torah. That was kept in the Tabernacle or later the Temple. Each family did not have one sitting out on the coffee table of their tent.
Hearing the Word of the Lord was imperative.
Why the thumb?
So, what’s with the blood and the oil on the blood of the right thumb?
This signifies that not only are we forgiven and set apart for use by the Lord but we are to be about the work that God has set before us!
God didn’t save us to set us up for life on a beach enjoying the sunshine, He saved us to be part of His kingdom on earth doing the work of the kingdom!
James 1:22 ESV
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
James 1:22 AMP
“But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].”
Why the big toe?
The Lord not only wants His children, sons and daughters, to hear His voice and work in His kingdom but He wants us to walk in the paths of righteousness! He wants us to go down His road!
When Jesus said in John 14:6
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
… the way He was talking about was a road; the road of life in Christ!
Ever heard of the Appian Way? The Appian Way was a strategic road in the Roman Empire.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:13 ESV
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”
You see, words take on different meanings over time and when we stop and ask someone, “Which way to such and such a place” we’re really asking which road to take.
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So, what does all of this mean to us today, right here and right now?
Jesus blood has been she for our salvation and the Holy Spirit has been given to enable us to live holy lives.
In the same way the oil is applied directly over the blood on the earlobe, thumb and toe because it signified the spiritual order of salvation and sanctification that would be established in the New Testament.
Salvation first and then sanctification - never sanctification first!
Are you saved? Are you living a holy life by the power of the Holy Spirit?
Once we have been saved by the blood of Jesus and set free from sin by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we will not only be able to hear and understand the Word of the Lord but we will be anxious to hear and understand the Word of the Lord.
Do you hunger to hear more of God’s Word and to understand it better?
If not, why not? Perhaps you need to check your spiritual condition.
When we have been saved, sanctified and are able and anxious to hear the Word of the Lord we will also be anxious to do the work of the kingdom of God and to walk faithfully in His path.
As you look over the year of 2015 can you say that you lived your life working in the kingdom of God? Did you work more for yourself and your financial gain or for the kingdom of God?
Are you walking faithfully in the path laid out for you by The Lord?
Closing comments and invitation if the Holy Spirit leads.
Communion
