Encountering Jesus
Responding to an Encounter with Jesus
Luke 17:11-19
INTRODUCTION
When I was in the Untied States coast Guard I was asked to speak on Boating Safety at an elementary school. I taught on things life the importance of wearing a life jacket, not riding on the bow of the boat where you could fall off and be hurt. It was a lot of fun and after the event the kids demonstrated that they had been impacted by the event by sending me thank you notes with lessons they had learned.
I received pictures of boats underway on the water with a little tiny stick figure riding on the bow that was captioned, "Look at me I'm stupid."
Other drawings depicted individual wearing their PFD's--personal floatation devices.
These children had encountered a Boating Safety Instructor. They had had been challenged by him. And they were responding in a way that demonstrated they had been changed.
T.S. These children were responding to their encounter with Boating Safety Instructor with an appropriate response. In a similar way every time we have an encounter with the forgiver, with the savior of our lives, we should be responding in an appropriate way.
More than that. . .
Jesus expects us to respond when we have encountered Him.
T.S. In Luke 17, is the story of 10 individuals who an incredible dynamic encounter Jesus, let's look at how they respond to that encounter. Turn with me this morning to Luke 17.
* Luke is the Gospel to the Gentiles, to the Greeks, it is written by a Greek physician and it records the greatest number of miracles.
* This morning we have his account of the miraculous healing of 10 individuals.
Luke 17:11-19
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance
13 and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.
16 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him-- and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?
18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"
19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
(NIV)
Jesus expects us to respond when we have encountered Him.
I. A TRUE ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS LEADS TO A TURNING POINT Vs. 11-14
Ill: In the service we once witnessed to my room mate a confirmed alcoholic. He made every indication that he was beginning a relationship with Jesus, but his life never changed. There was no turning point.
12-14 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."
A. Cry out to him in despair.
* Leprosy is a chronic, infectious disease characterized by sores, scabs, and white shining spots beneath the skin.
* The law required that a leper be isolated from the rest of society (Lev 13:45-46). While thus excluded, the leper was required to wear mourning clothes, leave his hair in disorder, keep his beard covered and cry "Unclean! Unclean!" so everyone could avoid him. As long as the disease lasted, he was to live in isolation away from other people.
* Shining white patches which burst; bone by bone drops off; the skin is mummy-like; the lips hang down exposing the teeth and gums.
B. Received an answer.
* Told to present themselves to the priest for examination. Lev. 13, 14
* Nothing has happened yet.
* They can look at each other and still see the ravages of leprosy.
C. Respond in faith.
* A turning point always focuses on an act of faith. A moment when we trust him completely for our healing, our forgiveness, our renewal.
14-15 And as they went, they were cleansed.
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.
II. A TRUE ENCOUNER WITH JESUS CREATES A THANKFUL HEART Vs. 15-16
* An expected response
Ill: When I was about ten My sister and I gave my mom some unwanted glassware. I thought I was giving her the best present. She kept saying thank you, but I knew she didn't like the gift. And I knew she was just saying thank you because it was the right thing to say to a 10 year old.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.
16 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him-- and he was a Samaritan.
A. True thankfulness acknowledges our need
B. True thankfulness acknowledges the difference He has made.
C. True thankfulness acknowledges the change in the relationship
III. A TRUE ENCOUNER WITH JESUS HAS A LASTING IMPACT. Vs. 19
Ill: Most of us have dropped a stone into a lake, we've watched the splash and the ripples rise and fade away.
Jesus expects his encounters with us not just to be a sudden splash in the lake and but to have deep lasting impact upon our lives.
There is a big difference between a stone dropped in a lake and a meteor impacting the ground.
19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
* Jesus expects us to live on differently after having encountered him.
Jesus expects us to respond when we have encountered Him.
SUMMARY:
A true encounter with Jesus always produces
* a turning point,
* a thankful heart
* a lasting impact.
CHALLENGE:
HOW ARE YOU RESPONDING?
In a few moments we will be celebrating Communion. How will you be celebrating today? Will it just be something you do because it's communion Sunday?
Or today will you celebrate communion as an expression of thankfulness. Will you be partaking as an act of responding to your encounter with God? An encounter which led to a turning point, a thankful heart and a lasting impact.
