Cornerstone Church 2.9.14
“The One Who Didn’t Get Away!”
Luke 17:11-19
“One evening some friends took Dr. Joseph Stowell [then President of Moody] and his wife Martie to a restaurant noted for its big, thick, juicy steaks. As the waiter was describing the extensive selection of steaks, my eyes followed my stomach to the twenty-two-ounce offering. Since all steaks cost the same, I knew it was my chance to prove my manly capacity. Not wanting to glance toward Martie lest she curb my savage instincts, I boldly ordered the ‘big one’! But I could only get two-thirds of the way through it. I asked our server to wrap up the rest so I could take it home.
While the rest of the party went to the restrooms, I waited outside. I noticed a homeless man approaching me with a copy of the ‘Streetwise paper’. The homeless in Chicago who are trying to rehabilitate themselves sell these small newspapers for a dollar. I didn’t have a dollar. My smallest bill was a five-dollar bill, and as the man approached, I was determined not to part with that much money. I turned him down flat, and he kindly said, ‘God bless you, brother,’ and moved on.
At that moment I was convicted by the thought that I could indulge my appetite with a massive steak but couldn’t muster spiritual decency to meet this homeless man’s needs. So I called him back and said that I wanted to give him my five-dollar bill in the Name of Jesus who had given so much to save me.
The man didn’t miss a beat. No sooner had he taken the bill than he said, ‘Do you need what’s in the bag, too?’
That was the last straw. I informed him that I had plans for the leftovers. He thanked me and disappeared around the corner. My sense of conviction only grew worse. How could I have so much and be so begrudging to one who had so little? As Martie and our friends emerged from the restaurant, they watched me disappear around the corner, yelling, ‘Sir! Sir! Wait a minute! You can have the steak. Really! I want you to have it.’ They thought I had lost my mind until I shamefully explained.
Dr. Joseph Stowell, LOVING CHRIST, pgs 174-175
This story reminds each of us just how easy it is to pass by the multitude of outcasts in our community.
* When we do see them we look at them as if they were invisible!
* How often do our thoughts turn towards caring, or doing something, for these individuals?
* If the truth were known most of us would not want our thoughts published!
WE MIGHT BE THINKING TO OURSELVES:
* Why doesn’t the bum get a job?
* They are probably getting what they deserve for their life of sin!
* I sure am glad I’m so righteous that the Lord can bless me!
We need to remember Jesus Christ came to die for all people.
John 3:16-17 NIV “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
His love and care includes the outcasts, forgotten and invisible of society.
* Does it shock you that He cares as much for them as He cares for you?
* Why does the gospel evade many of these people?
The outcasts and sinners of our society all know how to read the large invisible sign that is hung over every entrance of many churches:
“Perfect People Only.
The Broken Need not Apply.”
The point is without The Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are all outcasts!
If the story that Dr. Joseph Stowell told makes us feel uncomfortable because it hits home, then the account of Jesus ministry to the Ten Lepers will make us squirm a bit!
JESUS IS ON THE WAY TO JERUSALEM
Luke 17:11 ESV
On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along
between Samaria and Galilee.
The first mention of Jesus’ final trip to Jerusalem is found a few chapters earlier in Luke 9:51.
Luke 9:51 NIV As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
Jesus is resolute to fulfill His Purpose and Plan:
* He must suffer
* He must be rejected
* He must give His life as an offering to satisfy God’s Wrath, Justice and Holiness
Luke 17:25 NIV But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
Luke 9:22 NIV And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
Dr. Luke wrote two volumes (Luke and Acts) as a record to present to Theophilus.
Luke 1:3-4 NIV Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
As Luke wrote his account he included five miracles that Jesus performed during His final trip to Jerusalem. We are looking at the fourth miracle this morning.
As Jesus was journeying with His Apostles
“…he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.”
* They journeyed along the northern border of Samaria and southern border of Galilee.
* Jesus may not have wanted to enter Samaria at this time after the negative reception He experienced earlier in Luke 9:51-56.
JESUS SAW UNTOUCHABLES
Luke 17:12-14 ESV
And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up 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 went they were cleansed.
“And as he entered a village…”
Jesus was still on the outskirts of this village.
He would soon enter the village.
“…he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance…”
Jesus is met by a band of Brothers!
* Misery and their hardship have bound them together for survival!
* The outskirts are where they lived as outcasts and untouchables!
It is hard for us to picture how loathsome leprosy was in the ancient world.
* Lepers were ostracized from society.
* The Law of God in Leviticus 13 demanded they stay isolated from the people.
Lev. 13:45-46 NIV “The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.
The only contemporary equivalent I can think of is the stigma attached to AIDS victims.
Can you imagine having to shout out when people approached?
Unclean! Unclean! Unclean! All of the time!
Lepers were considered human rubbish!
They were Dead Men Walking (a corpse)!
WHAT WAS LEPROSY?
Several types of skin ailments fell into the class of leprosy in the ancient world. The worst form of leprosy is also referred to as Hansen’s Disease.
At first, the victim was hardly aware of the disease. It progressed slowly through the body. Then the full weight of this disease began to take hold. Eventually the disease left the person a rotting piece of flesh!
The disease worked like an anesthetic on the body. It numbed the nerves and the ability for the victim to feel pain. At first you might think this was a blessing! It wasn’t! The lack of pain and feeling has serious repercussions. The victims would cut themselves, burn themselves and injure themselves in many different ways and not know it.
One man is said to have grabbed a tool with a nail sticking out of it and he worked with it not even aware of it. It was not uncommon for animals to gnaw on them while they were sleeping. In one case the man went blind by washing his face with scalding water. Infection would set in and limbs would grow disfigured or have to be amputated!
Biblically speaking leprosy became a good illustration of sin!
Dr. Warren Wiersbe gives these insights:
Sin is deeper than the skin on the surface (Lev. 13:3)
Lev. 13:3 NIV The priest is to examine the sore on his skin, and if the hair in the sore has turned white and the sore appears to be more than skin deep, it is an infectious skin disease. When the priest examines him, he shall pronounce him ceremonially unclean.
Sin spreads (Lev. 13:5-8)
Lev. 13:5 NIV On the seventh day the priest is to examine him, and if he sees that the sore is unchanged and has not spread in the skin, he is to keep him in isolation another seven days.
Lev. 13:8 NIV The priest is to examine him, and if the rash has spread in the skin, he shall pronounce him unclean; it is an infectious disease.
Sin defiles and isolates individuals (Lev. 13:45-46)
Lev. 13:46 NIV As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.
“…and lifted up their voices, saying,
“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
They lifted up what voices they had left and cried out!
* Jesus
* MASTER (the one who has authority)
“…have mercy on us.”
They must have known about Jesus and recognized Him!
This loathsome band of outcasts broke the norms and the rules and came to Jesus to be cleansed!
* What a bold and frightening move on their part!
* Imagine the shock on the disciple’s faces!
Who would be considered the Outcasts, Ostracized and Overlooked of our society?
I’m speaking of Yuba/Sutter Area more specifically?
Single parents? Alcoholics?
The divorced? The Homeless?
The Poor? Those infected with AIDS?
Drug addicts? Some minority group?
Pregnant Teenagers? Those captive to cults and false religions?
Skateboarders? Lonely Senior Adults?
Our world is filled with castoffs and castaways!
Are they visible or invisible?
When he saw them he said to them,
“Go and show yourselves to the priests.”
And as they went they were cleansed.
Jesus saw them! They were not invisible to Him!
The ONE who sees lepers sees you and your need or pain!
Jesus gave them a simple task:
“Go and show yourselves to the priests.”
And as they went they were cleansed.
The text does not tell us how long it took them to respond!
* Did they discuss it as a group for a few moments?
* We know they departed and left Jesus to show themselves to the priests (CDC)!
Key thoughts:
Jesus’ instruction is similar to Elisha’s directives to Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-15):
* Naaman was a highly regarded commander of the army of the King of Aram; BUT he had leprosy.
* A captive girl from Israel tells Naaman’s wife he needs to see the Prophet of Israel.
* Naaman tells his master
* King of Aram writes the King of Israel
* King of Israel tore his robe – knows this is impossible.
* Elisha the Prophet hears and tells Naaman to wash in the Jordan 7 times.
* Naaman wants to wash in the rivers in Damascus.
* He goes to the Jordan and washes himself 7 times and is cleansed and healed.
2Kings 5:15 NIV Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant.”
Jesus wants to fulfill the Law in Leviticus 14:1-ff.
The priest should know that no one since Naaman had been healed from leprosy.
This would be an explanation to the priests that He is the Messiah.
Earlier in in His ministry Jesus assured John the Baptist He is the Messiah:
Luke 7:22 NIV So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
And as they went they were cleansed.
ONE TURNED BACK
Luke 17:15-16 ESV
Then 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 him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.
One of the lepers turned back to thank Jesus.
He does so in three ways:
“…praising God with a loud voice;”
He shouted out as if he had a MEGAPHONE!
He praised God!
“…and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet…”
He fell on his before the LORD JESUS
He worshipped wholeheartedly!
“…giving him thanks.”
Jesus saw the leper and the leper saw Jesus as God the SON!
* The LORD of All!
* The LORD of the Universe!
* The “I Am, that I AM!
This is the response of a heart that has been transformed
by the power of the LORD JESUS!
This is the power of the Gospel Message
Then there is a simple footnote:
“Now he was a Samaritan.”
He was an outcast: ethnically, religiously and physically (because of leprosy)
Jesus had a theological discussion with a Samaritan Woman at a well early in His ministry about where worship should take place (Mt. Gerizim or Jerusalem)?
John 4:21 NIV Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
The Samaritan leper truly worshipped Jesus as Jesus had affirmed to the Samaritan Woman.
John 4:24 NIV God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
Luke 10:27 NIV He answered: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’’”
THE SPARK – ONE SAVED BY FAITH
Luke 17:17-19 ESV
Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
Jesus asks three penetrating questions:
“Were not ten cleansed?”
This enlightens us that the Apostles were with Him.
* Even though they have been behind the scene and silent.
* Yes, ten were cleansed!
“Where are the nine?”
Good question!
* It is a question that reveals disappointment.
* The best answer is that they are on their way to show themselves to the priests as Jesus had asked them to do!
They are in a hurry to return to reenter life!
* Rejoin their family (wife, children, relatives)
* Return to their vocation
* Resume worship at the synagogue!
However, in their hast they missed something more that Jesus had to offer!
* Salvation and eternal life!
* This will become clearer in a moment.
The nine experienced God’s common grace that He gives to all:
Matt. 5:45 ESV so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
It is because of Jesus kindness and compassion they were healed!
The lepers reflect the much of what was wrong with the Jewish System by their lack of thankfulness and praise to God for what Jesus did!
* The Jews had grown privileged and entitled.
* They were willing to follow Jesus when He:
* Fed them
* Healed them
* Hoped He would deliver them
* But they did not grasp Jesus as the longed hoped for Messiah!
Jesus stopped on His journey to Jerusalem to try again to reach out through showing them mercy by healing them to bring them to Himself but they were focused on returning to a broken dead system.
Matt. 15:7-8 NIV You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Since the time of Isaiah (740-680BC) God has been warning His people and seeking to get their attention.
The phone is ringing but few connect with Jesus receiving the message and responding.
“Was no one found to return and
give praise to God except this foreigner?”
Praise the LORD this outcast Samaritan (outside of Israel’s religious system) living on the fringe of civilization saw the real Jesus!
* A foreigner to God’s Covenant and God’s Promises!
* Jesus seeing His heart and faith gives him an even greater gift!
And he said to him, “Rise and go your way;
your faith has made you well.”
He was saved (a perfect tense = a completed action)!
“His faith has been the means of his cure and his salvation.”
I.H. Marshall
“Your faith has brought you salvation.”
Joseph Fitzmeyer
“He (the Samaritan) has faith and responds to the mercy he received. It is on this basis, not because of his status as a Jew – measured either by physical ancestry and/or ritual purity – that he receives salvation.”
Dr. Joel B. Green, “The Gospel of Luke” NICNT Commentary, pg. 627
The same Greek word (sozo) is used here.
Matt. 1:21 NIV She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
The nine would be declared “Clean” by the priests and would reenter life to ultimately die trapped in their system that led to eternal death and separation from God!
The one would be declared “Clean” and “SAVED!”
Here is the “Spark” in the Leper’s Arc!
The trajectory of his life changed that day!
* He was on a downward spiral without hope and without salvation.
* The next exit ramp was death!
But his life changed!
* He was cleansed physically!
* He was cleansed spiritually!
* He was made whole and complete!
The text does not reveal the rest of the story!
* He may have become a leader in the early church.
* He may have raised his family to fear and honor God extending God’s work to the next generation.
* He may have died as a martyr.
Whatever he became in Christ he became a vessel of honor for God to reveal God’s glory and work to others!
I heard this question asked by Dr. Stuart Briscoe this week while listening to Moody Founder’s Week.
Is you were given a choice between these three choices which would you chose?
* To be Healthy?
* To be Happy?
* To be Holy?
If you were raised in the church you know how to give the right answer, which is to be holy!
What is the real answer you would give if you were truthful? Happy?
3 John 2 ESV Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
When Jesus saved each of us He was also asking us to become His!
* Salvation removed us from the world of darkness into His Kingdom!
* We are to live every day wholeheartedly for Him!
* We are to align our will and our priorities with His will and priorities!
This means is we are not merely Christians in name only!
We are to be Christlike in every facet of our lives!
Jesus is not some addendum, accessory or bling we add to our lives!
* We bring Christ into our marriages
* We bring Christ into our family and how we raise our Children
* We bring Christ into the workplace (honor and integrity in all we do)
* We bring Christ into our finances and how we spend our money!
* We bring Christ into our choices in entertainment
* We bring Christ into our service in the Church!
It is an honor and privilege to be used by God in His service!
* It is not to be a burden or a duty! It is a privilege!
* Something was terribly wrong with the Nine Lepers who failed to thank and praise God for the miraculous healing they each received.
Jesus was the “Spark” in the Samaritan Leper’s “Arc.”
His life was changed forever!
Is Jesus the “Spark” that changed the “Arc” (direction) of your life?
John 8:36 NIV “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Jesus offers the free gift of salvation to all who place their faith and trust completely in Jesus believing HE died on the cross on your behalf to set you free from sin and death!
Jesus called His Disciples to become fishers of men! While journeying to Jerusalem they went fishing! This transformed leper is “The One Who Didn’t Get Away!”
