Be The One (Who Gives Thanks) Series

Be the One (Who Gives Thanks)

Series: Encountering Jesus (through the Gospel of Luke)

Brad Bailey – December 1, 2019

[This message fell on the Sunday following Thanksgiving and led to a time of open giving of thanks from those in attendance.]

Today… we are going to have an opportunity to share what we want to give thanks to God for.

Most of us know that gratitude doesn’t always flow like we know it should.

Personal: A few years back… walked over to see how some neighbors were doing… he extended something to me… 2 tickets to the Lakers game. My wife and I were blessed by them…and had a great time at the game. Afterwards, I had good intentions to write a note to thank them…but didn’t follow through day after day… and I began to hope not to run into them. What was something that extended a relational bond… became a relational barrier. …because I had not returned to the source. Finally, I wrote a card and gave it to them on Thanksgiving Day…and the relational connection was restored. That is what many of us face in our relationship with God.

Gratitude is not simply something owed…but defines the very nature of our relationship.

Today…before we open up an opportunity to give thanks… we will pick up with our Encounter of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 17:11-19 (MSG) ?11 It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance 13 but raised their voices, calling out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14 Taking a good look at them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." They went, and while still on their way, became clean. 15 One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. 16 He kneeled at Jesus' feet, so grateful. He couldn't thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus said, "Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? 18 Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?" 19 Then he said to him, "Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you."

Imagine that day.

Jesus is traveling with his disciples towards Jerusalem…and as he neared a village…a group of lives were waiting … a group that were dying of leprosy. [1]

Leprosy was the most dreaded disease of that time. (Many ask if it still exists…and it certainly does…but it is a disease which has been found to require many years of contact to be contagious and that it is curable. But that is relatively recent.) It was the most dreaded disease imaginable.

It would deaden the nerves…and begin by eating away a person's toes, fingertips, or scalp, but it would continue in a destructive path until it attacked the vital organs.

Over time it’s contagious nature could wipe out the whole village. So if a priest saw someone suddenly wearing gloves all the time, he would insist on examining the person. And if he found leprosy, the priest would expel the leper from their village in the harshest way imaginable. (If any signs appeared or fears arose… the priests would be pawing through people's scalps, fingers, and toes. [2]

The emotional pain was even worse than the physical pain.

You would be removed from your family…cast outside the community. There could be no contact, whatsoever, with one’s children or grandchildren. None. Immediately removed. One’s spouse would not be allowed to kiss them goodbye.

Those now marked and dying of this disease tended to roam together, looking for food, begging for assistance… from a great distance, learning to yell in loud voices, both from the need to warn others, and to beg for help from across the way.

Imagine what would it have been like to have been removed from family and friends or a lifetime, and to have been forced to announce that removal on a daily basis?

We don't know their names, genders, social status, their backgrounds, or families. All the distinctive things about them have been eaten away by the leprosy.

We do know that at least one of them was a Samaritan. Normally, Samaritans and Jews have nothing to do with each other--unless they all have leprosy. Then nobody cares much about religion or nationality.

Now they are all just outsiders, who live by the gates of the village. ?

When the lepers saw Jesus, they called out to him saying,

"Jesus, Master, have mercy on us."

It is striking that they don't ask for alms…or even ask for healing. Just mercy.

Mercy is what you ask for when you face the limits of changing your life.