Where Are the Other Nine?
Luke 17:11-19
Nov. 18, 2007 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor
Introduction
A Story
B Being a leper was a life of rejection, being an outcast.
1 In biblical times, if you contracted leprosy, it was seen as a result of the dueteronimic formula:
a Did good, you were blessed
Did evil, you were cursed
b They were kicked out of the group
aa Not for fear of spreading the leprosy, but because they didn’t want their sin in the camp.
bb Burned clothes/ home not to reduce the spread of the disease, but to remove the sin. So he shall burn the garment, whether the warp or the woof, in wool or in linen, or any article of leather in which the mark occurs, for it is a leprous malignancy; it shall be burned in the fire. Lev 13:52 (NASB)
2 The lepers would cry out, "Unclean! Unclean!" As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered, and he shall cover his mustache and cry, ’Unclean! Unclean!’ Lev 13:45 (NASB)
a They were to be alone, but they often colonized.
aa Misery loves company!
bb Samaritans & Jews couldn’t co-exist in town, but in the leper’s colony, everyone was a reject.
b The reason for the shouting, segregation was not to stop the spread of leprosy, but to stop the spread of sin.
C While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; 13 and they raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14 When He saw them, He said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they were going, they were cleansed. 15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, 16 and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? 18 "Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?" 19 And He said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has made you well." Luke 17:11-19 (NASB)
1 Where are the other nine?
a Let’s look at what we have in common, & what we need to have in common with the grateful leper.
b We’ll find healing, gratitude...Jesus
2 Pray
I We’re not all that different from the Samaritan leper.
A We know what it’s like to be marked by sin.
1 His sin had made him an outcast, reject, undesirable.
a He was a Samaritan (half-breed): strike one
b He went to the wrong church (Mt. Gerizem): strike two
c He was a leper: strike three
d The only friends he had were outcasts, sinners, rejects
2 Our sin has separated us from God.
a Broke our relationship with God, can’t be in His presence.
aa But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. Isaiah 59:2 (NASB)
bb We’ve fallen and we can’t get up ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23 (NASB)
b All of us were (or are) in the midst of leprous men/women.
B We know what it’s like to be destroyed by sin.
1 Leviticus 13 tells how leprosy spread from a small spot to covering an entire area or body.
a But if the bright spot is white on the skin of his body, and it does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and the hair on it has not turned white, then the priest shall isolate him who has the infection for seven days. 5 "The priest shall look at him on the seventh day, and if in his eyes the infection has not changed and the infection has not spread on the skin, then the priest shall isolate him for seven more days. 6 "The priest shall look at him again on the seventh day, and if the infection has faded and the mark has not spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only a scab. And he shall wash his clothes and be clean. 7 "But if the scab spreads farther on the skin after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall appear again to the priest. 8 "The priest shall look, and if the scab has spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is leprosy. Lev 13:4-8 (NASB)
"Now if a man loses the hair of his head, he is bald; he is clean. 41 "If his head becomes bald at the front and sides, he is bald on the forehead; he is clean. Lev 13:40-41 (NASB) (joke about balding)
2 Isn’t that how sin does?
a Starts small, almost manageable, if we keep smart about it.
b That sin grows, spreads, & begins to consume us.
c (IL) Like ivy
C We know what it’s like to be in need of mercy.
1 "Jesus (Rabbi/Master) have mercy on us"
a Mercy (Eleeo): have compassion, pity, sympathetic
b I believe these men knew they were sinners, whatever they received they deserved.
c Crying out of their need; Jesus didn’t give them what they deserved (doesn’t give us what we deserve).
2 That’s the difference between grace & mercy.
a Grace is getting what we don’t deserve
b Mercy is not getting what we do deserve
D (IL)
II We need to share something with the leper.
A It’s possible to receive God’s great gifts with an ungrateful spirit...9 out of 10 did.
1 Jesus gave the men what they asked for, "mercy", & they were "cleansed". (katharizo: ceremoniously)
a Now they can be with other people, have jobs, be with family...ordinary.
b The one leper was not going to settle for ordinary.
aa He knew he’d been blessed, healed, restored, set free...goes to Jesus.
bb He doesn’t need a priest in order to be in God’s presence, he becomes a priest & makes an altar at Jesus’ feet, right there.
cc Gratitude led to worship of Jesus.
2 The leper was physically healed, but the greatest healing came after his faith was put in Jesus.
a "...made you well..."
aa Sozo: saved
bb Perfect indicative: it will never change. Well today, tomorrow, for eternity.
b The spiritual & eternal salvation granted immediately by God to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
c Physical healing is a great blessing, but it ends at death while the blessing of eternal life lasts forever.
B Thankfulness should be in the Christian’s heart. (Why are you here today? Thankfulness)
1 A few months ago we talked about the importance of an attitude of gratitude, worship...& we have so much to be thankful for!
a He’s healed us, set us free
b Who the Son has set free is free indeed.
2 When Jesus died, He took away the sins of the world (yours, mine...even before they were done).
a He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor 5:21 (NASB)
aa He became "sin" (leprosy) so we could have the opportunity to become the righteousness of God.
bb He’s done! He’s not going back to the cross. For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit...1 Peter 3:18 (NASB)
b When we fall at His feet, giving thanks for His grace/mercy in Christ, God sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in us & immediately gives us eternal life.
aa I’m not saved today any less than I will be 1,000 years from now.
bb My faith has made me well, but His grace & mercy started & finished it!
c The only thing we can give to God beside our sin is our thanksgiving.
Conclusion
A Time & time again Jesus ministers to anybody who reaches out to Him.
1 Folks wanted healing, cleansing, touch...Jesus offered it.
a Today, if you come to Him humbly, on His terms...He’ll help you right now.
b Jesus loves the broken, outcast, diseased
2 Would you let Him make you well?
B (IL)
C Invitation
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