(12) And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: (13) And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. (14) And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. (15) And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, (16) And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. (17) And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
This village location is somewhere between Galilee and Samaria and there is an ethnic divide in this region: Sounds a bit like the world we are living in today!
We begin our biblical narrative field trip by observing the undesired state of (10) pathetic lepers:
Describe Lepers:
These were considered infected folk that could not live within the camp. The disease was dreadful and caused ulcers on their bodies that were putrid, oozing, foul-smelling and horrific to look upon.
Lepers were for the most part unloved and if fortunate survived on the generosity of surviving family members or merciful people!
In verse 12 we see these lepers: Stood afar off- Because they were outcasts of society and considered ceremonially unclean.
In verse 13 it notes these lepers:
Lifted (raised) their voices [describe the courage it took and invited annoyance and ridicule it might have provoked] . . .
The lepers cried out . . . Jesus, Master . . .
As the One who was able to command the dreadful disease of leprosy to depart!
As they have seen Jesus do for others on countless occasions.
Have MERCY- Mercy can be defined as, “an unearned blessing bestowed by God on an unworthy recipient” (Roper).
In verse 14 we find JESUS’ RESPONSE
First, Jesus saw them- Describe how the lepers must have felt: excited, fearful, hopeful!
Next, Jesus, instructed the lepers to GO, Show yourselves to the priests!
Many note, there is no touch involved in this exchange. From Jesus standpoint it was never needed; usually for the inferior faith of humanity!
AND IT CAME TO PASS …. [These are beautiful words found many times in God’s Word- 65 times in the New Testament] . . . AS THEY WENT . . . They were cleansed (NOTICE: their faith was demonstrated by their act of obedience) . . . If you add resin and hardener you get a workable epoxy: likewise when you act out of obedience [the agent] you get a demonstration of genuine faith [the result of true obedience].
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Miracles are also the insignia of Christ’s deity—“a constitutive element of the revelation of God in Christ”—and Messiahship (John 2:11; 11:4; Matthew 11:4-6; Acts 2:20; 10:38)” (Lockyer, 14)
In John 2:11, it states, “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
HERE IS WHERE THE STORY GETS DOWNRIGHT INTERESTING
We read in verse 15, when, one of them, when he saw that he was healed,
Turned back . . . AND
With a loud voice glorified God . . . AND
Fell down on his face at his feet . . . AND
Giving him thanks . . . AND
It is noted this ONE was a Samaritan!
What happened to the other 9?
Perhaps, they got what they wanted and were no longer interested in Jesus?
Maybe, they thought they were being obedient and continued towards the priests (the idea of religiosity) and failed to truly understand true response would have been to praise and worship Christ with a grateful heart? MANY TODAY ARE FOLLOWING THE PATHWAY OF RELIGIOSITY. Trying to please the priests (pastors) and not the High Priest (God the Son, Jesus Christ).
I want to STRESS an important point in our story . . . Let’s let the Psalmist help us make this CRITICAL POINT!
We find in Psalm 69:30-31, David cries out!
(30) I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. (31) This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
Here the psalmist is stressing the supremacy of praise and worship over sacrifice!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: LETS MAKE SOME APPLICATIONS . . .
First, we once were plagued (or you still are) by our leprous condition of sin (Rom. 6:23). We were:
Eternally separated from God.
Ceremonially unclean to approach the Throne of God.
THEN, PRAISE GOD (and prayerfully WE CAN ALL SAY THIS) the Holy Spirit of God entered the deep darkened regions of our hearts!
IF YOU CANNOT SAY THIS: HE CAN DO IT THIS MORNING; IF YOU ASK HIM TO!
As with our leprous ancestors: We were outcast from the society of the Saints and even stood as enemies before an ALL POWERFUL God!
Paul tells us in Romans 5:10: “For if, when we were enemies . . . Colo. 1:21 states “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works.”
Thank God both passages go on to say we can be “reconciled to God” (returned to a favorable condition) through Jesus Christ
Jesus passed by us when we were in our leprous state and we could CRY OUT, Jesus (Jehosua= Saviour), Master (Commander, one having authority over our disease), have MERCY on us!
THANK GOD in our disparity: JESUS SAW US and will have mercy upon us!
Jesus said . . . “WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. THANK GOD IF YOU ARE A WHOSOEVR THIS MORNING: THAT IS! A WHOSOEVER THAT BELIEVETH!
As with our leprous friends: We have (prayerfully all of us) accepted by faith what Jesus has told us; and, in obedience began our journey of faith of living our life “in Christ” (Gal. 2:20).
THIS IS WHERE IT GETS PRETTY SENSITIVE FOLKS! PLEASE PAY ATTENTION!
LET ME ASK YOU A SERIES OF SIMPLE QUESTIONS:
Today, Are you are a believer in the death burial and resurrected JESUS CHRIST? ARE you relying upon Jesus’ completed work on the cross of Calvary? ARE you resting upon Jesus’ blood sacrificial atonement for redemption; THAT IS for the satisfaction and sufficiency to redeem (make payment) for your personal sin before a Just and Holy God? MY FRIEND, you are no longer plagued by the leprosy of sin! MY FRIEND, you are (past, present and future) ceremonially and fully cleansed!
We read in, Colossians 1:13, 14: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”
TODAY you stand ETERNALLY adopted into the family of God; ETERNALLY: justified! ETERNALLY sanctified, and glorified. You are ETERNALLY signed, sealed, and delivered forevermore! TODAY you should be radiating the mercifulness of a merciful and loving God. TODAY, your sins are cast as far as the east is from the west! (Demonstrate with outstretched arms). Give God the PRAISE, HONOR and GLORY; He deserves and desires!
NOW . . . PAUSE, PAUSE, if you have the salvation question settled this morning . . . I ASK YOU . . . Are you THE ONE . . . NO, not the NINE who went their own way (or became burdened with religious duties of sacrifice). I AM ASKING; ARE YOU THE ONE!
My Prayer is you can say: YES Father God, YES dear Lamb of God, YES indwelling Spirit of God, I AM THE ONE, I AM THE ONE, I AM THE ONE . . . THE ONE who adores you, THE ONE who praises you, THE ONE who worships you! GOD HELP US!
YES, I am the SAMARITAN, I AM THE ONE who acknowledges my need to return to YOU: to fall on my face before You; to fall at Your feet; to give YOU my PERPETUAL THANKSGIVING!
Let’s, look at one more familiar biblical account: The account of Martha and Mary!
Luke 10:38-42
(38) Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. (39) And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. (40) But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. (41) And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: (42) But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
MY FRIEND; are you preoccupied with being a Martha (service) today; and, neglecting to be more like Mary (praise and worship)?
IF you are lost you need to come to the Savior, Master … Jesus Christ . . . ask for mercy. . . Ask Jesus to save you . . . He WILL hear you … He will save you!
IF you are saved this morning, ARE YOU THE ONE?
REFERENCES
Lockyer, Herbert. All the Miracles of the Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1961).
Roper, David. RBC. www.rbc.org. David Roper. Daily Bread Devotional, March 11, 2010. God’s Mercies. Our Daily Bread: RBC Ministries; God’s Mercies: March 11, 2010. http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml
