HoHum:
There was a shipwreck off the coast of Evanston, Illinois, many years ago. The students of Northwestern University came to the rescue. One student, Edward Spenser, personally saved the lives of 17 persons that day. Years later a reporter was writing a follow up story on the event, and went to interview the now elderly Spenser. When asked what was the one thing that stood out about the incident in his mind, Spenser replied: “I remember that of the 17 people I saved that day, not one of them ever thanked me.”
WBTU:
As we get close to Thanksgiving, I think of this episode from the life of Jesus- Luke 17:11-19
Look at these questions of Jesus- Vs. 17-18. This made disciples embarrassed and Jesus upset
Thesis: Let’s look at this account from several different angles
For instances:
Leprosy
There is a cure for this today but not in Jesus’ day. Left untreated, this disease attacks the extremities of the body until they are deformed. Sometimes they disappear altogether and one is left without hands or feet, and if one should survive long enough, without arms or legs. These 10 men looked forward to nothing but increasing pain and deformity and death, the sooner the better. Leprosy was thought to be highly contagious. Every leper was required to announce his coming by shouting, “Unclean!” What a burden that would be?
Seeing Jesus, stood at a distance vs. 12. Not sure but if the wind was blowing, they were required to stand at least 50 yards away so they had to call out in a loud voice vs. 13. Is it any wonder that there has always seemed to be a similarity between leprosy and sin? Sin has often been referred to as “the leprosy of the soul.” What loneliness sin brings to people! How it cuts them off from God, from those they love. How progressive its course! How deadly its outcome!
Samaritan
We know that one was a Samaritan- vs. 16. Oh how this disease brought people together who ordinarily wouldn’t be together at all. Jesus is along the border between Samaria and Galilee- vs. 11. The Jews and Samaritans had no dealings with each other- hated each other. We know that when war or calamity strikes an area, often the petty differences that divide people are forgotten. It’s a shame that misfortune accomplishes what good fortune ought to accomplish.
How good it is to be together with people who have been blessed by the Savior. Because we know Christ and love him; because of the good things that have happened to us. These ought to be the things that unite us. How sad that this world is more united by misfortune than by good fortune. Tragedy brings out the best and the worst in people.
Ingratitude
Part of the story that stands out. Where are the other nine? Jesus did not ask this because he did not know. He knows. We can only guess, but I don’t think our guesses will be far off.
A. One of the 9 had gone to celebrate. Gone to the local tavern, to the local brothel, to the... well, the places of low esteem. Would we be wrong to guess that at least one of the 9 was ungrateful because of sin? “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13, NIV. Sin blocks thankfulness and gratitude. All 9 were this way?
B. One might have said, “I have to look to my business. When I got this disease I left it in the hands of my brother in law and I can only think of what a mess he has caused.” We cannot argue with a concern for business. Is it not a good thing for people to be concerned with their business? Can we find fault with a person who is concerned about the state of their affairs? We can if that takes precedence over more important things in life! He chose something good. He might have chosen something better.
C. A few hurried off to renew old acquaintances. “I’ve got to find my old friend; a friend I have not been able to talk with all these years. I’ve not felt his handshake for a decade.” “I’m going home to my wife and to my children. How often I’ve longed to feel the embrace of my wife. How often I’ve longed to feel the kisses of my children. I’m going home.” Who can argue with this? Isn’t it a good thing to want to reestablish relationships with family and friends? Isn’t that good? Indeed it is. But in choosing the good, they missed the best.
D. At least one who said, “I’m going to do exactly what Jesus told me to do. I’m going to go to the priest and show him that I am cleansed.” This is what caused this miracle to happen- followed Jesus instructions vs. 14. In that day, the priest was not only the religious leader, he was also the public health officer. While no cure for leprosy, the law made provisions for a leper to be pronounced clean. Only a few cases of getting over leprosy (many more in Jesus’ day) but it was important to have the all clear sign or stamp of approval from the priest to be able to enter back into society. Family and friends could say that only a temporary reprieve from the disease and refuse to be around the leper, because it was believed that leprosy was highly contagious. Need to have the stamp of approval from the priest to be declared “clean.” No longer did they have to announce themselves with the cry “Unclean”. Isn’t that important? They chose something good, but they might have chosen something better. Could they have come back before going to the priest? A few minutes of delay going to the priest wouldn’t make a difference. Now the process to be declared clean by the priest involved washings, shavings, clean clothes and skin inspections. Takes several weeks
E. Some did not thank Jesus out of pure thoughtlessness. I’ll thank Jesus after I’m declared clean by the priest but after it was all said and done they just forgot. If someone had mentioned thanking Jesus, they would have said, “I should do that” but no one did. Simple neglect may have been responsible. How many thank you cards are never sent?
Looked at the roots of ingratitude, now let’s examine...
Fruits of ingratitude
A. In a nation
In the middle of the 10 commandments there is one that seems out of place, ““Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 5:16, NIV. That does not seem to fit with You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal. Why is something that is a mere matter of courtesy included among these basic moral laws of life? The reason is there. It is not the reason that is often stated today.
People who live to be 100 years of age and they are asked, “How did you live to this age?” They might say, “Because I honored my father and my mother.” Something to be said for that. But in context that is not quite what is said especially in the Old Testament and even under question in the New Testament. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”--which is the first commandment with a promise-- “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”” Ephesians 6:1-3, NIV. Is it on the earth or in the land?, translators translate it differently. In context this is talking about the nation, not an individual. God is saying, “This nation can survive and be strong only as long as this commandment is kept.” When this commandment is disregarded, then the foundations of the nation are weakened. We know precisely why this is among the 10 commandments. National survival depends upon gratitude. He who is ungrateful makes a poor citizen. Poor citizens make a poor nation. Ungrateful to parents then ungrateful in other areas and this shows in our nation.
B. In a family
Already talked about parents, now let’s talk about children. Children feel their good points are overlooked and their bad points are magnified. They feel that the spotlight is always turned on the times they do wrong and never on the times they do right. They think that they get the blame they deserved but never get the credit that they deserve. “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4, NIV.
Husband and wives who feel unappreciated. In family life the fruit of ingratitude is everywhere and bitter. Stop being embarrassed and express ourselves!
C. Personal life
The 9 missed the chance to praise. Worship, at its heart, is thanksgiving. Read the Psalms, praise for God on every page, yet the Psalms are a book of worship. Some hymns are for Thanksgiving, but few, because praise and thanksgiving are everywhere in the hymnal.
Invitation- Forgetfulness can become a way of life. Many spiritual dangers there. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:21, NIV.
Child in foster care and at the age of 9 was adopted by a Christian family- when turned 16 got in with wrong crowd- “Supposed to be thankful for rest of my life?” Yes
We also should not forget the one who came back. A Samaritan comes back to fall on his face in the dust before a Jew, thanked Him, and praised God vs. 15-16.
Notice what Jesus says to him, vs. 19. NIV makes it sound like Samaritan’s faith has made him well physically. More to it than that. KJV says “And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” Luke 17:19, KJV. Made whole- never whole until respond to Jesus
Christian Standard says, “Get up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.”
Saved by grace through faith at baptism. “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last” Romans 1:17, NIV.
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4
