WHY DID HE ASK THAT QUESTION?
This passage of scripture teaches us that the Lord expects us to show gratitude in our lives.
These ten lepers were HOPELESS and HELPLESS, and He miraculously cured them. The least they could have done was show some appreciation for what He had done for them.
That is why He asked that question! “WHERE ARE THE NINE?”
When the Lord blesses us, He expects us to be grateful for those blessings and show the proper gratitude for them.
While we sit here today to condemn these nine that did not return to give thanks, we find ourselves as guilty as they were.
Illus: Evelyn Bence was asked by a friend to come visit a shelter for homeless women.
While Evelyn did the dishes, she thought what it would be like to sleep in a shelter with these homeless women.
She thought it might be good if she was to spend a night with them to see what it would be like.
She discovered one of the homeless women had a Ph.D. in art history. Gradually her mind had slipped out of her grasp.
Esther, who had talked to herself all evening, was the mother of five children.
Evelyn Bence silently prayed to herself, "Lord, thank you. Thank you that I'm not one of them." Immediately she felt guilty for thinking of it this way.
It dawned on her that her own comfortable world, her secure home, was not guaranteed.
Instead of thinking, "Thank you I'm not one of them," she now thought up a new prayer - "Thank you for the grace you have shown to me, and help me to mirror your grace to others."
When it comes to the sin of ingratitude that the nine lepers displayed, EVERY ONE OF US ARE LIKE THEM. That is, we are as guilty as they were!
Let us not be guilty as the nine that chose not to return and show their gratitude for what the Lord had done in their lives.
Remember, there were ten of them, and 90% of them were unthankful.
So that we will not be part of that 90%, let’s look more closely at the lepers.
First, let’s look at …
I. THEIR CONDITION
These lepers were HOPELESS and HELPLESS.
Look at verses 11-12, we read, “And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off.”
They are a perfect picture of a sinner who also is HOPELESS and HELPLESS.
Let’s look at three things in their CONDITION. First, we need to look at-
A. THEIR DEFILEMENT
This dreadful disease so affected their lives that they had to walk down the street warning others they were lepers.
Illus: If they saw someone approaching them they would cry out, “Unclean! Unclean!”
If they lived in our age, the American Civil Liberties Union would say this violates their rights. They should not be required to warn others of their dangerous disease, THIS IS DEGRADING!
Sure it was degrading, but that is exactly what sin does to a person.
Illus: A young, attractive girl can get out of high school and begin to travel the road of sin. That same young girl, in 5 to 10 years, will be so marred by sin in her life, that you would not recognize her if you saw her on the street.
Sin always degrades and defiles a person.
The sin of leprosy is a picture of that DEGRADATION!
But wouldn’t it be wonderful:
• If the beer joints on the side of the road were required to tell those who enter; “WATCH OUT! WATCH OUT! YOU ARE PREPARING TO ENTER A DANGEROUS PLACE.”
• If the Hollywood movies that are being pumped out of the sewers of Hollywood, would be required to warn those who are going to watch them; “WATCH OUT! WATCH OUT! THE MOVIES THAT YOU ARE PREPARING TO WATCH MAY DESTROY YOUR LIFE.”
We have looked at THEIR DEFILEMENT, but also let’s look at-
B. THEIR DENOUNCEMENT
There are so many in our society that are living in sin, and they are so lonely.
All the decent people they used to hang around with no longer associate with them.
They are like these lepers. The only ones that will have anything to do with them are other lepers.
We have looked at THEIR CONDITION, but also let’s look at -
II. THEIR CRY
Look at verse 13, we read, " And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.."
They knew if anyone was going help them, it would have to be someone who was merciful.
Mercy means we do not deserve something. They did not say, “WE DESERVE TO BE HEALED, HELP US.”
They were not asking for what they deserved, they were crying out for mercy.
The only one they knew that could help them was the Lord Jesus, and He did not owe them anything, if He did help them it would be because He is merciful.
A. IT WAS A CRY OF DESPERATION
I believe if we had heard these ten men crying for mercy, it would have brought tears to our eyes. The Bible says, “AND THEY LIFTED UP THEIR VOICES.”
They were DESPERATE!
B. IT WAS A CRY OF DEPENDENCY
They knew that if the Lord Jesus did not have mercy on them they were going to die.
They were HOPELESS and HELPLESS, no one could help them but Jesus.
We have looked at THEIR CONDITION and THEIR CRY, but now look at …
III. THEIR COMPASSION
Look at verse 14a, we read, “And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.”
They begged for mercy, and the Lord showed mercy.
He then told them to go and show themselves to the priest. And as they obeyed the Lord, the Bible says, “They were cleansed.”
Suppose they had not been willing to obey the Lord and go show themselves to the priest for examination.
According to verse 14, their healing took place as they went in obedience to His command.
Look at verse 14, we read, “And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.”
Jesus touched them! He was moved by their plight and by their faith in Him.
We have looked at THEIR CONDITION, THEIR CRY, and THEIR COMPASSION. Now look at …
IV. THEIR CLEANSING
Look at verse 14b, we read, "They were cleansed."
• No man on this earth could do that
• No doctor could do that
• No amount of money could do that
• Nothing they could have done, could do that
They pleaded for mercy, and the Lord had mercy on these wretched, HOPELESS and HELPLESS men.
The Lord cleansed them.
Illus: The old song says it best, “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
We have looked at THEIR CONDITION, THEIR CRY, THEIR COMPASSION, and THEIR CLEANSING. Now look at …
V. THEIR COMING
Look at verses 15-16, we read, “And 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, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.”
Notice, this man was thrilled. Not only did he return, but the Bible records that he came with a LOUD VOICE, glorifying the Savior who had mercy on him.
He was once screaming for mercy, but now he is screaming with JOY!
Conclusion:
Until now this is a beautiful story, but here is where it gets ugly.
Look at verses 17-18, we read, “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.”
But notice something here. Look what the Lord told him in verse 19, (this is critical) “And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
This man had genuine faith, and the Lord told him, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.”
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER NINE?
We do not know what happened to them. We do know that they were not GRATEFUL for what the Lord Jesus had done for them.
Are we grateful today for all that the Lord has done for us?
I. THEIR CONDITION
II. THEIR CRY
III. THEIR COMPASSION
IV. THEIR CLEANSING
V. THEIR COMING
