Where Are the Other Nine?
Luke 17:11-19
November 23, 2003
Introduction
I really struggled with this message. My plan was to start our look at the Gospel of Matthew, and not do much with Thanksgiving, but I got to re-thinking that, and so we will begin Matthew next week, and it will be a great lead-up to Christmas as we anticipate celebrating the birth of our Savior.
When trying to decide which passage to look at, I first thought about Psalm 100, where we get our song, “I Will Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving in My Heart.”
Or Ephesians 5:20, which tells to always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But then I came across this passage from Luke. It’s not your typical thanksgiving passage, but it’s extremely important.
In this episode of Jesus’ life we learn something not only about the love and compassion that Jesus showed for the downtrodden and outcast, but we can learn something about one of the other characters involved as well.
Please turn with me to Luke 17:11-19. If you’re using the Bibles under the seats, this is found on page 741. Please follow along as I read.
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
We’ve all heard of the Good Samaritan. Here we have the Thankful Samaritan. And this morning I want to use the example of the thankful Samaritan to help us in our observance of Thanksgiving, and my hope is that you will leave here determined to be thankful every day, not just this time of year.
So let me offer you three lessons about the man who returned to give thanks. And may they cling to our hearts as this man clung to Jesus.
The first lesson of the Thankful Samaritan is that…
1. He took notice of his blessing.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.
Now leprosy was a little bit more than a zit on your nose, know what I mean?
It’s an infectious nerve and skin disease that still exists today, though it can be cured in many cases, if caught and treated early enough.
But in Bible times, leprosy was a death sentence. Not only was it fatal, it took forever for it to finally kill you.
And in the meantime, you were banished from society, forced to keep covered, and yell out, “Unclean! Unclean!” when out in public.
People with leprosy were feared and pitied, but never accepted.
Except by Jesus.
More than once He cleansed lepers, and in at least one instance, He actually touched one as He healed him.
Touching a leper was asking for the disease. If you and I were to touch a leper, we’d stand a good chance of contracting leprosy.
That didn’t stop Jesus. Instead of rejecting lepers, He healed them.
And this old boy, when he saw what had happened, didn’t just say, “Hey, that’s pretty cool. Guess I’ll go the temple and then go home.”
He saw and he understood the magnitude of what had taken place. He was made whole by the hand of God.
And that leads us to the second lesson we can learn from this Thankful Samaritan, and that is that…
2. He proclaimed His praise to God publicly.
16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan.
Verse 15 says he praised God in a loud voice. He was shouting it!
“Wooooohooooo! Look what Jesus did for me! I’m clean! I can go back to my family! I can ride the camel taxi to work. I can actually go back to work! I can use a public bathroom again!
Look! I’m no longer one of the dregs of society. I can go home and embrace my family for the first time since this curse came on me!”
I can almost imagine Jesus talking to the disciples, and this guy’s hanging on His leg like a little child who doesn’t want his dad to leave for work.
“Weren’t there 10 guys? Wh--- Wh--- uh, excuse me, fella. But weren’t there 10? Where are the other nine?”
Are you afraid to publicly acknowledge your debt to God? Jesus said that if we acknowledge Him before men, He will acknowledge us before the Father.
I’m not saying we need to get all jump-up-and-downy or anything, but we need to get in the habit of publicly thanking God for His blessings.
You know what I have found to be true in my own life? That when I deliberately thank God publicly, my love for Him grows deeper, and my appreciation for Him expands.
To quote a famous commercial from way back, “Try it, you’ll like it.”
The third lesson we learn from the Thankful Samaritan is that…
3. He threw aside the barriers to his thanksgiving.
17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"
Remember, Samaritans were despised by the Jews, and Jesus had the audacity to heal him! Gasp!
But this guy wasn’t worried about whether it was politically correct to thank God publicly. He didn’t worry about what others would think. He didn’t worry about his buddies leaving him behind.
What are some of the barriers we face when it comes to giving thanks?
• Fear of embarrassing ourselves in front of others.
You’re afraid that others will look down on you if you acknowledge what God has done for you.
I’ve already touched on that a bit, but this is simply not a valid excuse. We can’t let what others might think get in the way.
Jesus said that seeking the praise of men hinders us from obtaining praise from God.
Don’t let that be you.
Decide now that you won’t let others’ opinions stand in the way of thanking God.
• Ignorance of God’s blessings.
I am not saying stupidity. Ignorance simply means that you don’t know about something.
In this case, you are unaware of any blessings in your life.
Well, let me help you out a bit. You’re breathing, right? There ya go. That’s one. The very fact that God has given you another day to function is a gift and blessing from God.
That tells me that God’s not done working in you, and that just maybe He still has something for you to do for Him.
How about the fact that we are gathered here today to worship in a free country, free from the restrictions of other countries?
You better be thankful, because you never know how long it’ll last.
How many of you are going to have lunch after this service? I hope you’re grateful for it.
How many of you can think of family and friends who love you, in spite of yourself?
I can think of six right now (my wife and five children)!
Folks, my point here is that you can think of things to thank God for.
Lately I find myself reminded again that I live in a warm house, and that tonight I will sleep in a comfortable bed under warm blankets.
There are some in our area tonight who may not get that opportunity.
One of the best ways to get past this barrier is to start thanking God for the little things, and then you’ll appreciate the bigger things all the more.
• Never had the opportunity to thank God publicly.
Well, guess what? You’re gonna get your chance right now!
I want to give you the opportunity to stand up where you are and thank God for something this morning.
Young, old, or whatever, now’s your chance. All I ask is that you give me a moment so I can come to you with the microphone, so we can make sure everyone hears it okay?
And we’ll take as long as it takes for everyone who wants to, to thank God.
Who’ll be the first one to publicly thank God for something today?
(After testimonies)
Conclusion
Let me leave you with just one parting thought:
Be the "one." Don’t be one of the other nine. Be the one who comes to Jesus, thanking Him for everything.
Make it a habit. Start the day thanking God for another day to live for Him.
Thank Him for another day as a forgiven, spirit-filled child of God who can make an impact on those around you.
Thank Him that you have a home in heaven and the hope of God on earth.
Thank Him the snow. Thank Him for the cold. Thank Him air. Thank Him for the trees. Thank Him for everything.
Don’t let Jesus ask of you, “Where are the other nine?”
And watch God continue to shower you with blessings as you acknowledge God.
