The Miracles Of Jesus (Pt9) Series

The first is the healing of 10 lepers.

Found only in Luke.

Luke 17:11–14 “Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.”

Luke 17:15–17 “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?”

Luke 17:18–19 “Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.””

This is the 2nd recorded miracle of healing from leprosy.

A few interesting points to consider:

Passing along the border between Galilee and Samaria. Almost like “no man’s land”. But Jesus wasn’t just any man was He?

Asked for mercy. Jesus said “go show yourselves to the priests”, and they were cleansed as they went!

One returned...Luke 17:15 “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God,”

Scripture tells us they were ALL cleaned/healed, but apparently only one thought Jesus worthy of being glorified in the healing!

Is that us? Are we so busy, that:

We don’t have time to recognize our healings from Jesus

or, have we become callused to all the miracles and blessings Jesus showers down on us?

Jesus was almost indignant “only this foreigner, a Samaritan” returned?

Was this man the only Samaritan in the 10?

We aren’t told, but obviously some “were not” Samaritans, and to me, it was an indictment of those, as well as a relational restoration for @ least “this” Samaritan.

I draw this conclusion because I find v 19 as curious.

Luke 17:19 “And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.””

I do my very best to allow scripture to interpret scripture, but couldn’t find scripture to interpret. It is probably out there, I just couldn’t find it.

v14 we are told the lepers were healed.

Now, we see again in v19 the words from Jesus “your faith has made you well”.

This man was already healed physically.

Maybe, this was a spiritual healing.

The other 9 were physically healed, but perhaps not spiritually healed, and Jesus was going to bless them, upon their return, which never occurred.

Moving on...

Next we find the Miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead.

Found only in John.

This is the 7th and final sign recorded in the gospel of John.

It is also the 5th of 7 “I AM’s” recorded in John.

John 11:38–41 “Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.”

John 11:42–44 “And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.””

Very long set-up to this miracle. Most miracles have one verse maybe two, but this story has 37 verses as the set-up.

The heading for chapter 11 is “The Raising of Lazarus”.

I believe it is for us to see that Jesus has a relationship with Mary and Martha, as well as Lazarus. They are His friends.

Let’s go to v38:

John 11:38 “Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.”

v38-Ever groan in yourself?

For me, pretty much every Monday morning.

If it is not merely because it is Monday, and I have to go to work, but additionally because I’m 65 and my body “tells me things”, and I groan in myself!