Thankfulness
November 19, 2023
Luke 17:11-19
Learning from a Leper
INTRO: Today we look at a story of mercy. We see a story of thankfulness. We see a story of 10 men who are in trouble and look to Jesus for help! (Always a good idea.) Jesus gives them the help that they need!
Luke 17:11–19 While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee.
12 As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him;
13 and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed.
15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice,
16 and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they?
18 “Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”
19 And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”
(I) These men asked Jesus for help!
a. They did things right.
i. They kept their distance as the Law said.
1. They “raised their voices.”
b. They asked for mercy.
i. They wanted Jesus to do something about their need.
1. This was a GREAT need.
c. They had nothing to lose.
i. They had leprosy.
ii. They were outcasts.
iii. They were separated from their families.
d. They had found common ground.
i. We don’t know what differences they may or may not have had.
1. There is at least one man of Samaria among them.
2. A common problem had broken down whatever barriers might have separated them.
(II) They did what Jesus told them to do.
a. Jesus told them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”
i. They did exactly what Jesus said to do. Off they went!
1. As they went, their leprosy disappeared!
a. What excitement they must have felt!
i. Their bodies were healed!
ii. They would be reunited with their families!
iii. Their lives could return to normal!
(III) Only one returned to say thank you!
a. A Samaritan from the group returns.
i. He is glorifying God!!!
1. He knows were the power of the miracle came from!
ii. He “falls on his face” at Jesus’ feet!
iii. He thanks Jesus!
1. We can imagine reasons for his return.
a. Perhaps as a Samaritan, he had no real expectation that Jesus, a Jew, would heal him, and he is extra grateful for being included.
b. His family upbringing built the character trait of thankfulness into him.
b. Jesus asks “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they?”
i. Again, we have no access to their thoughts, but we can speculate.
1. They are excited!
2. After all, Jesus did say “Go show yourselves to the Priests.”
a. If we go back, we are disobeying His orders.
3. “I’m sure Jesus KNOWS how grateful I am! I don’t need to go back.
4. I’ll send Him a “Thank you note.”
c. From the text, it’s hard to tell if Jesus is surprised or if things happened exactly the way He expected.
i. Jesus may be truly amazed by the man’s thankfulness.
ii. Perhaps He is surprised by the lack of thankfulness of the 9?
iii. Maybe Jesus KNEW all along what was going to happen.
d. It IS obvious however, that saying thank you was a good idea.
(IV) What should we learn from this incident in the life of Jesus?
a. Look to the right place for help!
i. These 10 men knew enough about Jesus to know He could help them.
1. They certainly didn’t know everything about Him, but enough….
ii. We don’t need to know very much about Jesus to take Him as our Lord and Savior.
1. Jesus Does expect us to “learn as we go.”
2. To grow in our walk with Him!
iii. The people around us may know very little about Jesus, but with our help, they can know enough to begin their Journey with Jesus!
b. These men had nothing to lose…. They had lost it all already.
i. NONE of us have anything to lose! When you compare the most important things of this life with eternity, you can see how little things the things of this life really matter!
1. We need to share this with the people that we know!
c. When we come to Jesus, we need to do what He says to do.
i. He’s the King… I’M NOT!
ii. He is the potter, I am the clay.
iii. He is Lord, I am His servant.
1. He knows what’s best! I do not!
2. We would do well to remember that fact!
a. Instead, we “do things our own way.”
d. We need to be grateful for the intervention of Jesus in our lives.
i. When we see it, and when we don’t see it.
From the song Waymaker:
Even when I don't see it, You're working
Even when I don't feel it, You're working
You never stop, You never stop working
1. He has given us Salvation!
2. He works in our lives in ways we don’t even know or understand.
3. We should not let other things distract us from what Jesus has done for us!
a. Our “thankful living” should also be expressed to those around us!
i. Look for things to be thankful for, and people to thank!
Mission of the week: Thank someone. Thank God!
