In church this week, Louis preached on Luke 17:11-19.
Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers
11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,t who stood at a distance13 and lifted up 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 went they were cleansed.15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
I’m curious about a lot of things when I read this. But let’s grab one thing and discuss it a bit.
When the one realized he was healed, he returned to Jesus praising God with a loud voice.
Has God ever moved so clearly in your life that you turned back to Him and praised Him? If so, what were the circumstances?
This passage is packed full of goodness. With a little Google-fu I found this page which has some great questions and answers: http://www.orthodox.net/questions/luke-17-12-19-10-lepers.html
I was having the toughest time figuring out the significance of Jesus telling the lepers to go show themselves to the priests. But it makes sense after having just read Leviticus (YouVersion) and the instructions contained therein for the verification of purification in regards to leprosy.
But the significance of the gratitude of the Samaritan is simply wonderful. This is a foreshadowing of impending growth of the church by the assimilation of the Gentiles.
Amazing stuff. I love it.
Howard
Howard – The thought that’s jumping into my head as I digest your comment is that even the way Jesus operated was a reflection of how God works.
Now, that sounds a little obvious. But what I mean is, sometimes we see when Jesus is handling something in the present, he’s alluding to something in the past (or fulfilling prophecy of the past) and at the same time foreshadowing things to come. He is over the past, present and future and can play those things against each other in a way that I can barely understand.