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This week we turn our attention to Luke chapter 17. Please read verses 1-19 every day this week and, if possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word
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Luke 17:11-19 (The Message)
‘It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Taking a good look at them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus said, “Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?” Then he said to him, “Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you.”’
Luke records an event here that had actually occurred earlier than the previous events. Why does he do this? I believe that it’s because the theme of the last few parables is highlighted by an actual event that Jesus was involved in. It is a practical example of everything that Jesus has been teaching and so it is logical to place the event in this context.
The place that this event took place is not mentioned and therefore is of little importance. Luke is ensuring that nothing detracts from the actual story and the message that God’s Spirit is giving in these verses.
We see from later verses that these 10 lepers were of mixed nationality. At least one of them was a Samaritan, an outsider, a foreigner. This isn’t really surprising when you’re close to the border between the two provinces but there is something else I’d like to mention here also. Ordinarily, the Jews and the Samaritans kept themselves apart from each other. They really, really detested each other and would avoid all contact whenever possible. However, here we see the lepers together. There is no attempt to keep apart now. In life, it’s amazing to see how people who had previously not connected or had not liked each other, that when tragedy strikes or sickness brings them to a place of suffering, they find solace in those people whom they’d previously avoided. Illness is a lonely place to be and we seek friendship and fellowship wherever we can get it. Leprosy is a dreadful disease and I can think of few things worse and these 10 men were desperate for healing. They kept their distance from Jesus and yet managed to shout a simple message to Him – “Master, have mercy on us”.
Jesus’ response is amazing. He takes a good look at them and tells them to go to the priest. This may seem strange to us, but anyone who had been cleansed of leprosy had to go to the priest to show that they were clean. Jesus wasn’t telling them to go elsewhere, He was actually telling them that they had been healed! Note that Jesus never actually said anything about healing. These lepers had called Jesus ‘Master’ and it was their responsibility to act on that revelation and walk to the priest without receiving any healing. It was only as they started their journey that we read ‘while still on their way, they became clean’. Faith without works is dead and these lepers were literally walking in faith.
Even though all 10 of the men were healed and all 10 clearly had enough faith to be healed, only 1 responded in the way that Jesus found acceptable. Just like the previous parable, God’s Spirit is saying to us that we always should have a heart of gratitude and always respond in praise to God. Jesus didn’t want to be thanked but was concerned that His Father wasn’t glorified. When we realise what we have been saved from and understand the new life that God has freed us into, we too should resound in praise and give glory to God.
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