Jesus encountered much thanklessness during his journeys here on earth.
Perhaps none stand out more clear than the story found in Luke chapter 17:
“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, 10 men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, master, have pity on us!”
Jesus was called aside by the shouts of men afflicted with a serious, skin condition called leprosy.
If Jesus could cure the blind, heal the lame, and raise the dead, surely, they thought, he would have the power to help them too.
They were already social outcasts and had nothing to lose, so they raised their voices in desperate hope.
When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”
The priests were the ones that determined whether a healing had taken place.
According to the book of Leviticus, only a priest could restore someone who was formerly unclean to the community.
Yet, how could Jesus’ command to “go” be obeyed by these men afflicted by leprosy?
At this point Jesus had done nothing outwardly to assure them of a cure.
This indeed would be a test of their obedience.
How would they respond to the Lord’s command?
Perhaps it was something in the way Jesus looked them in the eyes. Or maybe it was the way he encouraged them to believe. I don’t know. Yet, somehow, he persuaded them to trust his simple word, “Go”.
…And as they went, they were cleansed.
Note: obedience always leads to blessing!
In this account regarding these Lepers, the obedience preceded the healing.
Scripture says, “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him, and he was a Samaritan.”
Notice this man’s response to the blessing.
He sees the healing, he turns 180°, he thanks, and he worships.
Jesus asks, “Were not all 10 cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give thanks and praise to God except this foreigner?”
I have heard it said, “Gratefulness is knowing awareness that we are the recipients of goodness.”
The nine who did not give thanks were not only rude, they were ignorant!
We are the recipients, not the creators of goodness.
John piper says, “”God is the one being in all the universe for whom seeking his own praise is the ultimate loving act.”
Therefore, thanks and praise are not options when we are fully aware of the Creator. They are joyful inevitability’s.
Then Jesus said to him, “rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
I have always wondered how the other nine must’ve felt when the man, rising from his worship, caught up with them, and told them of his grateful exchange with Jesus.
Not only had he been healed outwardly, but his faith had made him whole inside as well.
Thankfulness does brings benefits in this world and in the world to come.
The nine had their cure, however it was only finite as sickness and death would surely follow again.
The one who gave thanks had his finite cure too, however he also had a relationship with Jesus the king of the universe who guarantees Life everlasting.
Let’s remember, as we leave the Thanksgiving holiday and head into the Christmas season, that we are the recipients of the infinite God’s great goodness. Let us praise and thank the one from whom all blessings flow.
Go give em Heaven,
I love you all,
Pastor Scott
Want more encouraging blogs from Pastor Scott? Click here.
Perhaps none stand out more clear than the story found in Luke chapter 17:
“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, 10 men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, master, have pity on us!”
Jesus was called aside by the shouts of men afflicted with a serious, skin condition called leprosy.
If Jesus could cure the blind, heal the lame, and raise the dead, surely, they thought, he would have the power to help them too.
They were already social outcasts and had nothing to lose, so they raised their voices in desperate hope.
When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”
The priests were the ones that determined whether a healing had taken place.
According to the book of Leviticus, only a priest could restore someone who was formerly unclean to the community.
Yet, how could Jesus’ command to “go” be obeyed by these men afflicted by leprosy?
At this point Jesus had done nothing outwardly to assure them of a cure.
This indeed would be a test of their obedience.
How would they respond to the Lord’s command?
Perhaps it was something in the way Jesus looked them in the eyes. Or maybe it was the way he encouraged them to believe. I don’t know. Yet, somehow, he persuaded them to trust his simple word, “Go”.
…And as they went, they were cleansed.
Note: obedience always leads to blessing!
In this account regarding these Lepers, the obedience preceded the healing.
Scripture says, “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him, and he was a Samaritan.”
Notice this man’s response to the blessing.
He sees the healing, he turns 180°, he thanks, and he worships.
Jesus asks, “Were not all 10 cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give thanks and praise to God except this foreigner?”
I have heard it said, “Gratefulness is knowing awareness that we are the recipients of goodness.”
The nine who did not give thanks were not only rude, they were ignorant!
We are the recipients, not the creators of goodness.
John piper says, “”God is the one being in all the universe for whom seeking his own praise is the ultimate loving act.”
Therefore, thanks and praise are not options when we are fully aware of the Creator. They are joyful inevitability’s.
Then Jesus said to him, “rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
I have always wondered how the other nine must’ve felt when the man, rising from his worship, caught up with them, and told them of his grateful exchange with Jesus.
Not only had he been healed outwardly, but his faith had made him whole inside as well.
Thankfulness does brings benefits in this world and in the world to come.
The nine had their cure, however it was only finite as sickness and death would surely follow again.
The one who gave thanks had his finite cure too, however he also had a relationship with Jesus the king of the universe who guarantees Life everlasting.
Let’s remember, as we leave the Thanksgiving holiday and head into the Christmas season, that we are the recipients of the infinite God’s great goodness. Let us praise and thank the one from whom all blessings flow.
Go give em Heaven,
I love you all,
Pastor Scott
Want more encouraging blogs from Pastor Scott? Click here.
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