The One in Ten
Jeremy Bell
Luke 17:11-19
October 11, 2020
Sermon Audio
Luke 17:11–19 [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, who stood at a distance [13] 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.” (ESV)
“On the way to Jerusalem” – (verse 11)
[11] On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.
- Jesus was on mission.
- His mission wasn’t predominantly to heal sickness and physical disease.
- Yes, He is a merciful Savior and acted to reverse the physical effects of the fall when He encountered them in people.
- But physical healing wasn’t Jesus’ main mission.
- He came to heal in a far more lasting way – which ultimately brought him to the cross of Calvary.
“Ten Lepers” – (verse 12) “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! “ — (verse 13)
[12] And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance [13] and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
- These lepers, distanced from everything they once held dear, stood at a distance that was required for them, but they lifted up their voices — “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us (verse 13)!” This was their cry of desperation, their cry for the impossible to be made possible.
- Could what we had heard about Jesus actually be true? Does He truly have compassion? Does He truly have the ability? They lifted up their voices, and cried out.
“When He Saw Them” – (verse 14)
[14] When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.
- It wasn’t just the lepers that knew of Jesus’ ability to heal.
- So, just as Luke reminds us that He was on mission, headed for Jerusalem, we note that Jesus is not so busy so as to pass them by. He saw them. And in seeing them, He took pity on them.
- He stopped, and He saw. He had eyes for the hurting, the lame, the sick, the downtrodden, the outcast.
- He saw then, and He continues to see today. He knows your need, and when you cry out to Him, He sees you too.
- He saw with eyes of compassion.
“Go and Show” – (verse 14)
[14] When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.
- Why show themselves to the priests? Because the local priests acted as local health inspectors.
- Though it was unusual for the ravages of leprosy to be reversed, if the former leper was made well, they would go and show themselves to the priests to verify that they were now clean.
- The ten turn to go and show themselves to the priests and as they were going, they were healed.
“One…turned back” – (verse 15)
[15] Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;
- The man saw something that the other nine missed.
- They all were healed – surely they all would have experienced that!
- The man saw not just the gift, but the Giver of the gift. And that made him turn in a direction that the other 9 did not. He saw the Giver, and he wanted to be with Him.
- He realized the beauty and worth of Jesus, and longed to be with Him.
“He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving thanks” – (verse 16)
[16] and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.
He came back to Christ with joy, with thanksgiving.
- Sin is heart disease that causes soul decay, ultimately leading to death. And by the Word of Christ, He has made us well.
- If nothing else is going the way you would like it to go, if you are born again, you have reason to return to Christ this morning with the loudest praise!
- God has solved your biggest problem – by the merciful sending of His Son!
- We can return to Him now with great praise!
“It is ever the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan’s work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, “Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of His children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus.” All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: He tells us that we are nothing, but that “Christ is all in all.” Remember, therefore, it is not your hold of Christ that saves you — it is Christ; it is not your joy in Christ that saves thee — it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument — it is Christ’s blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to your hand with which you are grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to your hope, but to Jesus, the source of your hope; look not to your faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul.” — CH Spurgeon
Questions For Discussion/Application:
- Re-read the text, Luke 17:11-19. What initial observations and insights do you have from reading this text?
- What would it have been like to be a leper in the first century?
- Why did the one man return?
- This man was amazed by what Christ had done for him and moved to thankful worship. Was there a time in your life that you can remember when you found yourself particularly thankful for what Christ had done for you in saving you? If so, tell us about it.
- What hinderances/obstacles do you personally face in seeking to be amazed daily for what Christ has done?
- What are some practical steps we can take to not take our salvation for granted but instead cultivate amazement and worshipful hearts for Jesus — for who He is and what He has done?
- What is one take home application for you from this passage?
- Consider taking time to pray and thank God for his amazing kindness and grace in saving us.