Where are the other nine?

Luke 17:11-19

Key verse 17

“Jesus asked, “Where not all then cleansed? Where are the other nine?”

Introduction:

The author, Luke was a Gentile by birth. But by God’s grace, he became a coworker for Paul in world mission. At the bottom of his heart, he must have been thankful to Jesus who called him as a spiritual doctor to rescue many souls for God’s glory. This passage shows a Samaritan man who had privileged to know who Jesus is. Whoever loves God and puts faith in Him is truly blessed. The name of the game is to give thanks to Jesus so that we may be healed completely. May the Lord help us to learn praise and thanks of a Samaritan man.

1. Read verses 11 - 13. Where is Jesus traveling on the way to Jerusalem?  (11) Who comes to Jesus? (12) What do they do? (13) What do you think we can learn from them?

1-1) Read verses 11 - 13.

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

1-2) Where is Jesus traveling on the way to Jerusalem?  (11)

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.

• Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem. Border was close to Perea.

• Luke 13:22 “Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.”

1-3) Who comes to Jesus? (12)

12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance. Ten lepers came to Jesus.

• They gathered together and lived at a distance from the healthy people.

1-4) What do they do? (13)

13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

• They called Jesus and asked mercy from him.

1-5) What do you think we can learn from them?

• They had faith in Jesus with the hope that they may be healed.

• It could be a great danger for them to appear because they could be stoned to death. But their faith made them come to Jesus.

2. Read verses 14 - 16. What does Jesus say to them? (14a) What happens to them as they obey his instructions? (14b) How many of them come back to Jesus? (15a) What does he do? (15b-16)  What do you think we can learn from him?

2-1) Read verses 14 - 16.

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

2-2) What does Jesus say to them? (14a)

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”

• This command appears to be nonsense because it means they were already healed and therefore go to the priests and get a health certificate.

  • At least they could have expected something tangible remedy from Jesus.

  • But Jesus only gave command which can be taken only by faith. Baiscally Jesus was saying to them, “I tell you. You are already healed even though you see your leprosy with your own eyes. Therefore I tell you, go, show yourselves to the priests.”

• It reminds me of John 4:50.

  • “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. The man later realized that his son was healed when he took Jesus’ word by faith and departed.

  • Jesus challenges those who come to him to increase their faith in the right way. Usually it is to help them to believe in the power of His words.

  • Hebrews 11:3a “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command”

2-3) What happens to them as they obey his instructions? (14b)

And as they went, they were cleansed.

• They followed what Jesus said to them, and they were cleansed. “Being cleansed” means ‘being healed of their leprosy.’

2-4) How many of them come back to Jesus? (15a)

15 One of them,

• One of them who were healed came back to Jesus.

2-5) What does he do? (15b-16)  

When he saw he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

He could not control himself when he saw he was healed. So he praise God in a loud voice. But he also thanked Jesus because the healing came through Jesus’.

2-6) What do you think we can learn from him?

• Being a Samaritan could mean he could be hostile toward Jesus. But when he saw he was healed, he came back.

• It reminds me of Peter (Luke 5:1-11) who saw a large fish caught thanks to Jesus’ words and paid attention to who Jesus is instead of large number of fish.

• Likewise this Samaritan man might see who Jesus is through healing.

• There are several steps.

  • He saw the important thing, in other words, he might experience the Almighty power through Jesus’ command.

  • He came back regardless of other’s response, in other words, he had a personal faith.  

  • He praise God in a loud voice - he probably praise God louder than the first time (when he shout in a loud voice to call Jesus as Messiah).  His voice is loud thanks to his overflowing thanks.

  • He threw himself at Jesus’ feet. It shows his holy and absolute fear to Jesus who is the Lord, the master, and the Messiah. He thanked him.

3. Read verses 17 - 19. What does Jesus say? (17-18) Why do you think Jesus talks about “giving praise to God”? What do you think it means when he says “your faith has made you well”? (19)  How do you think we can show thanks to God?

3-1) Read verses 17 - 19.

17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you  

3-2) What does Jesus say? (17-18)

17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

3-3) Why do you think Jesus talks about “giving praise to God”?

• To praise God is the chief purpose for all things and all men.

  • Nine patients were healed from their incurable disease.

  • When they have what they wanted, they do not see any other reason to come back to Jesus.

  • Many people are making the same choice. When they began their believing life, they are humbly asking God’s help. But they procure God’s blessings such as job, graduation, marriage, or richness, they do not give praise to God but leave God gradually.

• This is a great discrepancy between God centered faith and others.

  • A God centered man magnifies the Giver of every blessing while a self centered person focus on blessing such as recipient’s possession or enjoyment.

  • A God centered man sees the clear purpose of all blessings and creation to please God.

  • A God centered man is humbly thankful for God’s sovereignty while others congratulated themselves.

  • A God centered man surrender himself to the Lord while others justify themselves and honor themselves..

3-4) What do you think it means when he says “your faith has made you well”? (19)  

19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

• “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

• You faith indicates personal faith.

• Because of his faith and thanks he was made well not only physically but also spiritually. He was truly made well.

• Ezekiel 18:30, 31 shows the importance of a personal faith in God. (today’s daily bread-10-19-2013)

“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!

3-5) How do you think we can show thanks to God?

• We need to remember what we have received from Jesus and we can give thanks to God

• We should not take what we have received from Jesus granted.

• We must remember who we were before we receive blessings from Jesus.

The end.