Luke 17:11-19; Col. 3:15-17
OPEN IT:
What is your most memorable gift?
Fathers day grill from kids w/o help from mom
DIG INTO IT:
1. Read 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, 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.”
Verse 11
This is a time in Jesus‘s ministry when he is out preaching. While he is traveling and teaching, the Pharisees are following him and trying to interrupt him all the time. In this particular story, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and he’s passing between Samaria and Galilee. Do you think this location has any significance in the way it is stated?
Maybe, it’s Jesus’s way of telling the story saying that he has a collection of people some of them are Jews, and some of them are not only not Jews, but the hated Samaritans.
Verse 12
Why do you think the lepers stood at a distance?
Back in the time of Moses, people with leprosy, had to stay away from the cities. They had to do other things like shout “unclean unclean” when people are coming near them. Priests were the ones that decided if someone either had leprosy, or was cured from it.
By staying back, these people can be observing this law. It can also be showing respect.
Sometimes leprosy is equated to “sin.“ If you take out the word lepers and say he was met by 10 sinners who stood at a distance, what do you think that means?
Verse 13
The lepers yell “Jesus, master.” Why the two names? What does it mean?
They yell the name, Jesus. They probably associate Jesus with healing. Obviously they know who he is. They also say “master.” This is the same as saying, Lord, or Rabbi, in other words, they are acknowledging that this is Jesus, and he is the Lord.
The lepers requested “mercy.” What did they mean by that request?
They are supposed to shout “unclean!”
But instead, they yell “Have Mercy on us”
They know that Jesus can heal, they believe that Jesus is Lord, they’re asking for healing, and at the same time, possibly forgiveness.
They are essentially breaking the law by shouting this to Jesus. But they have more faith in him than they have fear from the Pharisees, who are also in the vicinity, watching and listening.
Verse 14
In verse 14 it says that Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests, and as they went, they were cleansed.
Two things we can take from this… At least two things. What are they?
The first is that the men had faith enough to believe in Jesus and do what he said. It says “as they went…“
The second thing is even more awesome if you ask me. At this time, there was a ritual that people with possible leprosy would have to go through. They would have to go to a priest and the priest declare them clean or unclean, then they would have a 10 day cleansing process of bathing and what not.
However, look at this “as they went, they were cleansed“
What is significant about this?
Because of their faith. Not because of anything that the priest did. Not because they followed any rituals and did a 10 day cleaning. They cried out to Jesus, he told them to go to a priest, they immediately left, and as they went, they were healed. Isn’t that awesome?
Verse 15
Only one of the healed men came back to thank Jesus. What is significant about him being Samaritan?
In verse 15 it says that one of them saw that he was healed, he turned back, and was praising God with a loud voice.
What do you think is happening here that only one of them notices he’s clean? He happens to be a Samaritan which means he is not following Jewish Custom.
All of them are healed, but only one of them recognizes it.
Is it possible, that the others are so caught up in their “religion“ that they miss Jesus? Does this go on today? Religion is not a thing you do, or a building you go to, or a priest you talk to, or kneeling down and saying a confession to a minister.
That stuff can all be good, but the main thing is to know Jesus. The true gift is Jesus himself.
Verse 16
Now look at this man. In verse 16 what does he do? What does that mean?
Someone with leprosy is not supposed to go near another person. When they first cried out, it says they did so from a distance. Now this man who knows he’s clean he’s coming directly up to Jesus and going right to his feet. He’s not worried about keeping distance anymore. He knows now that he has a personal relationship with Jesus. He isn’t just healed of leprosy, he is healed of his sin. He is saved.
Verse 17
Are you ready to really see something incredible? Look adverse 14 again it says… As they went, they were “cleansed.“ Look at verse 17 then Jesus answered, we’re not the 10 “cleansed.“ Now jump back to verse 15. This is the verse of the Samaritan . It says that he saw that he was “healed“
All of them were “cleansed“ but the one who has a relationship with Jesus, the one who came back to worship at his feet, has been “healed“
Isn’t it incredible reading through these verses like we did tonight and not noticing that. The Bible is filled to the brim with little trinkets of wisdom and supernatural messaging, and forecasting, and wordplay, it is just an absolute literary masterpiece.
Verse 18
In verse 18, Jesus asks out loud so everybody can hear. “Where is everybody else? Are you the only one that came back to say thanks?”
Is Jesus looking for personal praise right here?
If you read it quickly, or don’t understand Jesus’s character, or have ill-will from the start, you might think so
However, just like with everything, what Jesus tells us to do, it is for our own good.
Those other guys were cleansed of their leprosy. Are they also healed? We don’t know. Maybe. But we do know this,
They are missing a relationship with Jesus right here in this moment. There’s value in praising God in front of people. So others can see what he has done for you. He doesn’t give you a gift and then tell you to go hide it or bury it. He gives you talents and tells you to go multiply them.
Verse 19
The conclusion is that Jesus says “rise and go your way; your faith has made you well”
What does Jesus mean? How has his faith has made him well?
From start to finish, this Samaritan showed nothing but faith:
-He was supposed to stand and yell unclean!
-But instead, he yells Jesus, master!
-Jesus tells them to go, and they go
-As they’re leaving, they are cleansed
-One recognizes that he is healed
-He walks right up to Jesus to his feet.
-And worship him loudly it says
-Jesus says his faith has made him well.
It is widely thought that Jesus is talking about his leprosy and his soul.
2. Read Colossians 3:15-17 and answer the following questions:
15. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
17. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
a) What specifically, are we to be thankful for (v. 15)?
b) List all of the things we are admonished to do in v. 16:
1. Let ____________________________________
2. Teach __________________________________
3. Sing ___________________________________
c) Name some specific ways we can do the above with “gratitude in our hearts to God.”
d) When we do things in Jesus’ name (v. 17), are we giving thanks through our actions by themselves, or is a spoken word of gratitude to God necessary also?
e) Who is the “him” we give thanks through (v. 17)?
REFLECT ON IT:
1. Would you say that most people in our culture have gratitude for God? Why or why not?
2. What is it that you are most thankful for?
3. Can you think of a time in your life when God came to your aid, yet you forgot to thank Him?
4. What practical steps can we take to remember to show gratitude to God for what He has done? List specifics:
5. How does your gratitude to God spill over into your gratitude toward others? How do you demonstrate that gratitude on a day-to-day basis?
6. How can we pray for you today?
PRAY ABOUT IT: “All vital praying makes a drain on a man’s vitality. True intercession is a sacrifice, a bleeding sacrifice.” ~ J.H. Jowett
Davis, Barry L.. Instant Bible Studies for Small Groups (p. 56). GodSpeed Publishing. Kindle Edition.