The Kingdom is in Your Midst. Luke 17:11-21

INTRO: Has there ever been a time when something or someone amazing was in your midst and you never knew it? The other evening I came home and was in this intense concentration trying to accomplish something on the computer. Later April gets my attention and says “hey you, don’t act like you can’t here me. . . she had been flirting with me and I didn’t even know it. What a loss . . .

Genesis 28:16 After Jacob awakens from this dream, at “bethel” v.19, of a ladder with reaching from earth to heaven and angels of God were ascending and descending on it and the Lord spoke to him to Abrahamic covenant again. Jacob said in v.16 “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”

A Sign in Your Midst

A. Jesus is passing between Samaria and Galilee and as He enters a village 10 leprous men from a distance say to Jesus “Master, have mercy on us.” V.11-13

NOTE: The distance placed between them is a reminder of the sever stigma attached to those who were leprous.

The distance also shows the uncomfortableness and shame that sin produces causing a separation between us and Jesus, the only one who can save us. Sin acts as a spiritual leprousy.

ILLUST: These man are asking Jesus to have pity on them and to show them compassion because of their horrible circumstance. They are in chronic pain and isolation from the rest of society. V. 13b

What is being experienced is these men has isolated them but they have learned to live in this isolation. Sin has separated us from God and the world helps us accept this and learn to live with it. Where are the people crying out God have pity on us, show us compassion and save us from our sin?

B. Jesus responds, “Go and show yourself to the priest. And as they were going, they were cleansed.” V.14

1. If you recall in Luke 5:12-16 Jesus healed a man who was leprous and told him the same thing, to go show himself to the priest.

ILLUST: God’s plan for the Leper Numbers 5:1-4, Leviticus 13-14

The Priest would look at the infection and pronounce a person “unclean”

The priest, according to the severity may isolate the person and if it fades the priest can declare him clean.

But if the infection is a white swelling in the skin, the hair is white, and raw flesh in the swelling then the Priest declares it to be “Chronic Leprosy”.

Leviticus 13:18-52 continues to describe symptoms and how to deal with even the clothing. Clothing of a leprous person is to be torn, he shall live alone and dwell outside the camp.

2. The difference between the 10 lepers and the man of Luke 5 is that the man had been healed first whereas the lepers are not healed as they go. V.14

NOTE: Where did they get there faith to go not knowing if they would be healed? Why obey this “Rabbi” when the request was “have pity on us”?

WHILE THEY WERE GOING THEY WERE CLEANSED. THIS SIGN WAS AN ANSWER TO THEIR REQUEST, HAVE PITY ON US. HOWEVER THE SIGN WAS ONLY POINTING TO A DEEPER NEED BASED ON A GREATER PITY THAT WAS NEEDED FOR THESE MEN.

Salvation in Your Midst v.15-19

A. JUST ONE turned back and glorified God with a loud voice and fell on his face at Jesus feet. V.15-16a

1. The healing of their skin caused one man to recognize the deeper need which was separation from God.

NOTE: Here was salvation in his midst. He was looking for his skin to be made whole but this miracle opened his eyes to the fact that God was in his midst. and he returned for the greater healing.

2. Luke points out that the one who did return was a “samaritan”.

NOTE: The others may have been a mix of Samaritans and Jews so in no way is the point that Samaritans are all thankful people and Jews are not. The fact that this was a Samaritan does speak to the negative view that Jews had for Samaritans.

3. Jesus points out that it was only this Samaritan a “foreigner” who came back and “gave glory to God.”

NOTE: Not Just One but anyone who recognizes Jesus as Messiah and chooses to take the posture of humility and worships Him will find healing of the soul and life eternal.

B. “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”

NOTE: This phrase “made you well” is one word (sozo) which means to save. The sign wowed this Samaritan to the point of faith in the very person who cleansed Him. His only response was thanks and worship. This “faith” that prompted him to go to the priest was magnified when he recognized his skin had been cleansed. The next step of faith brought eternal life when he recognized is utter need for Jesus.

Jesus is in your midst What will you Do? V.20-21

A. The Pharisees ask when the kingdom of God is coming. V.20

B. Jesus says its not coming and you won’t see it later because its in your midst now.

ILLUST: Hebrews 6:7 “He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your heart.”

CLOSE: Jesus has fulfilled prophecy, He has died and rose again, He lives and continues to change lives. Yet only those who recognize Him as God, the savior will be saved. There is evidence all around us and some of us have experienced healing or seen signs that we know are super natural and yet we continue to continue on our way instead of surrendering our lives in thank and praise and worship to the One who has saved us. Today is one more day to see that Jesus longs for all, the foreigner as well as anyone else to see the truth and choose to let Him be Lord of their life.