Sermon Tone Analysis

The One Who Returned

Luke 17:11-19

 

! Introduction

·         Does it bug you when people don’t thank you when you’ve given them a gift or acted in kindness toward them?

* Giving a wedding gift—and several weeks go by—make excuses for the young couple—too “in love,” too busy, etc.

Then it’s “That gal’s mama didn’t raise her right!”

* Opening the door for women—I’ve always tried to be a gentlemen—Old School—a man should open doors for women.

Call me naïve, but I refuse to believe that chivalry is dead.

Now I know some women are liberated and beyond such antiquated notions; however, I still do it all the time.

And I must tell you . . . it truly sticks in my craw when a woman doesn’t thank me.

Do I do it for the “thanks?”

No, but it’s just courteous to thank one for doing such a thing.

!

1.

The ten men

·         Jesus and the troops on the way to Jerusalem

·         Along the border between Galilee and Samaria.

Upon entering a village, they encounter ten men.

Ten men with leprosy.

·         Leprosy as we know it today—Hansen’s Disease—nervous system—loss of sensation in the extremities—so extremities are abused.

·         *λέπρα*,* ας*: a dreaded condition of the skin, including what is now regarded as leprosy, as well as certain other types of infectious skin diseases, resulting in a person’s being regarded as ceremonially unclean and thus excluded from normal relations with other people—‘leprosy, dread skin disease.’

ἀνὴρ πλήρης λέπρας … ἐδεήθη αὐτοῦ … καθαρίσαι ‘a man covered with a dread skin disease … asked him (Jesus) … to heal him’ Lk 5.12.

There are significant differences of opinion with regard to the nature of λέπρα as mentioned in the NT.

Some authorities insist that this type of disease is not in any way related to so-called Hansen’s disease, while others assume that it does include Hansen’s disease as well as a number of other skin ailments, including psoriasis, seborrhea, and pinto (a white, spotted discoloration of the skin).

From the standpoint of the biblical text, the factor of ritual uncleanness or impurity was even more important than the physical malady.

·         Having to stay away from folks*—*shout “unclean!”

!

2.     The healing

·         They wanted to be heard—they raised their voices in desperation—Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!

·         “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”

*/And as they went/*, they were made clean.

! 3.     The “thanks”

·         Out of the ten men who don’t have their leprosy anymore, only one returns to thank Jesus.

And he just happens to be Samaritan.

Though the passage doesn’t say the other nine are Jews, that’s the implication—that those nine ungrateful fellows were blessed not just with healing but with heritage.

·         I want us to engage in a bit of advanced math. 1 out of 10 fellows—that’s 10%, right?

A 10% “Thank you” rate.

I experience much better than that with my door opening.

Not scientific, but I’d guestimate something around 80%, about 8 out of 10 women thank me for opening the door for them.

·         So what gives with these 9 who didn’t give thanks for such a wonderful gift?

·         Can you identify with one or more of these responses?

1.

One waited to see if the cure was real.

(The Skeptic)

2.      One waited to see if it would last.

(The Doubter)

3.      One said he would see Jesus later.

(The Procrastinator)

4.      One decided that he had never had leprosy.

(The Delusional One)

5.      One said he would have gotten well anyway.

(The Cynic)

6.

One gave the glory to the priests.

(The Super Saint)

7.      One said, “O, well, Jesus didn’t really do anything.”

(The Jealous One)

8.      One said, “Any rabbi could have done it.”

(The Minimalist)

9.      One said, “I was already much improved.”

(The Dreamer)

·         They expected to be healed, didn’t they?

After all, they went.

It would seem that they didn’t lack faith.

Rather, they were in need of gratitude.

·         We expect a lot, don’t we?

o   Flip switch—light comes on

o   Push the remote button—we get TV

o   Turn the ignition key—engine roars to life

o   Pop our Advil—headache abates

o   Open the fridge door—food on display

o   Call a friend—hear a friendly voice

o   Access the ATM—out pops the cash

!

conclusion

·         *Michael Wilcock*—Our challenge—to be like the one, and not like the nine: actually to turn back, praising God with a loud voice, and to fall on our faces at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks.

*/Hymn:/*  #102 /Now Thank We All Our God/

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