On Line Bible Study - For the Week April 25-May1, 2011

Lesson 490

Luke 17: 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!” 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.

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 well.”

There are some things that affect us just by virtue of our proximity and exposure to them. One example is environmental pollution - like unhealthy doses of radiation or other toxins in the air or water or earth. It's possible to be in both the best and the worst places at just the right time, and the simple fact of your being there means you will reap the positive or negative consequences of the situation.

Other things don't affect us by their simple proximity. Walking by a grocery store doesn't fill your stomach, and walking into a bank doesn't make you rich, regardless of how much cash is close by.

As Jesus walks by he hears a plea for pity... There is a realization, presumably, that Jesus has the potential and the power to heal. But just because he is walking by, or just because you walk by him, that is not a guarantee that healing will happen. What God offers in Christ has to be received by us.

Notice, however, that the lepers kept their distance. Because of their disease they were not allowed to mingle with the crowd. Their call and cry is sufficient to move Jesus to grant their desire. But they have to exercise faith on both ends of the transaction. First, they had to believe Jesus could do it; then they had to believe Jesus had done it, even though the physical symptoms of their disease did not immediately disappear.

What do we expect when we believe in Christ? How does one claim a healing for which there is no immediate evidence? What is the difference between faith and foolishness?

Notice how the distance collapses when the Samaritan returns to praise God at the feet of Jesus! Time and space stand still in the eternal truth of God's love and healing. Where are the other nine?

Where am I? Where are you?