LUKE 17:11-19

[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.”

It’s been said that some people aren’t going to be happy no matter what you do.  That’s the way a husband felt after his wife gave him an earful one day.  It all started when the husband couldn’t figure out what to get his wife for her birthday. The husband and wife were both elderly and they already had everything they could possibly want.  So, what did the husband do?  He went out and bought her the one thing he knew she didn’t have.  He bought her a cemetery plot.  You have to give him credit.  Nothing says “Happy Birthday” like a brand new cemetery plot.  The wife, of course, didn’t see it that way and was furious.  So, the husband learned his lesson and the next year when her birthday rolled around he decided to play it safe.  He got her a card but didn’t buy her a gift.  Once again the wife was furious.  “You’re unbelievable,” she shouted.  “It’s my birthday and you didn’t even have the decency to buy me a gift.”  “Why should I?” the husband grumbled.  “You didn’t even use the gift I bought you last year.”

You can’t blame the wife for not thanking her husband but what about those lepers who didn’t go back to thank Jesus after they were healed?  They received an incredible blessing.  So, this should be a story where they all live happily ever after and yet that’s not how the story ends.  Instead, it’s a story that ends with a reprimand that makes you realize that if you’re not careful your blessings can get you into all kinds of trouble.

So, let’s go back and take another look at what happened that day.  One of the things that I never paid much attention to before is the fact that 9 of those lepers were Jews and one was a Samaritan.  Now that’s a little surprising because Jews back then didn’t like Samaritans and Samaritans didn’t like Jews.  Do you remember what happened when Jesus asked a Samaritan woman to give him a drink of water from her well?  The Samaritan woman couldn’t believe it.  She looks at Jesus and asks, “’How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?’ (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)”  (John 4:9)

Jews didn’t like Samaritans and Samaritans didn’t like Jews.  Do you remember what happened while Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem?  The disciples go into a Samaritan village to prepare the way for him and when the Samaritans find out that the disciples are Jews they basically tell them to get lost. In their anger the disciples then go to Jesus and say to him, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

So the Jews and Samaritans didn’t like each other and yet here you have these lepers, Samaritans and Jews apparently living together and working together, eating together and standing there side by side asking Jesus to have mercy on them.  Their pain and suffering brings them together but then all of that quickly changes.  Jesus tells them to go and show themselves to the priest.  So, they begin their journey and while they’re on their way to the Temple in Jerusalem they’re healed and then what happens?  You know what happens. As soon as they’re healed they go their separate ways.  As soon as they receiving that blessing the Jews go one way and the Samaritan goes the other way.

Think about it. As long as life was hard the Jews and that Samaritan were there for each other. After they were blessed and they didn’t need each other anymore they went their separate ways!

And that my friends is the danger  that is lurking in every blessings.  When you are blessed and  life is good it’s easy to say “I don’t need you and you don’t need me” and what’s even worse it can even lead you to say, “I don’t really need you God.”

Unfortunately, it’s always been that way.  Even Moses knew that a life full of blessings can be dangerous.  That’s essentially what he says to the Israelites just before they enter the Promised Land for the first time.  Moses tells them that they are about to enter a land that is flowing with milk and honey and then he says to them, “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God…lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied..you forget the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 8:11-14)

When you are blessed and life is good it’s easy to say “I don’t need you and you don’t need me.”  You might even end up thinking that you don’t really need God.  It doesn’t have to be that way though. Your blessings can actually bring you and the people around you closer together.  Your blessings can bring you closer to the God who gave you those blessings. The only way that will happen though is if you do what that Samaritan did that day.

Luke says that when those lepers were healed the Samaritan, “turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks.”

That’s the key right there. When you take the time to show your gratitude it will bring you closer to the God who created you and the people who love you.  You will experience wonderful grace filled moments that will leave you feeling truly blessed by your blessings.

Songwriter Steve Haupt and his daughter Becky Kelley saw that a few years ago while they were standing in a shopping mall.  It was just a few days before Christmas and they were standing there with Steve’s four-year-old grandson Spencer.  When Spencer saw a long line of children waiting to see Santa he was confused.  You see Spencer had been taught that Christmas is the day when Christians celebrate the birth of God’s only begotten Son.  So, with the innocence of a child he looked up and asked, “Where the line to see Jesus?  If Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, why don’t we se him more?”  That simple yet profound question inspired Steve Haupt to write the song “Where’s The Line To See Jesus?”  His daughter Becky then recorded the song and it became a Youtube sensation.  It goes like this:

Christmas time was approaching, Snow…starting to fall, Shoppers choosing their presents, People filling the mall.

Children waiting for Santa, With excitement and glee, A little boy tugged my sweater, Looked up and asked me.

Where’s the line to see Jesus? Is He here at the store? It’s Christmas time, it’s His birthday. Why don’t we see Him more?

Where’s the line to see Jesus? He was born for me. Santa Claus brought me presents. But Christ gave His life for me.

In the blink of an eye, at the sound of His trump, We’ll all stand in line at His throne.

Every knee shall bow down, every tongue will confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Where’s the line to see Jesus? Is He here at the store? It’s Christmas time, it’s His birthday. Why don’t we see Him more?

Where’s the line to see Jesus? He was born for me. Santa Claus brought me presents. But Christ gave His life for me.

If you get a chance listen to the song on Youtube.  It will touch your heart and like that leper you’ll find yourself looking for the line to say thank you.  And that’s you're your blessings will really come alive. So with that I will finish up for today and say “Thank you for listening.” Amen.

Rev. Dr. Richard A. Hughes

October 13, 2013