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Sermon Notes,
March 24, 2019 A.M.
Ten Healed One
Saved
Steve W. Reeves
stevewreevessermons.blogspot.com
INTRODUCTION:
A. Which
one of Jesus’ miracles is your favorite? 1. Turning water into wine (John 2:1 – 12).
2. Healing the paralytic who was lowered through the roof on a pallet (Mark 2:1-12).
3. Stilling the storm on Galilee (Matthew 8:21-27).
4. Walking on the water (Matthew 14:22-33).
5. Raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-44).
6. John wrote, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written
down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that
would be written” (John 21:25).
7. In this message we will consider a miracle that is one of the most dramatic
and unique miracles recorded in the gospels. It is also one of the most disturbing
miracles recorded in the gospels.
B. The physician Luke recorded thirteen miraculous events in his gospel (Luke: 4:31-37;
4:38-44; 5:12-16; 5:17-26; 7:1-10; 7:11-17; 7:21; 8:26-39; 8:40-56; 9:37-45; 13:10-17;
17:11-19; and 18:35-43). Among the miracles of healing three of these involved one
person and one of them involved two people. In Luke 17:11-19 there were ten men
who were healed of the dreaded disease of leprosy.
1. We can easily understand how Luke, as a physician, took special notice of this
miracle.
2. Luke must have been impressed by the stories of Jesus doing what the medical
profession of that era could not do regarding the treatment of leprosy.
a. In Luke 5:12-16 he recorded Jesus healing a leper in one of the towns of
Galilee.
b. In Luke 17:11-19 Luke records Jesus healing ten lepers.
C. What can we take away from this story? Notice four magnificent messages.
from the ministry of Jesus?
I. THE MISERY OF THE MEN
A. As Jesus passed through Galilee on His way to Jerusalem He came to an
unnamed village. Outside the village gates he encountered a group of
lepers who cried out, “Unclean, unclean.” According to law their clothes had been
ripped in lament and their faces were covered with dirt.
1. From our study of Luke 5:13-14 you may recall that lepers were considered
“unclean” according to the law of Moses (Leviticus 13-14).
2. Due to the contagious nature of their disease the lepers were ostracized and
separated from family and friends. The stood outside the city crying “Unclean!
Unclean!”
3. There was more, however, than the physical aspect of leprosy. This dreaded
disease also carried that stigma of punishment from God.
a. King Uzziah had been afflicted with leprosy after disobeying God (2
Chronicles 26:19-21).
b. Naaman, a commander of the Syrian army, was leprous (2 Kings 5:1).
4. According to Luke 17:13, when these ten lepers saw Jesus their cry changes
and they pleaded, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
B. Let’s review some of the characteristics of their condition.
1. Leprosy, now known as “Hansen’s Disease,” began with a white patch of skin
that would break into open sores. The skin became so numb that a person
could not feel a needle piercing the spot. The sores would begin to spread
causing tumors on the body.
2. The nerve endings would become so numb that the victim could not feel pain
from a bite or a burn. Many times infection would set in leading to death.
C. Lepers were outcasts from society.
1. Numbers 5:2-3 and Leviticus 13:45 required them to leave their homes and
villages to live outside the city with other lepers.
2. They could not work or worship in the temple. They were separated from
their family.
D. How long had it been since these ten men had felt the touch of another human
being? How long had it been since they had received an embrace from their wives
or children?
E. Would it not be appropriate to say that all of us could identify with these men in
terms of our spiritual condition? Have we not been afflicted with the spiritual
leprosy of sin?
1. Do we not cry out with Isaiah, “I am a man of unclean lips and dwell among
people of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5)?
2. Have we not experienced the pain that sin brings into our lives? Do we not know
what it is like to be separated from loved ones because of the barriers erected
by sin? Have we not experienced the alienation from God that sin brings?
II. THE MIGHT OF THE MASTER
A. Can you imagine having no hope for a cure? No hope that tomorrow will be less
painful? No hope for being reunited with loved ones?
1. Hopelessness was the common denominator of these ten men.
2. At least one of them was a Samaritan who, under normal circumstances, would
have had no association with Jews. Here he was united by the common misery
they all shared.
B. Suddenly, among the clouds of their grief came a ray of “sonshine” as Jesus
approached the nameless village along the Galilee / Samaria border.
1. How do you suppose they had heard of Jesus? Perhaps some of them had seen
His miraculous works. Some may have heard through the voice of a friend
or loved one.
2. When Jesus entered that village these lepers knew He was their only hope.
They cried, “Jesus, Master, heal us.”
a. The word “Master” is from “epistotes” used only here in the gospels. It means,
“someone with notable authority and power.”
b. These men recognized the authority and power of Jesus. He was their only
hope. There was nothing they could do themselves to be healed and made
whole.
3. In their appeal for mercy they recognized not only Jesus’ power but his
compassion as well. They knew of the tenderness in His heart and His concern
for people – all people.
C. Jesus heard their cry.
1. Do you believe God hears the cries of people who are hurting?
2. God heard the cries of Israel in Egypt (Exodus 3).
3. God heard the cries of Israel during the days of the Judges.
4. Does God hear the cry of a person who has lost their earthly possessions or a
family member in a wildfire or natural disaster that has ravaged their home?
Does God hear when you have been diagnosed with an incurable illness or
when a loved one has passed away?
D. Jesus heard their cry.
III. THE MOMENTOUS MIRACLE
A. Jesus could have healed these men immediately but He did not do so.
1. People are always looking for signs and wonders that result in instant healing.
Jesus often performed such miracles in response to human need.
2. On this occasion, however, he asked these men for a demonstration of faith.
B. Jesus commanded these ten men, “Go and present yourself to the priest.”
1. The priest had no power to heal but under the law (Leviticus 14:2) they
were the only ones who could pronounce a leper healed and give them a
certificate of cleanliness so they could be readmitted to society.
2. Why did Jesus command these men to go and present themselves to the priest?
a. It was an acknowledgment that He had not come to abolish the Law of Moses
but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17-19). Only the priest had authority to pronounce
the leper healed and eligible to be readmitted to society.
b. It required a demonstration of faith on the part of these men. Some miracles
were performed without faith on the individual’s part. At other times he asked
for a show of faith. It was one thing to cry out, “Heal us.” It was another to
head towards a priest with the confidence that you would be pronounced
clean.
C. As they were going, they were healed.
IV THE MAN OF MERIT
A. As these ten were healed one of them – only one- went back to Jesus to
thank Him. It was the Samaritan.
1. Jesus said, “Were there not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?”
2. Where were the others? After they had been pronounced clean what do you
suppose happened to them?
a. Perhaps some went to be reunited with their family and loved ones.
b. Some may have returned to their jobs.
c. Some could not wait to rejoin society.
B. Only this one, the Samaritan, returned to say, “Thank you,” to Jesus.
1. He fell in worship and adoration at the feet of Jesus.
2. He cried out with a “loud voice,” a term used only by Luke (3 times) especially
significant since leprosy often affected the vocal chords and left a person unable
to speak above a whisper.
3. He was the only one who heard the words, “Rise and go; your faith has made
you well.” The phrase, “made you well” is better translated as “saved you.” All of
them were made well. He was the only one to receive the supreme blessing
from the great High Priest.
CONCLUSION:
A. In Romans 1 Paul provided the description of a pagan society that had forgotten
God. Beginning in verse 21 he wrote, “Because, although they knew God, they did
not honor Him as God or give thanks but they became futile in their speculations, and
their foolish heart was darkened.
B. There are many reasons why people lose their attitude of gratitude in life.
1. “I don’t have enough.”
2. “I don’t have what others have.”
3. “I don’t have the right things.”
4. “I am not in the right place.”
C. God has given you the opportunity to be made clean. Why not accept His offer with a
grateful and thankful heart today?
