Subscription Lists
Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Jesus has been speaking to disciples and believers about the possibility of stumbling and sinning and the importance of Repentance, Forgiveness and Faith. It is all there in the opening sentences of Luke Chapter 17. Immediately following on from these words, Jesus walks on with His disciples and He is about to enter a village when ten lepers appear.
These men were riddled with this horrible disease. It would appear that nine were Jews and one was a Samaritan, but for each one of them there was only one hope left - JESUS. They would be sorry sights, and they came as near as they might dare. Lepers had to keep away from people at least 100 paces. They cried out, "Jesus Master have mercy on us. Have pity on us."
How could Jesus do anything else? Was this not why He had come into the world? Jesus would see these deformed limbs and diseased bodies, and HE had compassion on them.
Now - leprosy like sin is contagious - easily spread - loathsome – and it can separate us from people - but it can be healed by Jesus.
Jesus who knew no sin, gave them what they asked for - "MERCY" - in a most unusual way. Jesus often acts and moves and speaks in most unusual ways - in ways in which we might not expect Him to move - surprising ways. "Go and show yourselves to the priests" - and the miracle begins here. Without a second thought they obeyed the authoritative Command of Christ. As they went they were cleansed - verse 14.
"Go and have a medical examination" - exercise the faith you have. They must have had some faith to believe that Jesus would heal them, and they discovered that when you go and use the faith you have - when you go in obedience to Jesus - things happen.
In one sense, this incident has a sad ending. Many of the incidents in the ministry of Jesus have sad and sometimes tragic endings.
One of the ten - a Samaritan - saw that he was healed. The sores had suddenly vanished - the pain had disappeared - and he returned to the place where he had met Jesus, and he worshipped God with a loud voice. Verse 15. He fell down at Jesus feet and gave Him thanks.
If Jesus has touched you - if Jesus has done something wonderful and marvellous - when Jesus truly blesses you - you don't care what anybody else thinks - you just thank Him and praise Him and worship Him.
It was as if Jesus was waiting for someone to return - because He says - "Were there NOT ten of you? Where are the other nine? Don't they want to come and say Thank You too?" Is there not a hint of sadness in Jesus voice here? Don't they want to express the gratefulness and gratitude that is surely in their hearts?
Could this be why Jesus teaches us NOT to expect thanks, because 9 out of 10 times we will be disappointed? Nine were healed by Jesus - they got what they came for - they received healing - and it is as if they had forgotten very quickly. Some just come for what they can get and as soon as they receive it, off they go.
Oh, they may look in now and again - or call you - just in case the problem returns - and they need God to help them again.
Look at this one man who returns to say Thank You to Jesus. Jesus says - Rise and go - your faith has made you whole. He was not just healed - he was made whole. It was as if he had never had leprosy - no marks - no reminders - no scars.
This is how Jesus wants to heal us - not just the disease - not just dealing with the problem - He wants to make us whole - as though we never had that problem - that pain - that crisis - that disease.
Jesus wants to forgive us and heal us - and make us whole - as though we had never sinned - as though we had never been so broken - so down - so low - as if we had never been so rebellious and disobedient.
After Jesus heals us – and forgives us - His desire is that we be whole, and He wants us to remain whole, and it is often as we come to Worship and give thanks that we experience wholeness.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Word from Scotland" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.