“Who Do We Give Our Thanks To?” (Thanksgiving Eve)

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

The issue isn’t always about whether we give thanks or not – more times than not, it is about how and why we give thanks, and to whom it is given. In Luke 18:9-14 – the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector - the Pharisee was grateful that he wasn’t like other people, in particular, the tax collector who had also come to pray and give his offering. The tax collector, on the other hand, approached the Lord in a completely different way – he was humble and contrite and repentant, embarrassed to even come before God that day.

How about us? Why are we thankful? How do we express our thanks? And who do we offer our thankfulness to?

Read Luke 17:11-14

Lepers were the ultimate outcasts. They weren’t allowed to live in any city or village – they were required to remain completely away from all other people. And if, for some reason, they had to walk near others, they had to warn others that they were coming by constantly crying out “Unclean! Unclean!”. Lepers had practically nothing to be thankful for.

This passage also tells us that Jesus was traveling along the border between the Galilee and Samaria. Samaritans were ostracized almost as completely as the Lepers were. While the lepers were unclean in a physical way, Samaritans were unclean spiritually.

Lepers and Samaritans were both feared and hated by the Jews.

So the Lepers couldn’t even come near Jesus to seek his healing, but as we all know, distance was never a problem for the Lord. And this great healing was more than a simple miracle – it was a demonstration of the depth and breadth and power of God’s kingdom. And in a not-so-common way, Jesus doesn’t even pronounce the healing – he simply tells them to go and show themselves to the priest. In Israel, if a leper was healed, which didn’t happen all that often, their cleanliness had to be certified by a temple priest before they could return to inclusion in the community.

This story is also about authority. The 10 cry out to the Lord “Jesus, Master ..” Scripture seldom reports a non-disciple referring to Jesus as Master, but these lepers do. They may have been excluded from the community of Israel, but they had never been excluded from the community of God. They knew who Jesus was, and they showed him the proper respect. And what did they ask of the Lord? Pity, mercy. Not from the priests, not from the Pharisees, not from their former friends and relatives, not from society, but from the Almighty “Master”. They sought God’s power and presence and mercy for their wretched and miserable lives.

Read Luke 17:15-19

They left for the temple, trusting that they would be healed by the time they arrived a week or so later. And as they went, it happened. Can you imagine the joy that swept over them, to realize that their bodies had suddenly been renewed and restored? I expect that the rest of the trip was going to be quite an event!

But one of them, in his joy, was also reminded of why he was healed – it was by his trust in the authority and power of the one he had called “Master”. He “saw” that he had been healed, but what was he to do about it? Follow the others? Seek the proclamation of the priests? Rejoice that he could become an active member of his family and friends once again?

His “seeing” was similar to that of the Good Samaritan. Remember that not only did he see the injured man, but so did the priest and the Levite! And what did each do about the “seeing” that they had? Two decided to do nothing, and only one was prepared to act in a positive and Godly way.

The man in our story “saw” in that same way – a way that the other 9 apparently did not. What was the difference? Some only “see” the physical, the worldly side of life, while others are able to sense the greater event – the presence and working of God in this life, and the opportunity to become part of that glory and mystery.

And the man turns around, no longer intent on being restored to the community through the priests, but now intent on celebrating God and the work that has occurred in his life. And long before he arrives back where Jesus was, he immediately begins praising the One who had worked this incredible and blessed change in him.

He comes to Jesus, and throws himself at the Lord’s feet. In most of the gospel stories, this is a sign of seeking God’s mercy, but here, it is a sign of honor to the One who showed the mercy. And we also discover that this man was a Samaritan – rejected for who he was by society, but loved mercifully by God in Christ.

And then there are the 3 questions that Christ asks which form the lesson for us on this Thanksgiving Eve.
1. “Were not all ten cleansed?” All of the lepers were healed, but only one seemed to have the insight to recognize the source of the healing.

2. “Where are the other nine?” Aren’t they going to praise God for the mercy shown to them? Are they so caught up in their good fortune that their only thought is to get the priests’ blessing so they can become part of society once again?

3. “Was no one found to return to give praise to God except this foreigner?” The only one who sang praises was the Samaritan - the one who Israel had denied, who enjoyed no respect or privilege from them, who would never receive acceptance from Israel or her priests, but is loved dearly by his Almighty God.

And the healing, Jesus says, is because of the man’s faith.

The Samaritan shows us that we must never presume to be worthy of the Lord’s mercy, but that when we seek it, and when we receive it, our response should be unbridled, unlimited, undying praise and joy for our merciful and awesome God.

May it be so with us.