I invite you to open your copy of God's word or the Bible in the pew rack in front of you to Luke chapter 17, verses 11 through 19. This is the word of the living God. On the way to Jerusalem, he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by 10 lepers who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices saying, Jesus, master, have mercy on us. When he saw them, he said to them, go and show yourselves to the priests. And as they went, they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. And he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, were not 10 cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? And he said to him, rise and go your way. Your faith has made you well. Let's pray together. Our Father, we praise you for your word. We praise you for its clarity. And we thank you, Lord, for this particular story, which is such a vivid picture of the mercy that you pour forth upon us through Christ our Savior. Lord, by your Holy Spirit, give us ears to hear all that you would have to say to us tonight and plant that word deeply into our hearts, Lord. Let it divide our souls as a sharp sword divides flesh from bone. And Father, would you have your way with us tonight and make us more like Jesus when we depart this evening than when we came in. We ask in his holy name, amen. Well, hymn writers throughout the centuries have made lots of wonderful attempts to describe the gospel and what happens to us in the gospel. We have hymns like, there is a balm in Gilead that makes the wounded whole. There is a balm in Gilead that heals the sin-sick soul. Or take the words of the hymn that we just sung a few minutes ago, Jesus, What didst thou find in me that thou hast dealt so lovingly? How great the joy that thou hast brought, so far exceeding hope or thought. Jesus, my Lord, I thee adore. Oh, make me love thee more and more. And this question, Jesus, what did you find in me that you have dealt so lovingly? might be very well the question that the man in this story, who we find at the end of the story at Jesus' feet, he may have very well been asking that to himself at the beginning of this story. In Luke chapter 17, Jesus has been teaching about the life of faith. In verses one through four, he describes to his disciples our duty to forgive one another. And this is a difficult thing to do, and he instructs them to do this up to seven times. If someone asks you to forgive them, you are to forgive them. So it's quite natural then that the disciples would say, well, this is difficult, Lord. Increase our faith. And so in verses five and six, Jesus tells them that if they had faith like a mustard seed, that they could say to the, that the work of that faith could take the biggest of plants and it could be moved into the sea. See, faith does not depend on the size of faith. but it's the quality and exercise of faith that matters. Faith trusts in the power of God. So it's more a matter of our exercising the faith that we're given. And then in verses seven to 10, Jesus teaches that faith does not expect a reward, but leads to a life of obedience. And then in the verses that we've just read, verses 11 through 19, we have the life of faith demonstrated as it were in real time before our very eyes through this Samaritan leper who is healed. This is faith that rejoices in the goodness and mercy of a saving God. And this is quite surprising to the disciples that God would save a Samaritan leper. And God has a way of startling our expectations, doesn't he? What are the chances of a Samaritan leper being held up as a model of faith? One out of 10? Maybe less? Even today we speak about missionaries who work in difficult places. What are the chances that one of the people in those difficult places would come to faith in Christ or be a model of faith to us? I remember one of the most startling stories I heard about this kind of thing was many years ago, there was a missionary at a church where I served and he was speaking about serving in the islands off the coast of East Asia to very primitive tribes. And there was a tribe that was particularly difficult to get along with because one of their highest values, a virtue to them was deception. And he told a story about how this group of men from this tribe befriended a newcomer to the community and they were kind to him over the course of more than a year. only after that year to murder him and consume him. But yet, the Lord, by his grace, started to bring the members of this tribe to faith. What are the chances? One out of 10, one out of 100, one out of 1,000, what is it? Well, it's good for us that God doesn't play by our odds. No, He's the one who's mighty to save. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Our sin is no obstacle to the Savior who died for us. So the good news for us tonight is no matter how deep our sin, No matter how great the gap that we feel between us and a holy God, that gap can be bridged through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who died for us, for our salvation. And Luke, throughout his gospel, has been very interested in highlighting those who are marginalized in society or highlighting those who are seemingly undeserving of any kind of grace. This begins all the way back in chapter one, after Mary is told that she's going to give birth to the Savior, she sings a song, we know it as the Magnificat, and in that song she says, he has exalted the humble and the meek. And then in chapter two of Luke, we have the story of the angels appearing to the shepherds. These were not people who were generally trusted in society, but yet when Christ is born, the angels come to the shepherds and the shepherds go. And in language that mirrors very much the language of this passage that we read tonight, they return to their sheep, joyfully praising God for all they had seen and heard. Then in chapter seven, Luke records the story of a woman from the city, a prostitute in all likelihood, who interrupts a dinner a Pharisee was hosting Jesus. And she comes and falls at Jesus' feet and washes his feet with her tears and wipes them with her hair. And Jesus commends her for her faith. In chapter 15, we have the parable of the prodigal son, that one who goes off and wastes his father's inheritance and comes back with absolutely nothing, only to be received by the loving father. And on it goes. Chapter 19, Jesus calls to that wee little man in the sycamore tree, come down. because I'm gonna sup with you today, that tax collector who had extorted his own people, but yet Jesus received him. And such are these lepers that we find in our passage tonight. The passage as a whole presents a contrast, the 10 with the one. Verses 11 to 14 deal with the 10. 10 approach Jesus from a distance. 10 ask for mercy. Jesus sends the 10 to see the priests. 10 are cleansed. And then verses 15 to 19 deal with the one. One comes near to Jesus and falls at his feet. One praises God for mercy. Jesus sends the one and one is saved. The very last words of the passage in verse 19, your faith has made you well. The original Greek word is saved. Your faith has saved you. So we're gonna look and see in this passage three characteristics of saving faith. First, faith cries out for mercy, verses 11 to 13. Second, faith follows Jesus' command, verse 14. And lastly, faith overflows in worship and gratitude, verses 15 to 19. So first of all, saving faith cries out for mercy. Notice the context. Christ was on the way to Jerusalem, verse 11. This is more a theological than a geographical statement. If you turn back with me to chapter nine, verse 51, We read this, when the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And throughout the chapters nine through 19, repeatedly Luke draws attention to the fact that Christ is on his way to Jerusalem and we have him telling his disciples over and over again that he's going up to Jerusalem to be given over to death only to rise again. Christ was on a mercy mission. And it's in that context that we're supposed to understand this story. The next we see that this faith that cries out for mercy admits the need for mercy. I think the best one-liner I've ever heard about the human condition or about the doctrine of man was from Dirty Harry. Remember those awful Clint Eastwood movies from the 1970s? Dirty Harry said, a man has got to know his limitations. Well, Jesus met 10 men who knew their limitations. Verse 12 says, and as he entered a village, he was met by 10 lepers. Leprosy was characterized first of all by physical misery. It refers to any number of different skin ailments. Reading about it in Leviticus 13 and 14, rashes, broken skin, boils, whitening of hair around patchy, dark areas of skin, itches, And it was seen as being incurable. I don't know if you've known anybody who has had a bad skin condition. One might think of shingles, for instance. I had a coworker who came down with shingles in the early 2000s and she's still suffering from it. Or perhaps psoriasis. Or I know somebody who is allergic to penicillin and whenever she has taken penicillin she breaks out in a rash all over her body that lasts about a week and it itches and burns. Ailments of the skin can be terribly disheartening as well as uncomfortable. These were people who knew physical misery in the extreme. But not only did they know physical misery, but they also experienced social isolation. Notice in verse 10 that they stood at a distance. See, for them, social distancing was a way of life. These men lived on the edge of town. The laws about leprosy in Leviticus says that for the leper, his dwelling shall be outside the camp. And why is that? Well, it's because lepers are unclean. Leviticus 13.45 says, the leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn blotches and let the hair of his head hang loose and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, unclean, unclean. Contact with a leper made others unclean also. Now this concept of uncleanness which goes back into the Old Testament law. And it's to highlight the fact of the awful gap that exists between sinful humanity and a holy God. And this is represented or played out or demonstrated in the life of the covenant community. These lepers, as a result of being unclean, experienced physical but also spiritual separation from the community. They were not allowed in the temple, nor was anything else unclean. They wouldn't be found in our number tonight, sitting to worship the Lord. They weren't allowed to come in. And this concept of Uncleanness is important for us to understand that the Bible contrasts God and his perfections with human sinfulness. So the concepts of God and God who is perfect life and perfect holiness and purity is contrasted on the other hand with sin, death, and uncleanness. God, life, and holiness is contrasted with sin, death, and uncleanness. And the idea was that that which is most like God in His perfection is most clean. And that which is most unlike God is unclean. And there are many different examples of what was unclean in the Old Testament. Women who had issues of blood, for example. Or lepers. Or dead bodies. Dead bodies themselves were considered to be the most unclean. Just being in the presence of a dead body was enough to make you unclean. And lepers were treated, so to speak, like the walking dead, as if the decay of death had already overtaken them. These 10 men needed mercy, and they knew it. They were physically, socially, and spiritually isolated from their community. And isn't it wonderful that Jesus comes And these physical ailments which are described in the Old Testament, issues of blood, leprosy, even lameness of the priesthood where a priesthood who was crippled or disabled wasn't allowed to serve in the same way as a priest who was healthy. Isn't it wonderful that Jesus came along and he healed the lame? And he healed women who had flows of blood, and he healed the lepers. These 10 men needed mercy, and they knew it. And faith then calls out to Christ, notice in verse 13, they cry out, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. They were well aware that there was nothing that they could do. It reminds me of the words, the hymn by Augustus, top lady, rock of ages. He writes, nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling. Naked, come to thee for dress. Helpless, look to thee for grace. Foul, I to the fountain fly. Wash me, Savior, or I die. These 10 call out to Jesus, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And it's a reminder to us of the importance of prayer, is it not? What are some reasons we don't pray? Well, maybe we don't pray because we don't really see how needy we are. Or maybe we just don't want to face our problem, whatever that happens to be. Often we seek our own solution in our own strength or we seek for the easy way out. You having a problem in your church? Do you pray or persevere? Or you just walk away? You have a problem in your marriage? Do you commit that to prayer? Do you persevere in that prayer? or do you decide to walk away? You have a problem coming to Christ with your sin? Do you pray or do you trust your own resources? In Luke chapter 18, Jesus is encountered by a rich young ruler. who says, what do I need to do to inherit eternal life? Jesus asked him, have you obeyed the commandments? Oh yes, I've done all the commandments. And Jesus tells him, well, sell all you have and follow me. Well, this rich young ruler went away sad because he was very wealthy. He had been trusting in his own resources and own ability to obey the commands of God, but when confronted With the idea of getting rid of his wealth, he was undone and walked away. And the disciples said, well, who then can be saved? Jesus answered, what is impossible with man is possible with God. See, we live in a day when religion is viewed as just another self-help thing. If it works for you, then use it. But I don't feel any particular need for it. Well, my friend, listen to the warning signs God brings into your life, which are to show you how helpless you really are. So first, faith cries out for mercy. But then second, faith follows Jesus' command. Look at verse 14. When he saw them, he said to them, go and show yourselves to the priests. And they went and they were cleansed. Verse 14 says that Jesus saw them. Isn't that beautiful? It reminds me of God seeing the plight of Israel and Egypt. Exodus chapter two verses 24 and 25 says, and God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel, and God knew. Jesus looks upon these poor lepers and he has compassion. And we see this throughout Jesus' ministry. He looks at the crowds and they're like sheep without a shepherd and so he has compassion on them. He looks at these lepers and he has compassion on them. And he looks at you and he looks at me and he sees us. and he knows everything about us. This is the Jesus who says, come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Jesus has compassion on these lepers and he directs them to the priests. Now this parallels the second King's Passage, which Colin read for us earlier, but with a twist. Remember, Elisha doesn't come out or do anything when Naaman comes to his house. He simply sends his messenger out with a word of instruction. Go wash in the river seven times. It shows that the word of the prophet points to the power of God. Naaman washes in the river and is cleansed. Well, notice in this passage, Jesus doesn't really do anything either. He simply gives an instruction. Go see the priests. But on the way, they are all cleansed. Jesus has the power to heal. Jesus is the great prophet through whom the word of salvation is offered. He is the way, the truth, and the life, the only way to the Father. So faith cries out for mercy. Faith follows Christ's command. And finally, saving faith overflows in worship and gratitude. Verses 15 through 19. Verse 15 says, then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He had been given spiritual vision, which comprehended what Christ had done for him. He saw that he was healed and it drove him to praise Christ. You see, the problem is we can see that we're in a pitiful condition and we're in need of God's help. We can be healed physically from our problems. Our situations can improve. But unless that drives us to Christ in praise and thanksgiving, saving faith has not manifested itself in our lives. You see, the nine had a measure of faith and obedience, but if I can use a pun, it was only skin deep. They still had stony hearts. Remember the rocky soil in the parable of the sower? Jesus said, these are they who hear the word and receive it with joy. But these have no root. They believe for a while, and in time of testing, fall away. Surely all 10 were delighted to be cleansed, but only one was thankful. And Jesus asks, he's amazed, were not 10 cleansed? Where are the nine? Well this one was given spiritual vision to understand it was all of grace. It was nothing that could be earned. He was completely undeserving and so he comes and he falls at Jesus' feet. Now, people in our day will acknowledge an act of God in their lives. Something happens that they can't explain, or maybe God has given them a second chance. But too often than not, these kind of people simply turn to philanthropy, to doing good deeds for society, but they don't turn to God. They see their works as a way to stay in God's good graces, to receive his continued favor. God may have given them a second chance, but the rest is up to them. But this turns the gospel on its head. Jesus addressed a similar kind of thinking in the parable of the prodigal son. The older brother was angry at the father's mercy. You said, look, these many years I have served you and I have never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me anything. The story of the leper also contrasts with the story above in verses seven to 10. At the end of the day, all the slaves can say is, we are unworthy servants. We have only done what was our duty. That sounds glum and gloomy, doesn't it? As Christians, we are to show our love for God by doing his commandments, but we do it out of joy and thanksgiving. It is a duty and a delight because saving faith delights in God the giver even more than the blessings he bestows. Again, I think the hymn writer says it well when he writes, O hear, O gracious Savior, accept the love we bring, that we who know your favor may serve you as our king, and whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill, we'll triumph through our sorrows and rise to bless you still, to marvel at your beauty and glory in your ways, and make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise. Well, saving faith also comes near with boldness. Did you notice it? He fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. His cry for mercy was transformed into a song of praise. It reminds me of the beginning of Psalm 40, where the psalmist says, He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. There are others who come to the feet of Jesus and Luke, in the gospel of Luke, I already alluded to the woman of the city in chapter seven who recognized the forgiveness that she had received and she fell at Jesus' feet. and cry tears of thanksgiving in his presence. Or in chapter 10, we have Mary, the sister of Martha, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. And Jesus said of her, Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her. Christian, is there anywhere you would rather be than at the feet of Jesus, praising him, thanking him for the mercies that he has shown you. Well, faith can come near with boldness because the dividing walls have been taken down. Notice in verse 16, it says, now he was a Samaritan. Now to Jews, Samaritans were half breeds. After the Northern Kingdom had been exiled, some who remained intermarried with pagans and they mixed idolatry into their Judaism. They had their own version of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. They rejected the prophetic writings and they had a separate place of worship, Mount Gerizim, instead of Jerusalem. And you may recall from John chapter four, Jesus having a discussion with the woman at the well about what's the appropriate place to worship in Samaria or in Jerusalem. And Jesus says in verse 18, was no one found to return and give praise except this foreigner? Gentiles were not allowed to come close in the temple to worship. And this word foreigner is very interesting. This is the only occurrence of this particular word in the New Testament. But there's historical evidence that there was a sign posted in the temple using this word foreigner. And it said this, no foreigner may go beyond this point and will suffer the penalty of death if they are caught doing so. Such was the plight of the Gentiles, and the Samaritans were treated like Gentiles." So we have in this leper, one who was outcast and unclean, separated from the family of God, from the community of faith. by virtue of his physical disease. And here he is, a Samaritan, treated like a Gentile, not being able to draw near in the temple of God on penalty of death. And yet this is the one upon whom Jesus has mercy. And God's plan had always been to bring in the Gentiles to make a church from every nation. Remember all the way back to Genesis chapter 12 and God's first promise to Abraham, he said, in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. So it's through Christ that all nations of the world are brought in to the church. Words of Paul in Ephesians chapter two verses 13 to 16, or 12 to 13 summarize very well what's being taught here. Paul writes, remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now, in Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. So what does this have to say to all of us? Well, there may have been a time in your life where it may be true of you right now. that you feel you're beyond the reach of Christ. I remember speaking with a young woman once many years ago, and I was telling her about my Christian faith, and she said, Colin, if you only knew the things I've done, you would know that God could never have me. Well, this passage is teaching exactly the opposite. And again, to quote the apostle Paul, this is 1 Corinthians chapter six, verses nine through 11. Is there any hope? Paul writes, do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? There is no hope. The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. But we read on. Do not be deceived, neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed. You were sanctified. You were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. There is no sin too big. There is no distance too great. which Christ cannot breach through His precious blood. So trust Him. Come to Him with all of your problems. Cry out to Him, Christ, have mercy on me, the sinner. Jesus says, all that the Father gives to me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. Let's pray together. God, our Heavenly Father, we thank you for this wondrous gospel of grace. We thank you for our Lord Jesus, who humbled himself even unto death on a cross to save sinners like us. And Lord, yes, he has the name which is above every name, So Lord, by your grace, help us to bend the knee and cry out to you, Jesus is Lord. To your honor and glory alone we pray, amen.