SermonStudio

After he had ended all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a slave who was dear to him, who was sick and at the point of death. 3 When he heard of Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his slave. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy to have you to do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he built us our synagogue." 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof 7 therefore, I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, 'Go' and he goes; and to another, 'Come' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this, 'and he does it." 9 When Jesus heard this he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude that followed him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have Ifound such faith." 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave well.

Can faith be a miracle? It can result in a miracle: "Your faith has saved you," or "Your faith has made you whole." Faith is something very common. To some extent, every person believes in something or someone. Without faith, life is impossible. Even a person who claims to believe in nothing has a faith in nothingness!

This Sunday we consider the faith of a Roman centurion whom Jesus said, had the greatest faith in all Israel. What a statement! It was a miracle for a person to have that much faith. It is even more of a miracle when we consider who the man was. He was a military man of an occupying force. What part has faith in Christ to do with a tough blood-and-guts soldier? Moreover, the centurion was a pagan.

As it was with Jesus, so it is with us. We are amazed at this miracle of faith, a faith greater than any other in Israel at that time. You mean a faith greater then the disciples, who left all to follow Jesus? A faith greater then the one healed by faith? Does this mean you don't have to be a Christian to have great faith? You don't have to be a Jew? Faith can come to anyone. It is a gift of grace, which comes to us in Christ. It is our hope and prayer that this miracle of faith may happen to both preacher and people.

Acclimation

The Situation
Jesus had just finished his sermon on the plain and, as in Matthew's account of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), he concludes it with the parable of the two house builders. Jesus now goes to Capernaum, where he heals a centurion's slave. We do not know the name of the centurion or the name of the slave. This centurion loved his slave to the point that he cared enough to send Jewish leaders to Jesus for help. The slave was at the point of death. The Jewish elders begged Jesus to help because they claimed that the centurion deserved it. According to the elders, the centurion loved Israel and built a synagogue for them. Jesus agreed to go to the centurion's home to heal the slave. As Jesus and his party drew near to the centurion's home, a group of the centurion's friends, sent by the centurion, brought a message from the officer. The message was: "Do not bother to come to my house. I am not worthy to have you enter my house nor to come to you personally. Just say that the slave will be healed and it will be enough. Like you, I am a man of authority. I tell a soldier to come or go, and he does it. Or I tell a slave to do something, and he does it." This surprised Jesus so much that he turned to the crowd and said, "I have never found faith like this, even in Israel." When the friends returned to the centurion's home, they found the slave had recovered.

The Setting
1. The Church Year. With this second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 4), the church begins the Pentecost season. Pentecost Sunday is a festival of the Holy Spirit. The next Sunday deals with the Trinity. Now we begin a series starting with Luke 7 and continuing in Luke until the end of the season. This series gives us the teachings and work of Jesus, excluding his passion, death and resurrection. Miracles are a part of his ministry, including the healing of the centurion's slave, the raising of the youth at Nain and the cleansing of the 10 lepers.

2. Related Passages - Matthew 8:5-13. This is Matthew's version of the healing of the centurion's slave. It differs from Luke's account by having the centurion coming to Jesus with the request. In Luke, the centurion and Jesus do not meet, but their communication is through intermediaries: the Jewish elders and friends.

Another difference is Jesus' comments on the centurion's faith, verses 11-12. The centurion was a foreigner and a pagan; Jesus said many of these would enter the kingdom while some Jews would be excluded because of their lack of faith.

John 4:43-54. Some scholars think that this passage is one of three dealing with the same miracle. However, it is quite different from Luke's account. A nobleman, not a centurion, begged Jesus to heal his son, not his slave. In this case, Jesus did not attempt to go to the nobleman's house. He simply said that the son would live. The nobleman believed Jesus' word and went home. As he approached his home, servants met him with the good news that his son was well. As a result, the nobleman and his family became believers in Jesus.

Acts 10:1-48. In Caesarea, a Roman centurion, Cornelius, was a friend of the Jewish people, a believer in God and a man of prayer. One day while he was praying, an angel appeared and ordered him to send for Peter, who came and told them the gospel. As a result, Cornelius and his friends were baptized and renewed by the Spirit.

1 Peter 1:6-9. In Luke's account of the healing of the centurion's slave, neither the centurion nor the slave came in personal contact with Jesus. In spite of this, the slave was healed and the centurion expressed his faith in Jesus. Similarly, the people to whom Peter sent his letter loved Jesus without ever having seen him: "You love him, although you have not seen him, although you have not seen him, and you believe in him, although you do not now see him (v. 8)."

John 20:24-29. Thomas refused to believe Jesus rose from the dead unless he saw and touched him. When Jesus appeared and asked Thomas to touch him, Thomas came to believe: "My Lord and my God!" Jesus added, "How happy are those who believe without seeing me (v. 29)!"

3. The Lectionary - Lesson 1 (1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43). It took Solomon seven years to build the temple. Upon its completion he led his people in prayer. In this prayer he asked Yahweh to answer prayers of distant foreigners who would come and pray there. This harmonizes with the gospel's account of a foreigner, a centurion, coming to Jesus with a prayer for the healing of his slave. God in Christ answered Solomon's prayer with the healing.

Lesson 2 (Galatians 1:1-10). As Jesus was surprised at the centurion's faith, Paul was surprised (v. 6) at the Galatians' falling from the true faith of the gospel. They had turned to a foreign faith in good works for salvation.

Gospel (Luke 7:1-10). A foreigner with a pagan religion, a gentile, surprised Jesus at his demonstration and expression of faith. Jesus announced to the surrounding crowd that this pagan centurion had more faith than anyone in Israel.

Psalm of the Day (Psalm 100). The appointed psalm is appropriate for the dedication of Solomon's temple (Lesson 1): "Enter the temple gates with thanksgiving."

Prayer of the Day. The prayer is offered to the "Lord God of all nations," who promises his "Help to us all." The prayer has the universal note which we find in both lesson 1 and the gospel.

Hymn of the Day ("Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service"). With the healing of the centurion's slave in mind we sing: "As you, Lord, in deep compassion / Healed the sick and freed the soul, / By your Spirit send your power / To our world to make it whole."

Explanation

Centurion (v. 2) - A centurion was a Roman officer, probably in Herod Antipas' army, in charge of 100 soldiers. This centurion was special, for he loved Israel and built a synagogue for the Jews.

Slave (v. 2) - The Greek word used here is doulos, meaning "slave" or "servant." In Roman law a slave had no rights. He was considered property to be bought or sold. A master had the right to maim or kill a slave.

Dear (v. 2) - A tough soldier holds his slave as a "dear." Can a master love a slave? Why should we care if a slave dies? Another one can easily be bought. In this case, a centurion loved his slave so much that he sought Jesus' help to keep him from dying. Because of this love, he had compassion for his slave, and sought to help him. It indicates that one does not have to be a Christian to love another person.

Sent (vv. 3, 6) - The centurion "sent" two delegations to Jesus. One consisted of Jewish elders to persuade Jesus to help. The other group consisted of friends who brought a message from the centurion telling Jesus not to bother coming to his home but only to say the word of healing. Why didn't the centurion go to Jesus directly? It was an urgent, desperate situation: the slave was dying. Some possibilities:

1. The centurion may have felt that he could not leave his very sick slave.

2. He did not feel worthy to come into Jesus' presence or to have him come into his home.

3. He did not want to put Jesus in an embarrassing situation, because if a Jew entered a gentile home, he was considered defiled. Moreover, Jesus would have been criticized by his enemies if he went. Peter explained to another centurion, Cornelius: "You yourselves know very well that a Jew is not allowed by his religion to visit or associate with gentiles (Acts 10:28)."

Lord (v. 6) - The centurion, speaking through his friends, said to Jesus, "Lord, do not trouble yourself." For him, "Lord" meant king, ruler, or God. The Roman emperor was addressed as "Lord" because he claimed to be a god. With this term, the centurion was recognizing and believing that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. No wonder Jesus said that the centurion's faith was the greatest he had found in Israel.

Word (v. 7) - The Hebrew word for "word" is dabar. It means not only a spoken word, but a deed. It was believed that the word had inherent power to do what it meant. In the creation account, first was the Word of God, and then creation followed. "Let there be light and there was light." Isaiah records God's promise that his word would not return void. Jesus was the Word who became a person of truth and grace. The centurion had faith in Jesus' word. He knew that all Jesus had to do was say, "Your slave is well." With God and Jesus, word and deed are one. This miracle is different from others because there is no presence, no word and no touch by Jesus. It was done only with a word spoken from a distance.

Authority (v. 8) - The Greek word for "authority" is exousia. This Greek word has a double meaning: authority as well as power. The two go together. One with authority must have power to exercise that authority. A person with power but without authority can be a tyrant or a dictator. Authority is derived from God; power comes from the Holy Spirit. The centurion was given authority to order subordinates to come or go, to do this or that. He recognized that Jesus also was a man of authority.

Marveled (v. 9) - Jesus marveled at the faith of the centurion ("surprised" - GNB; "amazed" - NIV). Jesus was surprised another time when he was in his home town, Nazareth. Then he was surprised at the lack of faith in him. Jesus was surprised, amazed, at so great a faith in the centurion. Jesus might have expected such faith from his mother or brothers or disciples. But from a pagan military man? Who would expect from a person of this nature to have faith in Jesus as Lord, in his authority and in his word? Jesus' commendation of the centurion was probably the highest compliment he ever paid to anyone.

Application

Relevance of Revelation.
1. There are many people in our society who are like the slave in the story. The sick, the hurting, the handicapped are everywhere. Each year the cost of medical care runs into the billions. Many of these people are poor. Others are indigent and need nursing care. Some are close to death. In this case the sick-unto-death person was a slave. Is it worth the cost to heal these people, even those who are slaves to drugs, alcoho! or sex? If we have the concern of the centurion, the sick and afflicted are worth it. Love makes the difference.

2. A unique feature of this miracle is the fact that neither the centurion nor the slave saw Jesus. The Jewish elders made the appeal. Friends of the centurion expressed his sense of unworthiness and faith. We are in the same position today. Jesus is nowhere to be seen because he is in heaven with the Father. Yet we can love and believe in him. Though unseen, he is still available to heal us.

3. This miracle is relevant to us and our day because of its message of universality. Here in the centurion we have a man of another race, another religion and another occupation. Yet Jesus does not hesitate to help this person and his slave. Jesus raises no question about the centurion's religion nor his worthiness to receive help. This pagan military man was a person of character. He loved the Jews among whom he lived. He had compassion for a dying servant. In our world today we increasingly associate with people of different races and religions. The story encourages us to be tolerant, for a pagan, too, can love, have compassion and trust in Jesus' word. The story reminds us that in other religions and races there are considerate and compassionate people.

Sermon Suggestions
1. A Marvelous Faith. It is evident that the primary factor in the story of the centurion is his faith, which Jesus claimed was the greatest in all Israel. It was a faith greater than the faith of his mother, brothers or disciples. It was a greater faith than that of those who were healed by their faith. This leads the preacher to examine the centurion's faith. What made it so great? What is faith? How does one get it? The sermon could deal with the centurion's expressions of faith.

2. A Man of Authority. In this miracle story we see two kinds of authority. The centurion had a political or military authority over his 100 soldiers. His word of command was immediately obeyed, and the order was carried out at once. On the other hand, Jesus also was a man of authority, for his authority was derived from God. The centurion recognized this authority of Jesus and therefore wanted only his word of healing for his slave. The authority of the state was helpless when it came to healing. Jesus had a higher authority. The centurion was given authority by a superior officer. Jesus' authority came from his Father. In today's society there is an erosion of authority in law enforcement, parental control, and church discipline.

3. Say the Word. The centurion had faith in the authority of Jesus' word. For him to heal the slave it was not necessary for Jesus to come to his home, speak or touch the slave. His word was enough. This points to the power of God's Word, whether it is spoken by Jesus or his followers. Word is greater than deed, because it produces the deed. How is this possible? The Word carries with it the Holy Spirit, who gives the power to perform the deed. For social and political change Luther urged his ministers to "preach the Word." Then the Word will do its work of transformation. For this reason biblical preaching can be the most dynamic type of preaching. In "A Mighty Fortress" Luther sang, "One little word shall fell him" - one little word of the Word will undo Satan and his cohorts.

4. Assistance through Others. The centurion knew how to delegate authority and to put others to work in his behalf. The whole miracle was done through others. The centurion did not come to Jesus directly with his appeal. He made it through the Jewish elders. What he wanted to say to Jesus about his unworthiness and his faith in Jesus' ability to heal was said by his friends on his behalf. The slave was healed through the faith of the centurion. None of us is a self-made person. We are helped by friends and associates who believe in us and pray for us. Here we have a case of vicarious faith and intercessory prayer.

5. Believing without Seeing. This miracle speaks to us, who, unlike the first believers, have not seen nor heard Jesus. There can be no concrete, personal contact with one in heaven. We may be like Thomas, who refused to believe until he saw Jesus. Faith is believing without seeing. If we could see, there would be no need for faith. The miracle assures us that Christ is real and living even though we cannot see him. Jesus is still able to help and heal even though he does not physically come into our homes. "Whom unseen we love."

6. Love Heals. Love brings healing. If the centurion had not been a man of love, there would have been no miracle and the slave would have died. The centurion's love of people is shown in the Jewish friends who went to Jesus on his behalf. There was bitter enmity between the Jews and the occupying Roman military, but here was an exception. The centurion must have loved the God of the Jews enough to build them a synagogue. He loved the slave enough to send for help. His love for Jesus was shown by his appreciation of Jesus' authority in spiritual matters. Love helps and heals. It leads us to a miracle!

7. Not Worthy. One of the most attractive traits of the centurion was his humility. He was a man of some stature, an officer in the imperial army. He had control of 100 soldiers. He had position, power and prestige. Yet, in his relation to Jesus, he felt unworthy even to come to him personally or to have him in his home. How did he get his humility? It was not in disparaging himself. He did not deny his position of power. Humility is a by-product of coming into the presence of someone greater. When we compare ourselves with the truly great, we see our smallness and limitations. Jesus is everything and we are nothing. This is not false humility. It is an honest self-evaluation.

Sermon Structures
1. How Could a Pagan be so Good? (7:1-10). The man with the greatest faith in Israel was a pagan. How could he, a foreigner politically and religiously, be so good? Can one be good without being a Christian?
A. The centurion's love - v. 2
B. The centurion's humility - v. 6
C. The centurion's faith - v. 9

2. Just Say the Word! (7:7-9). The centurion trusted in the authority and power of Jesus' word. Therefore it was not necessary for him to come personally to the slave or enter his home. The Word would do it. There is power in the Word of God (Christ), because identified with the Word is the power of the Spirit. Jesus is the Word and speaks the Word of God. What is the nature of this Word?
A. The word of authority - v. 8
B. The word of truth - John 17:17
C. The word of power - v. 7

3. And the Winner is! (7:1-10). When each year awards are presented for the best actor, actress and movie, the emcee says, "The winner ..." In a contest of who has the most faith, Jesus could announce: "And the winner is the centurion." How could a Roman military officer have the most faith? How can we get similar faith? What are the marks of great faith?
A. The mark of hearing the Gospel: "When he heard of Jesus" - v. 3
B. The mark of believing in Jesus: "Lord" - v. 6
C. The mark of trusting Jesus' promises: "Say the word" - v. 7
D. The mark of seeking through prayer: "Let my servant be healed" - v. 7

4. A Man of Authority (7:6-8). At a time when authority is disregarded, as illustrated in our growing crime rate, it is urgent that we learn a new respect for authority, especially the authority of God and his Word. The centurion acknowledged and trusted the authority of Jesus. Consider the factors in authority:
A. Philosophy of authority - it is derivative, given - v. 8
B. Purpose of authority - to do God's work - v. 3
C. Power of authority - power to perform - v. 7

5. Love Makes it Happen (7:1-10). Love is a healing power. It was the centurion's love that resulted in the healing of his slave. Consider his and our love:
A. Love of the helpless - "dear to him" - v. 2
B. Love of God's people - "loves our nation" - v. 5
C. Love of God - "built us our synagogue" - v. 5
D. Love of Jesus - "Lord" - v. 6

6. How to Surprise Jesus (7:9; Mark 6:6). It is a surprise to learn that Jesus was surprised at least twice during his ministry. Since he knew what was in "man," one would think he knew what people would do and how they would react. Consider what surprised Jesus:
A. The lack of faith - Mark 6:6
B. The greatness of faith - 7:9

7. Long Distance Healing (7:1-10). To heal, Jesus did not have to be present or to do anything to or for the person in need. This is illustrated in the story of the centurion. It is good news for us who are physically separated from Christ. The healing was done through the efforts of others.
A. Vicarious assistance - vv. 3-4
B. Intercessory prayer - vv. 6-8

Illustration

Ability to Love. The centurion was a man of love. He loved his slave, the Jewish people and God (Jesus). The miracle was born of Jesus' love.

Henri Nouwen left his professorial post at Harvard University to serve a community called Daybreak near Toronto. There he daily took care of a 25-year-old man who could not speak, dress or feed himself, who had severe epileptic seizures. He could not walk by himself. Nouwen said he learned that "what makes us human is not our minds but our heart, not our ability to think but our ability to love."

A Humble Person. The centurion was a humble person. He felt unworthy to come to Jesus or for Jesus to enter his home.

Albert Schweitzer, known as the greatest man of the 20th century, came from Africa to receive England's highest honor, the Order of Merit, from Queen Elizabeth. He traveled third class on the train, carried his own luggage and stayed in the home of a friend. When he was asked by the person who presided at one of his public lectures how he would like to be introduced, he answered, "Just say, 'This fellow who looks like a Scottish collie is Albert Schweitzer.' " He was a Nobel Peace Prize winner. He could also, if there were such a prize, have won the Nobel Humility Prize.

The Word. "Just say the word," the centurion said. Jesus' word, in his opinion, was enough to heal the slave. This leads us to consider the importance of words. The most important 6 words: "I admit I made a mistake." The most important 5 words: "I am proud of you." The most important 4 words: "What is your opinion?" The most important 3 words: "If you please." The most important 2 words: "Thank you." The least important single word: "I." The single most important word: "God's Word."

Need of Medical Care. The slave in the miracle story represents the multitudes who are sick and needy and in desperate need of help.

In 1988 it was reported that 37 million Americans have no health insurance. One million women were too poor to provide prenatal care for their unborn babies. Seventy-three thousand victims of AIDS are denied protection from discrimination. Three hundred thousand Americans die annually from smoking cigarettes. In 1987, Americans spent a half trillion dollars on health care.

Faith in the Word. The centurion had faith in Jesus' word of healing.

A man crossing the desert ran out of water and was dying of thirst. Suddenly he spotted a water pump near an abandoned shack. He began to pump, but no water came. Then he noticed a jug with a note attached: "There is just enough water in this jug to prime the pump, but not if you drink first. Just pour the water from the jug into the pump and pump the handle quickly. After you have had a drink, refill the jug for the next thirsty person." Whether or not he did depended upon his faith in the words of the note.

Prayer for Healing. The Jewish elders came to Jesus "praying" to Jesus that he would heal the centurion's slave. Likewise, we can pray for the sick to be healed by Jesus, the Great Physician.

Mother Teresa once prayed: "Dearest Lord, may I see you today and every day in the person of your sick and whilst nursing them minister unto you. Though you hide yourself behind the unattractive disguise of the irritable, the exacting, the unreasonable, may I still recognize you and say, 'Jesus, my patient, how sweet it is to serve you.' "

Seeing Good in Others. Goodness is not confined to fellow-Christians. In Jesus' day, the Jewish elders saw good in the Roman centurion and told Jesus about it as a basis for getting his help to heal the slaves.

In a sermon the late Edmund Steimle tells of going to his friendly neighborhood tailor, Mr. Birnbaum. As he was leaving the shop, the tailor said, "Mr. Steimle, I have a problem. As you know, I am a Jew and my wife is a Christian. Her brother was a violent Nazi when we were in Germany. He hated me and did nothing to help us. He was happy to get rid of us when we fled to America to escape Nazi persecution. But now he is in prison camp and he has written us begging us to send him some food. Should we send him some? My wife says, 'No, we send him nothing.' But I say, 'Yes, we should send him something.' What do you think, Mr. Steimle?"

Surprise! A farmer in Louisiana needed new clothes. His wife kept begging him each time he went to town to buy new clothes because his were threadbare. One day he hitched his horse, Dobbin, to a wagon and went to town. At first he decided to buy just a new shirt. Then he saw that he needed new trousers to go with the shirt. Then he decided that he needed new underwear. He put the new clothing in a bag and put the bag in the back of his wagon. On his way home he decided he would surprise his wife with the new clothes. He stopped on a bridge, took off his old clothes and threw them into the river. Then he reached back for the bag of new clothes, but it was missing. There he was - stark naked! He said to his horse, "Let's go, Dobbin. Today we're really going to give the wife a surprise."

The account of the miracle tells us that Jesus was surprised (marveled) at the faith of the centurion. He was not naked but marvelously clothed with faith.

Luther on Faith. "Oh, it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing, this faith. It is impossible for it not to be doing good works incessantly. It does not ask whether good works are to be done, but before the question is asked, it has already done them, and is constantly doing them. Whoever does not do such works, however, is an unbeliever. He gropes and looks around for faith and good works, but knows neither what faith is nor what good works are. Yet he talks and talks, with many words, about faith and good works. Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that the believer would stake his life on it a thousand times. This knowledge of a confidence in God's grace makes men glad and bold and happy in dealing with God and with all creatures. And this is the work which the Holy Spirit performs in faith. Because of it, without compulsion, a person is ready and glad to do good to everyone, to serve everyone, to suffer everything, out of love and praise to God who has shown him this grace."




Life
Miracle
Luke 7:11-17
Pentecost 3

Soon afterward he went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." 14 And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "You man, I say to you, arise." 15 And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!" 17 And this report concerning him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

Who would dare to stop a funeral today? Can you imagine anyone interrupting the funeral cortege of President Kennedy on the streets of Washington or of Martin Luther King, Jr. on the streets of Atlanta? Even for an ordinary citizen, a funeral procession has the right of way. Often it is led by a police car with lights flashing. Traffic is stopped while the cars come from the church or funeral home. There is no stopping for red traffic lights. Cars approaching the cortege usually pull to the side and stop to express respect for the dead. When the procession comes, men doff their hats and women bow their heads to honor the dead. From the church or funeral home to the cemetery, nothing or no one interrupts a funeral procession.

But long ago in the town of Nain, many joined a widow in walking to the cemetery outside the city walls. At the gate of the city a single person stopped the procession. Who was he? Why did he do it? Was he arrested for doing it? Luke is the only New Testament writer who tells us who it was, what happened, and the outcome. Would you want the funeral procession of your loved one interrupted by an itinerant preacher? Thanks be to God for the interruption, which ended in a life miracle, a dead young man going from a coffin into the arms of his mother!

Acclimation

The Situation
Shortly after Jesus healed a Roman centurion's slave by means of a word, he went to the town of Nain. It was only a day's journey from Capernaum. There was no particular reason for his going. There were no requests for help. As he approached the city, he met a funeral procession coming through the city gate on the way to the cemetery. Apparently the chief mourner had many friends, because a crowd from the city joined the procession. We can see Jesus standing on the side, looking at the people. He saw a dead young man being carried on a litter covered with a sheet. A heart-broken, weeping woman got his attention, and his heart went out to her. He was so very sorry for her. She was a widow and this was her only son. She was overcome with grief. Her future as a widow and childless woman now depended upon charity. While the procession was still moving, he went to her and said, "Don't cry." Quickly, he went to the head of the procession, put his hand on the casket, and the procession was halted. He turned to the dead youth and commanded, "Get up!" To the amazement of all, he got up and began to talk. Then Jesus took him to his mother, who, with tears of joy, hugged and kissed him. We can hear her shout, "This my son was dead and is now alive!" Though Luke does not say so, we can imagine how grateful she was to Jesus for this wonderful miracle.

We have no record of the mother's or son's reaction to the miracle, but Luke tells us how it affected the crowd. The people were convinced that Jesus was a new prophet. Others were certain that in Jesus God had visited them in order to save them.

The Setting
If it were not for Luke, we would not have the story of the miracle at Nain. Last Sunday we considered the miracle of healing a centurion's slave (Luke 7:1-10). Today's gospel continues with the very next verse (7:11-17). In the former, the slave was about to die; in today's miracle story, the young man was dead and about to be buried. In both cases, Jesus performed the miracle with a word only. The raising of the young man provided evidence to the two disciples of John the Baptist who asked if he is the Messiah. He told them to report to John that "the dead are raised to life (Luke 7:18-23)."

1. Related Passages - Numbers 19:11-13 - Touching the dead results in defilement. Compare Jesus' touching the coffin of the youth.
1 Kings 17:17-24 - Elijah raised a widow's son.
2 Kings 4:18-37 - Elisha raised the son of a Shumanite woman.
John 11:38-44 - Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Acts 9:36-42 - Peter raised Tabitha from the dead.

2. The Lectionary - Lesson 1 (1 Kings 17:17-24). Elijah, through prayer, revived a dead son. This lection is the first in a series of five on Elijah. Today we see him use physical contact and prayer in restoring a child to life. The lesson harmonizes with the miracles in the gospel lesson:
A. In both cases the mother has only one son.
B. In each story the mother was a widow.
C. There is a contrast between the methods used by Elijah and Jesus. Elijah used physical contact ("stretching himself upon the child three times"), but Jesus did not touch the youth. Moreover, Elijah prayed for God to restore the child to life; Jesus simply said, "Arise."
D. Both Elijah and Jesus delivered the son to the mother.
E. The reason for the miracle: (1) Elijah accused God of bringing calamity on the widow; (2) Jesus performed the miracle out of compassion for the sobbing mother.
F. The reaction: (1) The widow was convinced that Elijah is "a man of God;" (2) The crowd that saw Jesus' miracle concluded: "A great prophet has arisen among us."

Lesson 2 (Galatians 1:11-24). Paul claims his gospel is not man-made. In this second of a series from Galatians, Paul explains that the gospel he preaches is not his own thinking. He received it by revelation. This lection comes between two miracles of sons raised from the dead. The same could be said about Paul. In today's lection he confesses that he tried to destroy the church. On the Damascus road he experienced a miracle that changed him from death to life in Christ, for whom he is giving his life by building up the church.

Gospel (Luke 7:11-17). Jesus resuscitates a young man in Nain. The focus of the story is not on the bereaved mother, for she did not ask for Jesus' help. Nor is the focus on the young man, for he could not say or do anything. There is not even a record of his expressing gratitude. The focus is on Jesus: his compassion for a distressed mother and his power over death. The miracle produced great results: a young man received life, a mother was joyfully comforted, and the people learned of the existence of a great prophet in their midst.

Psalm of the Day (Psalm 113). "Praise the Lord" for he "lifts the needy from the ash heap" and "gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children." When the widow recovered her dead son at the hands of Jesus, she well might have sung, "Praise the Lord (vv. 1, 9)."

Prayer of the Day. In this prayer we acknowledge that God is the strength of our lives, and so we pray for the help of his grace. When a loved one has died, is there any use in praying that the dead may come back to life? Because of our hope of eternal life, we can pray that God will bestow the fullness of life to the departed.

Hymn of the Day ("When in the Hour of Deepest Need"). The people, especially the bereaved mother, could have sung this hymn as they proceeded to the cemetery to bury the young man: "When in the hour of deepest need / We know not where to look for aid; Our comfort then is this alone: / That we may meet before your throne / And cry to you, O faithful God, / For rescue from our sorry lot."

Explanation

Nain (v. 11) - The word, Nain means "pleasant." It was named for the pleasant view from the city. It was located near Shunem, about 25 miles from Capernaum and five miles from Nazareth. Since Jesus was raised in Nazareth, he must have been very familiar with the town. The area was remembered as the place (Shunem) where Elijah raised a widow's son.

Gate (v. 12) - Outside the city was a cemetery of tombs and caves in the rock of the hillside. The funeral procession had to go through the city gate to get to the burial place. Jesus met the procession near the gate. It was customary for a cemetery to be located outside the city, for there also was crucified our Lord: "There is a green hill far away, outside a city wall."

Only (v. 12) - The dead youth was the only son of his mother, a widow. Therefore, she had no husband and no children to love and care for her. No wonder Jesus had compassion for her; she was bereft of family and economic security.

Widow (v. 12) - In Jesus' day it was a disgrace to be a widow. As a group, widows were mistreated and oppressed. Jesus referred to those "who devour widows' houses." With no family to support her, she faced poverty, starvation, discrimination and loneliness.

Compassion (v. 13) - There was compassion on the part of the people and Jesus. "A large crowd" from the city was in the funeral procession. By joining the widow, they showed their love and sympathy for her great loss. Jesus also had compassion on her. He saw her deep grief, her copious tears, and her distress. Jesus cares when we hurt.

Lords (v. 13) - Luke refers to Jesus in this case as "Lord." Here he is more than a teacher, prophet or wonder-worker. He is Lord, master, ruler, king, messiah. He is Lord of life as well as death. He is the conqueror of humanity's last and greatest enemy, death.

Weep (v. 13) - It is a sad funeral when not a tear is shed. Some think of a funeral as a joyous celebration of a life lived. Weeping is a normal expression of love for the departed, but there is a time for weeping to end. The widow had her season of weeping. So Jesus said, "Do not weep." It is not enough to say, "Don't cry" unless we can give a good reason for not crying. Jesus took away her need to cry by restoring her son.

Bier (v. 14) - A bier is a casket or coffin. It was at that time a pallet with a sheet to cover the body. Jesus touched the casket. To do so, according to Jewish law, caused defilement. It made a person unclean. He only touched the bier. Unlike Elijah and Elisha, he did not physically struggle with the corpse. Jesus was unafraid to come in contact with death, for he was soon to conquer death through his resurrection.

I (v. 14) - Jesus said to the dead youth, "I say to you." Both Elijah and Elisha prayed to God. Jesus did not pray, but simply on his own authority ordered the dead man to arise. Who but God has the power to conquer death? When the people witnessed the raising, they said, "God has visited his people." It proves the truth of Paul's statement, "God was in Christ ..." In this case Jesus lived up to his name, Emmanuel, "God with us."

Say (v. 14) - Here is another case of the power of the Word. Jesus addressed the youth, "Young man, I say to you ..." It was Jesus' word also that brought Lazarus out of the grave. Here by one word, "arise," Jesus brought a youth back to life. This demonstrates the power of the Word. With God, first comes the Word and then action. There is nothing more powerful than the Word preached and taught. It will cause a miracle to hapen, even life out of death.

Gave (v. 15) - Jesus took the youth and gave him to his mother. Why didn't Jesus let the youth go on his own to his mother? Probably Jesus took the lad straight to his mother so that she would be comforted. Then she would understand why he said to her, "Do not weep." Death separates, but life restores. God is a God who gives back. Christ is in the business of restoring relationships both here and hereafter.

Application

Relevance of Revelation
1. Compassion is always relevant. Jesus performed the miracle because he had compassion for the widow, not only because she was bereaved, but also because of a difficult future in store for her as a widow and childless person. Every person has at some time a deep hurt and needs sympathy and understanding. One often asks, "Does anyone really care what happens to me?" This miracle assures us, even if nobody else cares, Jesus does. This is a message every worshiper wants to hear.

2. The miracle is relevant also because it deals with bereavement, death and a funeral. Death is a daily occurrence. Sooner or later our loved ones die. This results in the problems of sorrow, grief and loneliness. In the case of the widow, it also meant economic hardship and single parenthood. Who is adequate for such a crisis? The answer is in Christ, whose miracle convinces us that life is stronger than death. There is assurance to the bereaved that in the next life God will give back our loved ones for eternity.

3. This miracle is a case of resuscitation, not resurrection. The young man was brought back to life only to die again. The miracle was no proof of eternal life. It was a case of life now on earth, not in heaven. Therefore, since most people are more interested in having life before they die, the miracle story tells us how we can begin to life fully now. Much of life for many is not life at all; at best it is only existence. There are things that are killing us. The absence of real life causes some to turn to drugs, alcohol and sex. The miracle assures us that genuine life, given by Christ, is possible. Is this relevant? How many people today are crying for what makes life worth living?

Sermon Suggestions
1. Oh, to be Alive Again! The point of this miracle is that new life is for now. The youth was not resurrected never to die again, but was brought back to physical life to die eventually. This miracle, therefore, is not to guarantee life after death, but to say that real life can be had now in and through Christ. Though physically alive, we may be spiritually dead because of our sins. When Christ becomes Lord of our lives, we begin life that is real life in terms of love, faith and obedience.

2. The Guaranteed Life. The miracle proves that in and through Christ, life here and hereafter is a sure thing. Life begins here and now when Christ touches our deadness. This is the beginning of life on earth, but this life in Christ extends into eternity. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." Nothing can separate us from the love of God, not even death. This love means life and with Christ forever. The important point, however, is that eternal life begins before physical death, not after.

3. Focus on Jesus. Who is the central character in this miracle? Does the spotlight shine on the dead youth and his coming back to life? This is so stupendous that we could be primarily interested in him. We may be curious and want to ask him what it is like to be dead. Or is the spotlight on the widow-mother? She is the center of attention. Even Jesus was attracted and concerned about her plight. However, the central character is Jesus. If it were not for him, this would have been just another ordinary funeral. The spotlight is on Jesus, and we see his concern and power bestowed upon the unfortunate ones.

Antidote to Sorrow. It is easy to say, "Don't cry." But without an antidote to the sorrow, it may be cruel to say so. The bereaved mother of Nain had every reason to weep. She had lost her only son. She needed to cry to express her grief. Yet Jesus said to her, "Do not weep." He had the antidote - new and returned life. With her son back, there was now no reason to cry. The funeral turned into a festival of joy. The only time we have a right to say "Don't cry" is when we have a cure for sadness.

Love in Action. It is easy to say, "I love you," but true love needs more than words. It also needs hands and feet to put love into action. In the miracle we have a case of love in action. Jesus met up with a funeral procession. He saw the tears of the bereaved mother, a widow. He sensed the depth of her problem, because the youth was her only son, the only one who could provide for her. His love went into action. He went to the mother to console her. He raised the dead youth and restored him to his mother. Action, action, action! It was the action of love.

Yes, He Cares! Does Jesus care about me? Who am I? I am a nobody. I am only a widow - dispossessed of family and facing a bleak future. I have no money. I am only a housewife, without education or industrial skill. Can Jesus, the Son of God, in heaven with all glory and honor, be concerned about little me?" This is the feeling many people have when they are loaded down with troubles. The answer is in the miracle of Nain: Jesus raised the son because of his compassion. A gospel hymn assures us: "Does Jesus care when my heart is pained ...? Oh yes, he cares, I know he cares. His heart is touched with my grief. When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares!"

Sermon Structures
1. When Christ Comes into Your Life (7:11-1 7). One day Jesus met up with a funeral. What difference did his presence make? Is there any change when Christ comes into our lives?
Consider:
A. A youth gets another chance to live - v. 14
B. A mother receives comfort - v. 15
C. The people realize God is with them - v. 16

2. How a Miracle Can Happen to You (7:13).
A. Jesus sees your need - "When the Lord saw her"
B. Jesus sympathizes - "Had compassion"
C. Jesus has the solution - "Said to her, 'Do not weep'"

The Touch of New Life (7:11-1 7). It is the touch of the "Lord" (v. 13)." He is the Lord of life and death. As Lord, he has the power of God, who is life. We see his power in the miracle:
A. Power to comfort - v. 13
B. Power to renew life - v. 14
C. Power to restore relationships - v. 15

When You Care Enough (7:11-14). According to daily newspaper obituary notices, people die alphabetically! Does anyone care that a person dies, or care about the bereaved? It was "compassion" that made Jesus do something for the mother. When we care enough:
A. We will know the need - v. 12
B. We will sympathize - v. 13
C. We will help - v. 14

The God who Gives Back (7:11-17). In the miracle story, Jesus gives the youth back to his mother. In the same way, God gives back to us. It is evidence of his grace.
A. Life is given back - "Arise" - v. 14
B. Joy is given back - "Do not weep" - v. 13
C. The son is given back - "Gave him to his mother" - v. 15

Illustration

Tears. A study reveals the leading cause for crying in women: sadness - 49 percent, happiness - 21 percent, anger 10 percent. It is held that crying is "good for the soul." People feel better after crying.

Charles Dickens: "Crying opens the lungs, washes the countenance, exercises the eyes and softens down the temper. So cry away."

Love costs. A customer brought an exquisite card to the cashier's counter and reached for his wallet to pay for it. The saleslady began to push the keys on the cash register, saying, "That will be five dollars, please." "Five dollars?" bellowed the man. "Forget it!" He jammed his wallet back into his pocket and stormed out of the store. When the saleslady returned the card to the rack, she noticed that the card read, "To my Wife Because You Mean so Much to Me."

Compassion. The basis of compassion is love. Someone said, "Love is caring more about someone else's life than about your own."

George Bernard Shaw: "The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that's the essence of inhumanity."

The Place of Compassion. E. Stanley Jones tells of a Korean woman who found her way to a Christian church. Once inside she asked, "Is this the place where they mend broken hearts?"

The Comfort of a Presence. When Jesus saw the weeping mother, he went to her. He said nothing more than "Do not weep." The record does not tell us if he said anything more. His presence made the difference and brought comfort.

The story is told of Reinhold Niebuhr's going to comfort the widow of a union Theological Seminary colleague who died suddenly of a heart attack. He could not find words to comfort her. He simply sat beside her in silence. After some time he reached over and took the widow's hand in his arthritic hand and held it. "Well, Helen," he began, but fell silent again. After half an hour, Niebuhr stood up and quietly departed having spoken only two words. It was a ministry of presence.

It Does Matter. The son's death was just another death. A death occurs every day. The woman is only a widow. She is poor and does not amount to anything in the eyes of the public. Yet Jesus felt she did matter; she was important to him.

At the last session prior to Christmas vacation, parents came to kindergarten to pick up their children. For weeks the children had worked on a Christmas gift that was to be a surprise. One little lad was holding his surprise gift and trying to put on his coat. The surprise fell out of his hands and crashed to the floor. The boy began to cry. His father went to him, patted him on the head, and said, "Don't cry. Now that's all right. It really doesn't matter, son. It doesn't matter at all." But his mother ran to him, swept him into her arms, wept with him, and said, "Oh, but it does matter. It matters a great deal."

God Cares. Does anyone care whether we are hurt or sorrowing? Does Jesus care?

A nine-year-old boy was in the hospital because he had been badly burned. The wife of his school principal visited and read to him every day. One day they got to talking about God. "Do you really think God is here?" he asked. "Of course," said the lady, "It is God who helps the nurses turn you and who eases your pain. God is going to help you get well again." Some time later an elderly woman mistakenly stepped into the boy's room. She saw the lad all bandaged up and said pitifully, "Oh, why does God punish a child like that?" The little fellow shouted back, "Don't say that!" Painfully pulling himself up on his elbows, he said, "Don't say anything bad about God. When it hurts, he cries with me!"

God Gives Back. Two missionaries were serving in Korea. A husband-wife team worked together for 15 years. The wife took sick and was dying. Her husband sat by her side, holding her hand, waiting for her death. Before she closed her eyes, she said, "Do not grieve for me, my dear. You'll get me back again, you'll get me back." A day or so later the man sat in a funeral train, taking his wife's body for burial. Two Koren women sat behind him. One of them was weeping. Her companion asked her why she was crying. She explained, "I feel so sorry for the missionary who sits there." The other woman said, "Don't cry for him, weep for yourself and for me. I lost a boy and I'll never get him back. You lost a daughter and you'll never see her again. But these foreigners who know Jesus have a strange and wonderful way of getting back their dead."


Gratitude
Miracle
Luke 17:11-19
Pentecost 21

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 and said, "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 said Jesus, "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 was a lovely Florida afternoon: blue sky, temperature in the low 80s. A friend and I went to play golf. Because of crowded conditions on golf courses during a Florida winter, we were assigned to play with a couple to make a foursome. It was a man and wife who were chronologically gifted. In getting acquainted Gertie told us she had terminal cancer, received chemotherapy and was taking interferon. In spite of her condition, she wanted to play golf and get some fresh air and exercise. At first she played very well, but by the ninth hole she lost her energy and decided to quit. Though we felt sorry for her because of her disease, we admired her courage and pluck in getting out to play.

In today's miracle story, Jesus met 10 lepers with a terminal disease. No, they were not on a golf course! They had to keep their distance from well persons and warn them of their presence by crying, "Unclean." They had the dreaded disease of leprosy for which at that time there was no cure. Probably the closest we come to leprosy is the horrible disease of AIDS. Like lepers of Jesus' time, victims of AIDS are often shunned and isolated. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop claims that by 2000 a hundred million lives worldwide will be victims of AIDS. At present there is no cure for it. What AIDS means today, leprosy meant in Jesus' day - a horrible, fatal condition.

This last miracle in Jesus' pre-passion ministry, according to Luke, was different from the others. This miracle involved a Samaritan. Moreover, it was different because it was a gradual miracle. The cure was not immediate, but it occurred while the lepers were on their way to the priests. It was different also because it was a group miracle of healing - 10 were miraculously healed, but only one expressed gratitude.

Acclimation

The Situation
Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. As he traveled near the border of Samaria, 10 lepers happened to meet and recognize him. They had the dreaded disease of leprosy. With one voice they shouted to him from the required distance between lepers and the healthy, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" He saw them and said, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." As they were on their way to the priests, they were healed. One of them noticed that he was well. At once he turned back and loudly praised God. He fell at Jesus' feet and thanked him. This one grateful man was a Samaritan. This impressed Jesus so much that he asked whether there were 10, not one, healed. He asked, "Where are the other nine? Why is there only this foreigner to give thanks?" Then Jesus turned to the Samaritan and told him to get up and go home, for his faith had made him well.

The Setting.
Only Luke tells us about the healing of the 10 lepers. It is the last miracle in Luke's gospel before Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time. The miracle occurs while Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. Since at the time he was close to the border of Samaria, we can understand why a Samaritan would be among the 10.


It would be helpful to remember that today's gospel lesson (Pentecost 21) is also the prescribed gospel for Thanksgiving Day each year. Since Pentecost 21 comes about a month before Thanksgiving, a preacher may wish to avoid repetition or duplication of ideas.

1. Related Passages - Leviticus 13:45-46 - Jewish restrictions on lepers.
Leviticus 14:2-32 - Regulations for healed lepers who return to the priests.
2 Kings 5 - The healing of Naaman the leper by Elisha.
Psalm 30:10-12 - A proper response to mercy received.
Psalm 103:1-5 - "Forget not all his benefits and be thankful."
Luke 5:12-16 - An immediate healing of a leper with no expression of thanks.

2. The Lectionary - Lesson 1 (Micah 1:2, 2:1-10). The sins of the people will bring doom to the nation. In the final Sundays of the church year, the lectionary offers a series of lections from the minor prophets. Micah is one of them. The greed of the rich oppressed the poor. Through Micah, God warned the nation that it would be destroyed, and the people, as in the Northern Kingdom, would go into captivity. Like the lepers in today's gospel lesson, they need to cry for mercy.

Lesson 2 (2 Timothy 2:8-15). Paul may be fettered, but the Word is not. This pericope is the second in a series of four from 2 Timothy. Paul is in prison and bound in chains. The good news is that God's Word is not fettered. Timothy is urged to be faithful to that Word and to proclaim it correctly.

Gospel (Luke 17:11-19). One of 10 gives thanks for being healed of leprosy. Ten men are stricken with a terminal disease. Out of their misery they cry for mercy. Jesus grants it by healing them. Only one has the courtesy to return to say thanks. And this one was a Samaritan, a despised half-breed Jew.

Psalm of the Day (Psalm 26). A man who trusts in the Lord goes to God's altar "singing aloud a song of thanksgiving."

Prayer of the Day. In this prayer, we continue the theme of thanksgiving, both by acknowledging that God is the source of every blessing and by giving "thanks for our benefits."

Hymn of the Day ("Your Hand, O Lord, in Days of Old"). The Lord's hand in days of old "was strong to heal and save ... the lepers in their misery."

Explanation

Lepers (v. 12) - Leprosy in Jesus' day was a dreaded disease: the flesh rotted off, bones broke, the odor was terrible. For Jews it was a sign of God's damnation. A leper was not given forgiveness and was refused every kindness. Lepers hated themselves, and other people loathed and feared them. The Jewish law required lepers to leave home and live in colonies with other lepers in isolation from society. This may account for the group of 10 who called to Jesus for help. So that they would not contaminate healthy people, they were required to keep their distance and warn people of their presence by crying "unclean."

Lifted (v. 13) - The 10 men "lifted up their voices." We would say they shouted, yelled, screamed. One reason for the loud call was the physical distance between well people and the lepers, as required by law. If they were going to be heard, they had to shout with all their strength. Their loudness may have been caused by their desperate situation. They were urgent and concerned. It was a matter of life or death. They shouted with earnestness and conviction because of their desperate need.

Mercy (v. 13) - What was the lepers' greatest need at that time? Was it food? Or clean clothes? Or permission to visit their loved ones? Or a demand to change the law respecting lepers? Or better living conditions? Their greatest need was mercy: "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When people face death, when their condition is hopeless, when they are in a state of utter despair, the most important need is mercy - mercy enough to help them out of their predicament. Their cry was an expression of faith in the power of Jesus to deliver them. In the church's liturgy, there is the Kyrie eleison - "Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy." It is sung by a congregation of sinners who appeal for deliverance from sin and death.

As they went (v. 14) - This miracle is different. The cure was not immediate as in other healings, but here healing came as a process. In response to the cry for mercy, Jesus told them to show themselves to the priests. At the time they still had the disease. Why would they go unless they were healed? They had faith in Jesus to obey his directive, As they ran to the priests, their flesh became healthy. This method is still used. A tradition says that the Red Sea did not divide until the Israelites put their feet in the water. Often answers to prayer are received by acting in accord with the prayer. We are blessed in the doing, in obedience.

Saw (v. 15) - The grateful leper "saw that he was healed." He recognized that he was blessed with healing. One reason for lack of gratitude is our failure to see how good God is to us. To whom or what do we attribute our success, health, or happiness? Do we give credit to our clever minds, personality, education or environment? Can we see that every talent and every virtue we possess comes from God? If so, then we will thank God for our blessings.

God (vv. 15, 18) - Who healed the lepers - Jesus or God the Father? When the leper saw that he was healed, he "praised God with a loud voice." Jesus also gives the credit to God, for he asked where the other nine were to "give thanks to God." Did Jesus not heal them and send them to the priests? Both Jesus and the leper had an insight into the reality of things. It was God the Father who healed. Jesus was God's instrument; the power of God flowed through Jesus. Once Jesus said, "Of myself I can do nothing."

Samaritan (v. 16) - For more than 2,000 years Samaritans have been persecuted, and today they are threatened with extinction by assimilation with Jews through marriage. The split between Jews and Samaritans occurred when more than 2,000 years ago they insisted that they should obey only the Pentateuch and not the Talmud. Also, Samaritans held that the holiest place was not Jerusalem but Mount Gerizim. In the fifth century Samaritans numbered over one million. The rise of Islam reduced the number. Today only an estimated 531 Samaritans live in Israel. In Jesus' day, Samaritans were hated foreigners, considered half-breeds. Jews and Samaritans despised each other and had no social relationships.

Since the Samaritan, along with the Jews, were directed to show themselves to the priests, the question is raised why a Samaritan would be sent to Jewish priests for confirmation of their health. It may indicate that Jesus was teaching that his ministry was universal, for all peoples. He helped a Roman centurion's slave and a Syro-phoenician's daughter. His mercy knows no culture, racial or national boundaries.

Faith (v. 19) - Nine of the lepers had faith in Jesus, up to a point. They believed in his mercy. If they hadn't, they would not have cried out. Their faith was shown when they obeyed his words to go to the priests. They had faith in the compassion and power of Jesus. But here their faith stopped. The Samaritan's faith went farther. Jesus said that this faith made him well. The Greek word also means "saved" or "whole." The nine men were healed apparently without faith. Why, then, did Jesus say that this lone man was healed by faith? The nine were healed physically, but the Samaritan was made well both physically and spiritually. His spiritual health was demonstrated by his gratitude. An ungrateful person is not spiritually well; he is not a whole, well person. A person is not well or saved until he acknowledges God as the giver of every perfect gift, the source of healing.

Application

Relevance of Revelation
1. Today many people can identify with the lepers in the miracle because, like the lepers, they also face a terminal illness. (See opening illustration.) Leprosy today is not the scourge it was in Jesus' day. Now there is a cure. In our age we have other terminal illnesses that are equally disastrous: AIDS, leukemia, cancer, strokes, heart disease, etc. Though people today with these terminal diseases are not isolated or shunned, they can identify with the plight of the lepers as they face declining health and approaching death.