Separated From Society

Luke 17:11-19

During the days when Jesus walked the earth, many people suffered from various illnesses and diseases, most of which kept them bedridden or unable to carry out daily duties. The worst of those diseases (in my opinion) had to be leprosy, because this illness kept men and women separated from society. Those who were leprous, were required to stand afar off from people considered clean. Aside from facing bitter social rejection, and being treated as outcasts, lepers were required to leave their homes and families, and join with others infected with leprosy, on the outskirts of town. In addition, They were forbidden from having contact with people who did not have the disease, and they had to ring a bell and shout “unclean” if anyone approached them. They couldn’t even go to the market place, and were also forbidden from taking part in worship. The worst fact concerning leprosy was, there was no cure for the diseases back then, so all who suffered from it, could only look forward to a slow, painful, and shameful death.

Living with the horrible condition of leprosy, could not have been a pleasant experience, but our lesson’s text reveals ten who were lepers, and had a life-changing experience, after an encounter with Jesus. While passing through the midst of Samaria and Galilee, Jesus entered a certain village, and was met by ten men, suffering from leprosy. Isn’t it interesting, how Jesus often found Himself among those who were sick or ill? I’m totally convinced, the Son of God knew to place Himself among the sick, so that the glory of the Father could be revealed to the suffering, and onlookers.

In a joint effort, the ten lepers cried with a loud voice and said, “Master, have mercy on us.” Rather than say, “Be healed”, or something of that nature, Jesus gave the men a simple command, “Go shew yourselves unto the priests.” If you’ve studied a little on the history of leprosy, you’ll know that the priests were ordained by God to consider someone to be clean or unclean, based on specifications mentioned in Leviticus chapter 13. But, Jesus told the men to show themselves to the priest, while they were yet leprous… an interesting command. Fortunately, as the men went, they were immediately cleansed. Although only one turned back to thank Jesus for his healing, all ten men, would no longer be labeled an outcast to society, but a welcomed citizen instead.

Unclean!

Leviticus 13:1-8

Leprosy, a name applied to several different diseases, was greatly feared in Bible times. Some of these diseases, unlike the disease we call leprosy or Hansen’s disease today, were highly contagious. The worst of them slowly ruined the body, and in most cases, were fatal. Lepers were separated from family and friends, and confined outside the camp. Since priests were responsible for the health of the camp, it was their duty to expel and readmit lepers. If someone’s leprosy appeared to go away, only the priest could decide if he was truly cured. Leprosy is often used in Bible times as an illustration of sin, because sin is contagious and destructive, and leads to separation.

(Life Application Study Bible pg. 198)

A Servant’s Plea

2 Kings 5:1-14

If you were suffering from a condition that alienated you from people, brought shame and misery to your name, and was guaranteed to make the rest of your days on the earth a living nightmare, would you pass up the opportunity to be totally healed, if told to do something that seemed uncomfortable and unconventional? Would you allow pride and arrogance to cause you to miss out on a once in a lifetime experience, and be left to suffer in your condition forever? I can’t speak for all men, but I wouldn’t hesitate to take that offer.

Our text introduces us to a man who was captain of the Syrian army, and was deemed great and honourable. He was also a mighty man in valor, and while these accolades portray him as someone of great prestige, there was something in his life that cast a dark shadow along his path. The head of the Syrian army suffered from leprosy. According to answersingenesis.org, leprosy was considered a curse of God for many centuries, and it was often associated with sin. It did not kill, but neither did it seem to end. Instead, it lingered for years, causing the tissues to degenerate, deforming the body.

Many have thought leprosy to be a disease of the skin, but it is better classified as a disease of the nervous system, because the leprosy bacterium attacks the nerves. Its symptoms start in the skin and peripheral nervous system (outside the brain and spinal cord), then spread to other parts, such as the hands, feet, face, and earlobes. People with leprosy experience disfigurement of the skin and bones, twisting of the limbs, and curling of the fingers to form the characteristic claw hand. Facial changes include thickening of the outer ear and collapsing of the nose. The Bible isn’t clear concerning the stage of the captain’s leprosy, but I’m certain he was ready and willing to do whatever it required, to be healed from it. Or was he?

After hearing from a young maid about a prophet in Israel who could heal the captain of his condition, the king of Syria sent a letter to the king of Israel, requesting the aid of the prophet. Elisha heard the news of what was going on, then asked that the men come to him at his house. When the captain and those with him arrived at the door of Elisha’s house, the prophet sent a messenger to them saying, “Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean” (vs.10). During these times, the Jordan river wasn’t known to be the cleanest, so upon hearing the instructions of the messenger, the captain became very angry, and thought he would receive healing by the hand and words of the prophet himself. He even made mention that there were other rivers more clean than the Jordan, so why not send him to those. Had it not been for his servants, who convinced the captain that the words spoken of the prophet should be obeyed, despite full understanding of the instructions, he probably would have kept his leprosy for the rest of his days.

The captain obeyed the words of the prophet Elisha, and his flesh came again like the flesh of a child, and he was clean. You may not suffer from leprosy, or a life altering disease, but God can do more than simply physically healing; He can restore the joy of His salvation in your heart, renew your mind and spirit, strengthen your weary faith and even bring your broken focus, back to Him.

“Trust God in all things, no matter how big or small, because there’s nothing to hard for Him to heal at all.” – Ell

Gratitude

Luke 17:11-19

What are you thankful for? Think for a moment, of all the experiences you’ve had thus far in life; all the good, bad, and even ugly ones. After all the struggles, hard times, and suffering, how did you respond, when God finally healed you from a sickness or disease, made your crooked places straight, or kept you safe in troublesome times? What joy it brings to one’s soul, when God steps into an unfavorable situation, and makes things work for your good! Even though many of us presently suffer, and go through trials, knowing that God can, and will deliver us, should be enough to keep us moving forward. Never take for granted, the blessings of the Lord, because doing so proves what’s really in one’s heart.

God loves our praise, not only after He blesses us, but when we do it willingly, and consistently. Our text gives an example of one who was conscious enough to acknowledge the One responsible for delivering him from an extremely unfavorable situation. According to Christianity.com, Leprosy was the scourge of the ancient world. Nothing evoked more fear, more dread, or more revulsion than the sight of these walking dead. That is what a leper was called, a walking dead man. The smell of his decaying flesh would announce his coming long before the tattered scraps of his clothing would be seen, or his raspy “Unclean! Unclean!” announcement he was required to declare, could be heard. The stumbling shuffle of toeless feet, the wandering of sightless eyes and the moan of a cheek less mouth, all pointed to Leprosy, this unseen attacker that slowly destroyed human bodies, and made the individual an untouchable to society.

Can you imagine being in a position where everyone who looks at you, considers you “dead” to society? I haven’t had an experience like the ten lepers in our text, but I’m certain when Jesus came to town, they were all prepared to throw out a lifeline for an immediate miracle.

After the ten lepers heard Jesus was in town they met Him at a distance, then lifted up their voices together and cried out for mercy. What a scene that must have been! Ten men, shunned from society, yet banned together by their shared struggle, were able to come to Jesus in unity, to seek deliverance. It’s amazing how healthy church folk can’t even get along to unite in prayer, let alone seek God for a miracle. But, these men were tired of their situation, and desired to be healed of their horrible disease.

Jesus, spoke a word, the men obeyed, and were instantly healed. Wow! Of all the ten lepers who were healed, only one returned to give Jesus an “I Can’t Believe What Just Happened Praise”! Why didn’t all the men return to thank Jesus for doing something in their lives that no one else could have done? That one, humble Samaritan, one who was considered a half-breed, and shunned by other nations, was grateful for his life-changing experience, and would not take another step forward, until he gave thanks to Jesus. How will you respond when God finally delivers you?

“He died for me… I’ll live for Him.” – Ell