Being Thankful
Luke 10:25-37 (Pastor Brian)
We remember Paul “when I’m weak, then I’m strong.” He had a “thorn” that he asked 3 times to be taken from him – but the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
10:25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ ; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
This is a well-known, popular passage. A lawyer was “testing” Jesus – his question wasn’t sincere.
- He asked, “What must I do?”
- Jesus, “Love your neighbor.”
- He, “Who is my neighbor?”
Then Jesus explained with a story including a Samaritan. At that time, Samaritans were considered half-Jews, half-breeds, heretics, because they weren’t “pure” Jews. They had their own land, their own temple, their own culture, etc, and were considered dirty, like dogs, by the Jews.
In the story,
- A man went out on the road, but robbers overtook and beat him.
- A priest came, saw him, and passed by on the side of the road. Justification: maybe it was again the law for priests to touch dead bodies?
- A Levite came, saw him, and passed by on the side of the road.
- A Samaritan (ewww!) came by…
- (Jesus may have been having fun with this story)
- He had compassion on him, bathed him, took care of him, left money for him, and said, “I’ll pay what is owed when I return.”
- Jesus then challenges the lawyer.
- “So, which was the neighbor?”
- “*sigh* I suppose it was the *one* who showed mercy.”
- “Go and do likewise.”
Remember Pastor Heo’s sermon last week? The effect of the church not being neighborly has had generations of negative effects – Gandhi in the story last week – Apartheid in South Africa – discrimination in the US, etc.
How often do we have an opportunity to be a neighbor to somebody, but let the opportunity pass us by?
Thankfully, Jesus gives us more chances.
Actually, this story today is about 3 Samaritans. This one is about the Good Samaritan.
Chorus:
“He poured in the oil and the wine
the kind that restoreth my soul
He found my bleeding and dying on the Jericho road,
and he poured in the oil and the wine.”
The physical representation of mercy is Jesus himself.
“My heart was broken and wounds were sore, I cried to God for I could take no more. I cried out to Jesus, and he said, “this one’s mine. He poured out the oil and the wine….” (Pastor Brian’s addition)
Perhaps I’m now stealing Pastor Heo’s sermon for Chuseok…
But I was interviewing students at the hagwon this week,
- “What is Chuseok?”
- “When is it?”
- “Where are you going?”
- “What are you going to do?”
- “What are you going to eat?”
- “Are you going to wear hanbok?”
We are expecting the Chuseok sermon, but the theme of “Thankfulness” can be spoken on at any time. “Thank you for the weather, good health, provision, and especially for Jesus as Savior.” He is the focus – he is the Lamb, laid down his life, and took our sins.
We said, “I need your grace, I need your salvation.”
And “God so loved the world that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Story of a farmer:
- He was a little troubled about the sermons he’d been hearing – “was he among the saved?” A tract floated along on the wind, and he picked it up and read it.
- “Whosoever believes in him will be saved.”
- Hmmmm… so what does “whosoever” mean?
- A friend: “You, me, or anybody”
- So he believed in the Lord and was saved.
You know, anybody can be saved.
WHOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
That’s why the message of the gospel is such GOOD NEWS! Though we are born into sin and continue sinning throughout our lives, God has made a way.
Isaiah, “We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us to his own way, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquities of us all.”
We do know that unfortunately, some will reject the message of Jesus, but he will not force them into his kingdom – he gives them the choice, just as he gave us a choice. When we at last realize that we need a Savior, he will be there.
- He became our substitute for us in death.
- And now that God is for us, who shall be against us?
- And He who spared not his own Son, how shall he not grant us all these other things as well?
Being Thankful: The 10 Lepers
There is another story in Luke 17:11-19
“Luke 17:11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him–and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.””
This is another story of a Samaritan.
There were ten men healed, but only one returned to give thanks. Strange that this man was noted as a Samaritan. They were all lepers. Were the others Jews? But since they were all lepers, suddenly there was no division – they were all in the same boat.
Perhaps, on the way, they all realized that they were cured! And then… “oh, yeah, that guy is a Samaritan. Go on then~”
But the Samaritan knew who to thank.
The other 9 were on the way to the priests.
Interestingly, when you read of the cure for leprosy in Leviticus 14, you note that: “two birds must used – one to be killed – over running water – the other to be dipped in its blood and released to fly away.”
The first bird typified Jesus’ crucifixion and death for our sins, his blood covers our sin.
The second bird typified Jesus’ resurrection – taking away our sin, and setting us free. If we are crucified with Christ, then we are raised with him as well.
We know that while in our bodies, we still have struggles in the flesh – but God gives us strength to endure and overcome. But WHEN we fail (as even Peter and Paul and ALL people in the Bible and throughout history have failed), he forgives us and gives us another chance.
We see here again God’s mercy toward an outcast. Leprosy was a type of sin, defilement – and Christ’s blood cleanses us from all sin.
John, “I write these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate in Christ. He is the propitiation for our sins.”
A.W.Tozer: “The Christian life is like a big industrial complex.” There is typically one large room that is an infirmary (hospital). If someone hurts him/herself on the machinery, they can go to the infirmary to be healed.
This happens in our lives as well. We all go about our normal lives, but if/when we sin, we can go to the infirmary (Christ) to be forgiven and healed.
In that passage, just merely by his Word, the men were cleansed. And one was saved.
A third passage of a Samaritan woman is also relevant.
Jesus was with his disciples at a well, around midday in Samaria. His disciples left to buy food, and he asked her for a drink. She was surprised. He said, “If you’d known who asked you, you’d have asked me for living water.” She missed the point. Jesus said, “Go and bring your husband.” “I don’t have one.” “Right, you’ve had five, and the one you’re with now is not your husband.” She changed the subject and said, “You’re a Jew, I’m a Samaritan. You say we must worship there, we say here.” Jesus, “True worshipers worship God in spirit and truth.” “When Messiah comes, he’ll tell us all things.” “I, whom you are speaking to, am he.” “Wow!” She knew he was merciful, graceful. She ran into the town and said, “Is this not the Messiah!~ He told me everything I’ve ever done!” And the people came out to see and many believed as well.
We have these stories of these three Samaritans – rejected by the Jews, the religious elite, yet Jesus came to them.
Acts 1:8
“You will receive power when the HS comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he also wrote of thankfulness – the book itself emphasizes Christ’s deity and manhood.
“…abounding in the faith with thanksgiving.”
Colossians 3:15
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… and be thankful.”
Colossians 4:2
“Be vigilant in prayer… and be thankful.”
Colossians 4:17
“In whatever you do, whether word or deed, do all in thankfulness.”
Let’s pray.