“One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice” (Luke 17:15).
This is one of many “kingdom” events recorded by Luke. Previously the readers of Luke’s Gospel have witnessed the power of touch (Luke 5:13); presence (Luke 8:44, 45); word (Matthew 8:8).
The key to understanding Luke’s Gospel is to use the “filter” of God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom, was His way of doing on this earth what He promised through the prophets (Isaiah 43:19) – a way in the wilderness; streams in the wasteland.
This morning, then, we have before us a kingdom event…Jesus heals ten lepers (better: The story of the thankful leper).
The main question is, “How does this event fit into the overarching theme of God’s kingdom?”
On His way to Jerusalem, on this occasion, Jesus travelled alongside the border between Samaria and Galilee – the no man’s land.
The zone alongside the border is generally a mixed zone.
I grew up “alongside” the border” between Romania and (then) Yugoslavia… roughly 5km from the border.
Jesus did not pay attention to the official or religious border policy.
While the Jews were careful not to travel through the Samaritan zone, Jesus, at least once went straight through and even stayed two days in a Samaritan village (John 4:40). It was all part and parcel of His mission wasn’t it?
God’s kingdom is a borderless kingdom. No barriers…no dividing walls (Ephesians 2:14).
One result of the cross event was the creation of a people…God’s people…no ethnic divisions (Ephesians 2:14).
Nevertheless, it was a Samaritan who came back praising God and expressing his joy by worshipping at Jesus’ feet. How about you? Pastor Alois