A Simple Expectation

A Simple Expectation (Luke 17:17-19)

Series: Christmas – A Fresh Look at God. The events surrounding the brith of Jesus are amazing. There are angels, kings, even warfare. But don’t stop with he Nativity story. Jesus came to show us God! His life, and ministry in particular, show us God Himself moving among us.

What Jesus shows us in this passage is God’s simple expectation.

Luke 17:11-19

• He entered “a village.” The village is not important to the narrative. But the point is that he is going between Samaria and Galilee. Most Jews go around Samaria to avoid Samaritans.
• Leprosy back then was like a long-term death sentence.
• Lepers had to stay away from society. Often, they had a bell to warn people away.
• Luke 17:3, they must shout at Jesus.
• Luke 17:14, Jesus doesn’t touch them, or apparently even heal them at once. Their healing will be predicated on their obedience. If they will go and show themselves to the priest, they will be healed. Notice “as they went” they were cleansed. Time went by.
• The priest would have been in Jerusalem. They are days away from there!
• Interesting, Luke 17:15, Jesus is still where he left them. Makes me think it did not take long for the healing to happen.
• The Samaritan has no cultural reason to love Jesus. His love is wholly personal.
• Luke 17:17, Jesus expresses offense before giving praise to the one who came back. He is offended that nine Hebrews did not return to give thanks. Something is wrong.

1. God Expects (Luke 17:18)

• Jesus showing us God! It is wrong in God’s sight to be healed, but not give thanks. God’s goodness to us deserves a response.
• God built thanksgiving into the Bible. (Thanksgiving offerings, Leviticus 7, 1 Chronicles 16:4, Genesis 8:20-22, Exodus 15, Nehemiah 7:1, Psalm 100:4)
• Go built thanksgiving into the creation. It’s not just in the Bible, our hearts know it’s right.

2. Unexpressed communicates .

• The hardest thing to do with thanksgiving is personalize it.
• Until I express gratitude to God, my blessings are unfulfilled. (Luke 17:19) Jesus had more to give them, but the other nine missed the rest of the blessing because they didn’t come back to give thanks.

3. Some questions:

• Look 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Who right now is blessing you?
• Look Who has blessed you in your past?
• Look How has God blessed you? (Revelation 4, always thanksgiving in heaven.)

The Lord’s Supper is an expression of THANKS. (1 Corinthians 10:16)