But where are the nine?

Proper thanksgiving requires faith – the Word tells us to that we are to give “thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” Ephesians 5:20.  And again in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 we read “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  We are told when we pray to be “anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer, and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6  

 In order to give thanks in all things we must have faith that God is in control and that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28. That requires faith.  In order to give thanksgiving with our supplications, or requests, we must have faith that God will answer our prayers according to His perfect will; we are giving thanks for that which has not yet come to pass. That requires faith.

In this week’s passage we see the progression of faith, obedience, and thanksgiving.   Let’s review the account.  As Jesus is traveling through Samaria and Galilee he encounters 10 men who are lepers.  They call out to him saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”  Luke 17:13.  The account continues: “So when He saw them, He said to them, ‘Go show yourselves to the priests.’  And so it was that as they went they were cleansed.” Luke 17:14.  

There are several points to make note of here.

First, these men called out to Jesus for mercy, likely they were asking to be healed.  They asked in faith.

Second, Jesus tells them to go show themselves to the priests which would have been required to have their healing verified and to be declared “clean” that they would be able to be accepted back into the community. But they have not been healed yet!  The Word tells us “as they went they were cleansed”.  This is an act of faith and of obedience.  10 lepers, who were not yet healed, turned and went on their way to be declared “clean” by the priests, in obedience to the command of Jesus.  It was in their obedience and faith that their healing occurred!  Praise God!

If we read further we see a wonderful example of thanksgiving.  “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.” Luke 17:15, 16 

This one man, upon realizing that he had been healed, immediately turned back, fell at Jesus’ feet and gave Him thanks!  This man was a leper, considered “unclean”, cut off from his people, forced to be separated and alone for the remainder of his days.  Can you imagine his joy upon realizing he was healed??!!! He could return to all that had been lost to him – home, family, life.  What would be the first thing you would do?  He could have done many things but he chose to return and fall at the feet of Jesus with thanksgiving.  Also interesting to note, he was the only one to return.  According to the Scripture, all 10 lepers were healed, but only he chose to give thanks.  He didn’t wait on the other nine to see what they were going to do – he chose to praise God!

The passage indicates that this one man was a Samaritan; He was not a Jew, of the people of God.  The passage suggests that others of the 10 lepers were Jewish.  These Jewish men knew the Lord their God, and had just witnessed His hand of healing on their bodies, and yet they didn’t even pause to thank Him or glorify his name.  Jesus says, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?  Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”  Luke 17: 17, 18.  Even Jesus took the time to acknowledge that this man, although not of the people of God, was to be commended in turning back to offer thanks.

We have seen faith, obedience and thanksgiving and in the next verse we see the blessing of God: “And He said to him, ‘Arise, go your way.  Your faith has made you well.’” Luke 17:19.  The man was already healed physically at this time.  Jesus’ reference to wellness is suggestive of more than physical healing, likely spiritual healing.   This man’s faith and obedience are clearly linked in his physical healing and his faith and thanksgiving are clearly linked by Jesus in his spiritual cleansing.

Thanksgiving is a much more complex process than we often think.  When we think of thanksgiving we often think of thanking God for the things we have or the situations that have turned out right, answers to prayer, and even sometimes we give thanks that “we are not in that situation”.  Ungers’ Bible Dictionary, in defining thanksgiving uses the words “duty and obligation”.   It goes on to say “The very term most in use shows this; it is charis, which is the grace of God in Christ, operating in the soul of the believer as a principle, and going back to him in gratitude.”  Furthermore it says “The Christian privilege is to find reason for gratitude in all things: ‘for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’”

 Thanksgiving is not just something we do to be polite; it is required of us.  The Word of God records many examples of thanksgiving and praise.

“Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High” Psalm 50:14
 “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and unto His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” Psalm 100:4
 “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34
“Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.” Psalm 30:4
“At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments.” Psalm 119:62
“But thanks be to our God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15
 “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2

We are told that praise and thanksgiving continue even in Heaven!  “A great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice saying, ‘Salvation belong to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!  All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faced before the throne and worshipped God saying, Amen: Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving, and honor, and power and might, be to our God forever and ever Amen.” Revelation 7:9-12

There are many reasons to give thanksgiving unto God – to bless His name, for His mercy, for His holiness, because of His righteous judgments, but most of all because of His indescribable gift of victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ!

 Thanksgiving isn’t always easy either.  It isn’t only to be done when you “feel” like it, or when it is “convenient” or when you “think of it”.  In the Old Testament, included with the other “offerings” or “sacrifices” was a “Thanksgiving Offering/Sacrifice”.  The term sacrifice itself indicates that it required an effort or a cost to the one offering it.

Psalm 107:22 speaks of thanksgiving in terms of a sacrifice “And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.”  And Hebrews 13:15 says “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.”

There are times when you are offering thanksgiving in faith, when you are offering thanksgiving in the midst of a dark valley, or when it will cost you something (time, money, gifts) to offer your thanksgiving onto God.  That brings us back to Ephesians 5:20 where we are instructed to give thanks in all things – that means in the good, the bad and the ugly!  And to Philippians 4:6 where we are told to make our supplication with thanksgiving – again, thanking God for that which you believe in faith but have not yet seen!

True thanksgiving requires faith and effort.  It is worded well by King David, a man after God’s own heart, “Then King David said to Ornan, ‘No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing.” 1 Chronicles 21:24 

Let’s return to our scripture for this week:  “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet Giving Him thanks.  And he was a Samaritan.” Luke 17:15, 16.  This man had faith, knew obedience, and understood the sacrifice of thanksgiving.  And for that Jesus blessed him further, saying “‘Arise, go your way.  Your faith has made you well.’” Luke 17:19.

Oh that the Lord will be able to say that of us in our day-to-day lives. Not just on the one day we set aside to celebrate thanksgiving, not just when prayers are answered and life is as we feel it should be, but “in all things”.  Oh Lord that we never be numbered in the “But where are the nine?”

Let us pray together:

Heavenly Father we come before you and offer You praise and thanksgiving from the depths of our hearts!  We thank you for the many blessings You have bestowed upon us, the trials that You have guided us through, and most of all for the precious gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ!  We ask, Father, that You would teach us to be thankful in all things, offering You praise in all situations, knowing that You are with us each step of the way.  Now Father, guide and direct our hearts and minds, teach us to hear Your voice and be obedient to Your will, walking daily in faith.  We ask these things in the Name of Jesus, Amen and Amen and Amen.