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…In 1621, the Pilgrims celebrated the very first “Day of Thanksgiving,” just
about __one__ year after they had arrived. These godly people had
suffered much in England. They came to America to be able to freely worship
God.
…This small band of 102 passengers sailed for __65__ days…a
late Fall crossing.
…Four died during the trip, and many suffered from sickness on
while on board.
…Most terrible of all, one half of the remainder died during the __first__
winter, which Governor Bradford called “the starving time.” Only 16 men
survived and all but a few women perished.
…Yet, they gathered to __thank__ the Lord for His bountiful
blessings….
…Is it difficult to give the Lord the praise and thanks that is due Him? Why
is ingratitude so __common__ among men? Even worse, is to find
Christians who are stingy with their praise and thanks to God. This is a __great__
sin.
…Jesus was making His very last journey to Jerusalem to do His greatest work.
On the way He visits a village and heals a band of lepers. Yet, only __one__
ever returned to give Him thanks. Only one.
THREE LESSONS PROMPTING US TO GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD FOR ALL
HIS BLESSINGS.
I.
Jesus Was Not Too Busy Or Preoccupied
To
__Respond__ A Great Need. (vv11-14)
A. He
was headed to Jerusalem, to die as a sin offering on the cross. (v.11) This
was His greatest work. His hour was soon approaching.
B. As
he approached an unnamed village, 10 lepers were crying out for Jesus to help
them. They stood outside the village and at quite a __distance__ from
Him.
1.
To have leprosy
was to have a __death__ sentence. It was to be the living-dead. No
cure.
2.
Together they cried
out, “mercy us.” They did not specifically mention their need.
C. Jesus
sees them after hearing their cries and responds to the outcasts.
1.
They did not
expect what He said. He never tells them to be __healed__, nor does He
touch them like the leper in Luke 5:12. No, He merely tells them to go to
the priest, as if they were already __healed__. (Lev 14:1ff) It was
the priest’s job to inspect a leper, and if clean, give him a certificate so
that he could rejoin society.
2. This
account wonderfully shows the infinite number of __ways__ that our God
has at His disposal to accomplish His work. At one time He touches, this time
He heals from a distance. O the wonder of the power and the ways of our God!
II.
Majorities
Impress Us Too Much, For Here Is Another Case When The Majority Was Wrong.
The Important Thing Is The __Right__, The True, And Not The Numbers.
(vv15-16)
A. After
Jesus had told them to go to the priest, He left them and went into the
village. They were startled by His response. They must have __talked__
about it to each other. Then they all obeyed His command, and began going to
see the priest. Soon after they started out, they were healed. They took
Jesus at His __word__ and were healed. If not, they would not have
been cured.
B. It
is reasonable to assume that they discussed __returning__ to Jesus to
give Him thanks, but only one did return. He came to Jesus and threw himself
at His feet and __loudly__ praised God and gave thanks to the Lord
Jesus. (v 16) God loves intensity of praise and thanksgiving from the heart.
C. Amazingly,
this lone man was a Samaritan. He was doubly despised by the __Jews__…
The other 9 were Jews. This would form a picture of the nation that received
so much from the Lord, yet rejected Him as their Messiah.
III. Jesus
Expects Those Who Have Received His Blessings To Come And
__Express__
Proper Gratitude To God. (vv17-19)
A. Jesus’
questions show the __pain__ He felt due to the ingratitude of the other
lepers.
…”were not all ten cleansed?” “Where are the other nine?”
B. Many
people want to be healed, yet, not __many__ want the Healer. The
gift, not the Giver!
…ingratitude is a very common sin. Be __quick__ in giving thanks to
God lest time wear out the sense of the mercy. The nine here __never__
did give God the thanks He deserved. Never.
C. God
is always __pleased__ when we express our thanks to Him. Don’t you be
a “No-show.”
LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:
1. Make it your daily habit, just like breathing, to give thanks to the Lord
for all His blessings.
2.
Recognize the ingratitude that is within and ask the Lord to deliver you from
it.
3.
Always take God at His word.
4.
Know that the Lord always hears your words of thanks.
5. Just maybe your lack of thanksgiving is because you don’t know Christ as
your Savior. Realize you are a sinner and accept God’s gift of salvation.
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