A leper's thanksgiving
Zigfred Diaz
I was preparing for a Sunday sermon on thanksgiving as I was asked to speak on the subject. God brought to my attention the Samaritan leper's thanksgiving found in Luke 17 verses 11 to 19. The story is quite a familiar one among Christians. It tells of 10 Samaritan lepers who were asking Jesus for mercy. Jesus asked them to show themselves to the priest. As they went along, they found out that they were healed. The story however ends with a sad twist, only one of them came back to thank Jesus.
Believing that the proper way to preach is to give an expository sermon, I looked at the words in the original Greek. I was delighted to learn that the Greek word for "Thanks" is eucharisteo." This is where we get our word for "Eucharist." Christ often used this word whenever he gave thanks for a meal. Likewise, the Apostle Paul often uses this word in his opening statements when writing to the New Testament churches.
Eucharisteo can basically be broken down into two words. "Eu" to mean good or well and "charis" which means to favor, thank or to respond to a good favor. This word is also used as the verb form of "favor" or "Charis" in Greek. Often, the word "Charis" is translated as "Grace" in English.
Looking back at the story and the greek words used, you can clearly see the message that the message that our Lord is trying to convey here. The Lepers were asking for "Mercy" but only one leper got "Grace."
Sometimes we interchange "Mercy" for "Grace" or we think that they mean the same thing. But they are different. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. On the other hand, Grace is getting what you don't deserve. As sinners we deserve to go to Hell. But by God's mercy we are spared from that punishment. But receiving eternal life is only through grace. We do not deserve that our sins but forgiven, forgotten and that we receive eternal life , but we received it because of GRACE.
Scripture tells us in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8 and 9 that "For by Grace are you saved through faith, it is the gift of God, not works lest any man should boast" The gift being reffered to here is "Saving faith." What this verse is trying to tell us is that even the faith to believe in Jesus Christ is given to us by God. We are so depraved that by ourselves alone we do not have the natural ability to believe the promises of God. What we have is only natural faith. "Super natural faith" is required before we could fully understand what salvation in Christ truly means.
We should be thankful to God for giving us "Supernatural faith." Certainly it is not because of our own natural ability that we have the faith to believe in Jesus Christ and what he did for us. We believe in him because we have been given the faith to believe.
Now let me continue with the story of the Ten Lepers. The Samaritan Leper was so thankful to Jesus Christ that he "turned back and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks"
Jesus said then said to him ""Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? There are none found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger."
I love the closing statement of the story. Jesus says to him, "Arise; go thy way. Thy faith hath made thee whole." What He is saying to the Samaritan Leper is that "Your faith has saved you."
That day the Samaritan Leper got more than healing from his leprosy, he found Salvation in Christ. It pays to be truly thankful.
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