Luke 17:11-19

 

STORY UNIQUE TO LUKE - Why does Luke include this dramatic episode when the other writes don’t ? Is this because they do not have this material? Or is it that the story pushes too close to the gentiles and inclusivity? If compared to Jesus’ other mighty works, this miracle/s would seem to be one of the most stupendous miracles in the entire three and one half years of ministry of Jesus. If any miracle made the rounds, one would think that this one would have. After all, just one leper getting healed received prime coverage in both Mark and Matthew. But in Luke 17, we have not just a story about one person becoming cured, but ten!

A MARGINAL EXISTENCE - What must these lepers have felt in their marginal existence? Shamed? Carrying the stigma of having been cursed by God? Laughed at? Butt of jokes? A project? An object lesson, the "fool" from Hebrew and Egyptian Wisdom literature? A charity case? Sub-human? Rejected? Despised? No dignity? Proof that God selects some for higher purposes while condemning others to a meaningless existence?

MARTIN LUTHER - True worship is to return and praise God with a loud voice. This is our greatest work in heaven and on earth, besides it is the only worship we may bring to God . . . God will be only loved and praised by us. [1]

 

connections

If in your lifetime the only prayer you offer is ‘Thanks,’ that would suffice, wrote Meister Eckhart. Recall the events that have occurred in the last week (conversations with friends, small tasks accomplished, rest and relaxation, appointments kept) and, after each event comes to mind, offer God thanks. To the God who provides grace under pressure, you can say, "Thank you for being with me." [2]

 

gambits

Employ literary criticism on this passage to tease out meaning that will be useful to you and to your listeners. The bullets that follow raise several questions that will help us to enter the story and its import.

What is the core of gravity in this narrative? What part of the story receives the greatest emphasis? Assuming that Luke could have told the story in a variety of nuances and settings, what particular slant does he choose to give the story of the ten lepers? Is the story about the healing of ten lepers? Is this a story about cosmic conflict between the forces of evil and Jesus as the eschatological messiah who goes around reclaiming Satan’s territory for the Kingdom of God? Is this a story about response-how we respond to God’s gracious in-breaking into our lives? Is this a story about mission, the force of which challenges the church to reach out to the marginalized and pariah’s of our world?

Jesus shows genuine astonishment at the meager showing at the next worship service. One of the healed persons shows up to give his full testimony and give God praise for a miraculous recovery. The rest are off and back to "business as usual." Could the real crux of the story lie right here-the fact that nine lepers really felt that their healing was in some sense expected; was in some sense a forensic matter? Was perhaps deserved? After all, these persons were a part of the covenant community of Israel. They have their rights. They are after all, not Samaritans; healing is the children’s bread, right? "We deserve a break today at McDonald’s-and Yahweh’s.

The one who returns to worship really stumbles into grace because he knows only too well his heritage-and what he is not-and thus, healing is a surprising, not expected gift to him.

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[1] From Martin Luther’s postil in 1521, published in pamphlet form: “The Ten Lepers,” Complete Sermons of Martin Luther (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2000), page 92.
[2] Spiritual Formation Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan 1999), page 1381.