Luke 17:11-19_Sermon_The Region Between

{ILS} House Divided License Plates

• If you are looking, you’ll see house divided every time you drive

• Almost always represent a change in the driver’s life

• Time before was focused solely on one school - disparaging the other

• Someone/Something entered that driver’s life - relationship, child, work

• It humanized the other school on that license plate

• Even to the significant extent that you are willing to tell others about it 

{SCR} Luke 17:11 On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten men with skin diseases approached him. Keeping their distance from him, 13 they raised their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, show us mercy!” 14 When Jesus saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” 

{MPT} The Cultures Are Divided

• first problem was that Israel had divided into Northern & Southern Kingdoms

• Prior to the division, King Solomon had massive building projects

• Massive work

• Massive taxes - not only now, but for years to come

• And he died

• Solomon’s successor did not fix the problem and the nation divided into North and South - Israel and Judah

• Second problem is now Israel and Judah are vulnerable to attack 

• Imagine the US Civil War, divided North and South

• While that is already happening another nation attacks the north

• Assyria is that nation and it is massive

• Assyria attacks the Northern Kingdom and routes them - exile

•  put their stamp on the Samaritans in that region

• They try to attack the south as well, but it fails

• Hundreds of years later, in the time of Jesus and our story today, Samaritans and Jews constantly argue and fight 

• disparage each other - harm each other - desecrate worship centers

{MPT} The Sick Are Drawn Together

• Our scripture reading describes ten people who are sick and distant

• Highly contagious - medical issue

• Unclean and impure - social and religious issue

• They kept their distance from Jesus - why? 

• They’ve been instructed - scolded to stay away

• Separated on a level that is difficult for us to fathom

• Boundaries and borders? Nope

• Political and religious debates and structures? Nope

• TIRED OF BEING ILL - SEPARATE

{SCR} Luke 17:14 As they left, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw that he had been healed, returned and praised God with a loud voice. 16 He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. 

{MPT} The Cleansed Take Different Paths

• Before our story, the ten lepers were united in their illness and isolation

• No matter where they were from, who their parents were

• As they left they were healed - and immediately separated

• Imagine who they want to go see - they sprint away from Jesus

• One person turns back - he saw his skin change, felt his skin heal

• He has new freedom - and with that freedom he turns back

• The gospel writer, Luke, a physician, adds a descriptor

• He was a samaritan - the group we dislike, for reasons before

• Fell at Jesus’ feet AFTER he was healed - MASTER

{SCR} Luke 17:17 Jesus replied, “Weren’t ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 No one returned to praise God except this foreigner?” 19 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

{MPT} The Ultimate Pursuit Lead to Healing

• Sit Blank

• Stay Do i want to be cleansed or do i want to be healed?

• Heal