Lesson 30

“Going All The Way”

4/4/06

YOU'RE THOUGHTS: What comes to your mind when you think about being successful ?

When a doctor is responsible for you getting better from a sickness what are your thoughts about that doctor?

MY THOUGHTS: How do you obtain a masters degree in Biology? How do you accomplish a hard job assignment to meet the time allotted by your boss? The answer to these questions is obvious; we must “go all the way”. We must study hard and finish all that is required, no matter how long it takes to attain that Biology degree and we must work hard on that job until all is done to satisfy your boss. As we discuss our theme scripture you will see where I’m going with these examples.

The previous chapters in Luke indicate that Jesus had a lot to share with his disciples and all the followers that walked with Him. The start of Luke 17 verse 11, we see Jesus continue His journey to Jerusalem (See the map). Jesus chose to take the route through Samaria rather then the alternate route. The route Jesus took was not a common route, because the Samaritans were not liked to much by the Jews. Jesus, of course ignores this because of his love for us. He shows no partiality toward man.( Rom 2:11)

Samaritans were considered outcasts at that time to the Jewish people. The ten lepers that were to meet Him as he entered the village were definitely forbidden people. The Jews believed that the lepers disease that plaques these men was a punishment for some particular sin that was committed. They felt God's displeasure toward these men, but Jesus showed no concern about their afflictions and was not troubled by what caused them, except that he was Christ who came to take away their sin and heal them.

As you see in verse 12, as Jesus entered a certain village, there waiting for Him afar off were the ten lepers. In verse 13, they lifted their voices crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Today we do the same thing. We have general knowledge of Jesus through various teachings or casual comments from “religious” people. We are told that He has the power to heal us or He is able to comfort us and take away our problems. With that info implanted in the back of our minds when trouble does appear into our life we call on Him crying. “Jesus, have mercy on us”. The remarkable thing about this is Jesus does intervene in some particular way, even if we are not believers. Being unbelievers we don’t know that God is answering our call or we just shun it off as something He is obligated to do. Needless to say as believers we are aware of His intervention into our problem and we are sincerely thankful to Him. We make promises to change our ways so that we will please Him. Shortly after that we slowly forget and go back to our old ways.

Verse 15, depicts the examples I alluded to at the beginning of this lesson. What are we going to do? We can except Jesus as merely a good person who has the ability to heal us every once in a awhile .Who is a great comfort to us in time of need and also has good advice for us to help us live better. On the other hand we can be like the one leper who received the healing that Christ gave him and then went even further then that and returned to Jesus and fell down on his face and worshiped him. This is what we all need to learn. Jesus is God incarnated and when we go all the way we not only appreciate what Jesus in the flesh did for us but we glorify and exalt Him as our Lord. Jesus quotes in John 6: 57 “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of me". Feeding on Jesus is allowing Him to enter into the deepest part of our being. That one lepered was so touched by the His presences that he was willing to let go of what little dignity that he may had and fall down at the feet of Jesus. He went all the way. He wanted to be one with Jesus as Jesus is one with the Father. I pray that you and me will remember that like the lepered we must run to the feet of our Savior with heart filled gratitude no matter what comes our way rather it’s a healing or not . Jesus doesn’t love us half way he loves us all the way. Remember the cross. God bless all. Amen.

Scrip Ref : Luke 9:57-62

Do you want to make that commitment click here Bible Study Welcome