LUKE 17:11-19

Everybody called him "the Handyman!" He was the neighborhood Mr. Fix-it, the Good Samaritan, the old fellow next door who could put anything back together. He was often seen surrounded by neighborhood children watching eagerly as he fixed a little boy's bike or put a wheel back on a little girl's doll carriage. His kind heart endeared him to all and folk found him an easy mark for a free repair. He reminds me of Jesus. People flocked from everywhere to hear Him, but in larger proportion to be blessed by Him. They brought their ill, their demon possessed, their children to Him for His providence. And He never turned any away, He blessed them all. That's why we shouldn't be surprised at the manner in which He responded to the ten lepers. They cried out, He blessed. It's still the same!

1. THE MULTITUDES COME TO JESUS FOR WHAT HE CAN DO:
1. VERSES 12, 13: The lepers came for cleansing. They were afflicted with some sort of skin ailment, not necessarily what we term leprosy today. But as a result they were in a dismal situation; perhaps not deadly peril, but:
1. They were outcasts from society: cut off from loved ones, living homeless in the wilderness or among the graves; standing 100 paces off the roadside calling out a warning to approachers, "Unclean! Unclean!" Leviticus 13:45, 46. They wanted Jesus to fix that!
2. They were unable to worship in the temple forbidden by Jewish law:Leviticus 15:31 They wanted Jesus to fix that!
3. They were considered unworthy sinners: common thought held that if a man was terribly sick, it indicated God's punishment for sin. To help such a person would be to thwart God's dealing with him. The lepers wanted Jesus to fix that!
2. Blind men sat along the road crying for His mercy; folk with sick and dying loved ones besought His power; the deaf, the lame, the palsied, the oppressed came to Him because they wanted Him to fix it!
3. I'm not saying we should not do that! For that's precisely what we ought to do! We ought to come to Jesus with
1. broken lives and wrecked potential.
2. broken dreams and lost hopes.
3. broken hearts and wounded spirits.
4. broken relationships and ruined friendships.
5. broken promises and destroyed commitments.
4. The lepers came and others came too. Because so many came, Jesus was hardly able to even draw apart for rest; the multitudes sought Him and found Him wherever He went -- and He, in characteristic compassion, dealt kindly with them all.

2. THE MASTER NEVER SENDS AWAY HONEST FOLK WITHOUT A BLESSING:
1. Verse 14: Jesus didn't hesitate. He sent them away with a cleansing.
2. Sometimes He questioned or tested faith and sincerity before giving His blessing.
1. He tested the Canaanite woman, but He blessed her: Matthew 15:25-28 "But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, 'Lord, help me!' And He answered and said, 'It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.' But she said, 'Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their master's table.' Then Jesus answered and said to her, 'O woman, your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish.' And her daughter was healed at once."
2. He tested the blind men but He healed them: Matthew 9:28, 29 "And after He had come into the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, 'Do you believe that I am able to do this?' They said to Him, 'Yes, Lord.' Then He touched their eyes, saying, 'Be it done to you according to your faith.'"
3. When Jesus censured and chastened, it was for lack of faith and for hypocritical phoniness and pride. When Jesus commends and blesses it is for sincerity and humility of faith. Those who ask in faith receive, those who seek in faith find, those who knock in faith have the door opened. Jesus doesn't send away, He beckons and welcomes!
1. Jesus still invites: Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."
2. Paul's words are still valid: Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." 
3. John's gracious invitation still sounds: Revelation 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost." 
4. The lepers found a ready Mr. Fix-it, a willing helper, an agreeable deliverer! And so have others and so will you, if you come with sincerity of Christ-centered faith!

3. THE MINORITY ACTUALLY EXPRESS SINCERE GRATITUDE:
1. VERSES 15-18: Note the amazement, the wonder, the disappointment in Jesus' questions.
2. We often believe ourselves to be grateful; and I won't argue that point too much. But I challenge you to really consider the proportion of asking, complaining, and thanking! We might be surprised ourselves at the disproportion of each.
1. People complain when they don't get things their way in the home, or on the job or in the congregation!
2. People complain when they don't get the very things they want in the size, color, style and brand they request!
3. People complain when they don't feel good and have pain and affliction.
4. People complain when they have to suffer problems or put up with difficult people.
5. How much do you, and how much do I for that matter, complain about what happens? That's a good indicator of how full or empty our thank-tank is!
3. We are thankful for the things we like, enjoy, and feel good about! But Paul says,
1. Ephesians 5:20 "Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;" Can we say we do that?
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Can we say we keep that teaching?
4. Not many of us can say we are that thankful! And not many came back to give gratitude -- they may have felt it; they may have meant to; but the simple fact is: only one came back to give thanks! If there's but one today, will it be you?

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