The Ten Lepers

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Then he said to him, rise and go. Your faith has made you well. Luke seventeen nineteen. Heavenly Father, we declare our faith in your unmatched power to restore. In a world where shame, sin, insecurity, and a sense of purposelessness can so easily overwhelm us, we look to you as our source of renewal and strength. You alone can lift the weight of our burdens, cleanse us from our sins, and men the broken pieces of our lives. We ask that by our faith in you, we would experience the fullness of your restoration. Heal our hearts from shame, wash us clean from sin, fortify our spirits against insecurity, and illuminate our paths with your purpose. May our liees be a testimony to your redeeming love and power, inspiring others to seek you for the restoration they need. Help us to walk in the confidence of your promises, assured that our faith in you opens the door to a life renewed. In Jesus name, we pray Amen, Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to the Jesus Podcast, remain here to be immersed in the heartwarming story of the Ten Lepers. If you're looking for a way to support this podcast, You can do so by following, leave a review, and share with a friend. Thanks for making the mission possible. Jesus and his disciples walk the long, dry road to Jerusalem, passing between Samaria and Galilee. The sun hung in the middle of the sky. There were no trees to give them shade. There was no breeze to blow some of the heat away. Sweat dripping down their legs as they dragged their feet through the dust. No one lived in these arid places, these desolate roads between two opposing cities. The sky stretched over the valley for miles in every direction. Cutting through the land was a singular road, the one road they had to stay on for days. Peter didn't mind the travel. There were no crowds to tame on these forsaken roads. The people from Judea wouldn't dare traveled near Samaria, and the folks from Samaria wouldn't dare travel near Judea. Peter drew in the hot air, insighed. Although the heat was miserable, he enjoyed a break in the madness. At least here there was space to breathe. James and John were a few paces behind Jesus fighting for the place directly behind him. James nudged John, causing John to shove James. As John pushed, he slipped and stumbled into the dirt. James and the other disciples laughed, helping John on to his feet. Jesus grinned and wipe some of the sweat off his brow. 00:03:25 Speaker 2: We are stumbled by many things, John, but woe to anyone who causes others to stumble. 00:03:30 Speaker 1: The disciples looked at each other, their faces a mix of concern and curiosity. John scratched his head and asked. 00:03:38 Speaker 3: Lord, what do you mean by stumble? And why such a harsh fate for someone who causes it. 00:03:43 Speaker 1: Jesus took John under his arm and wiped some dust off his shoulders. He ruffled his hair with fatherly affection and said. 00:03:52 Speaker 2: To stumble someone is to lead them astray. Be vigilant and observe yourselves very carefully, especially when you speak to little ones of those who are new to the faith. 00:04:03 Speaker 4: So we have to watch ourselves, But what about others? What if we are the victims? How do we deal with those people who've stumbled us? 00:04:13 Speaker 2: You mustn't withhold a rebuke. It is for their good. Then if they repent, you must forgive them. Do not withhold that either. 00:04:22 Speaker 3: But Master, what if they keep sinning against us? How often do we have to forgive? 00:04:29 Speaker 1: Jesus smiled softly. 00:04:31 Speaker 2: We've spoken about this, haven't we? Even if they sin against you seven times in a single day, if they come back seven times saying I repent, you must forgive them. 00:04:41 Speaker 1: The disciples exchange looks of astonishment and bewilderment. It all seems so difficult, nearly impossible. To be more forgiving than the average person is one thing, but always forgiving others seemed impossible. John glanced at his brother with remorse. James smiled and nodded his head in recognition. John turned back to Jesus and. 00:05:09 Speaker 2: Said, Lord, increase our faith. 00:05:12 Speaker 1: Jesus's face curled up in joy at the request. Faith would be the thing they needed to press forward. They passed by a few small trees. Jesus gestured to one, saying. 00:05:26 Speaker 2: Faith increases on its own. John, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can tell this mulberry tree be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it will obey you. 00:05:38 Speaker 4: You're talking about greatness in God's kingdom, Right, Jesus, you're talking about a faith that gets us approval from the Lord. 00:05:46 Speaker 1: Jesus tilted his head. 00:05:48 Speaker 2: Not quite, James, you think too much in terms of recognition for your work. Suppose a master had a servant plowing or looking after his sheep. Will he say to the servant when he in from the field, come my friend, come along now and sit down to eat. 00:06:04 Speaker 1: The disciples listened, intrigued by the question. 00:06:07 Speaker 2: Wouldn't the master say, prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink. After that you may eat and drink. Does a master really thank the servant because he did what he was told? 00:06:19 Speaker 1: Jesus held up a finger and told them sternly. 00:06:22 Speaker 2: So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, you should say we are unworthy servants. We've only done our duty. You are servants of the Lord, and you should always be willing to Jesus. 00:06:36 Speaker 1: Lesson was interrupted by a shout in the distance. The disciples peered into the distance. A brown blur formed there at the edge of the turquoise sky. A line of several men hobbling forward as they continued down the road. The line of men grew larger and closer. They flapped their arms wildly in the air. They limped too much to be bandits. They carried no supplies, so they weren't merchants. Everyone tensed. When the group of men hobbled closer in the view, John gulped at the side of them. 00:07:14 Speaker 3: It's lepus. 00:07:18 Speaker 5: What would be the first thing you did if your biggest problem in life suddenly vanished through the cross That Jesus has caused our biggest problem in our lives, sin to be wiped away, and the life that follows is rooted in a heart of gratitude that should cause us to praise God. Galatians two twenty says this, I have been crucified with Christ, and it's no longer I who live the Christ who lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Welcome to the Jesus Podcast, a year story showcasing the depth of Christ's love through storytelling and the glory of God's truth through honest reflection. I'm Zach. You're a host from pray dot Com and thanks again. For joining us for another story inspired by the Gospels. Make sure that you're following the podcast so you never have to miss out. Our miracle today holds a lesson inside a lesson, and our story will meet ten lepers who find Jesus and his disciples with the hopes of being healed by a miraculous rabbi. In Jesus's time, leprosy was a symbol of both physical and spiritual death, as the body decayed from the disease. It was a reminder of how the soul decase from sin. Looking for physical salvation, the lepers come to the healer asking for pity. Each one of them must then decide if they're going to obey the words of Jesus in hopes to be healed. But out of the ten, one will show us that Jesus wants to give us something even greater than just physical healing. Let's begin. 00:08:44 Speaker 1: John squinted at the line of them, ten men with bandages lining their arms and legs. They hunched over, their bodies, rotting underneath the cloth. Their suffering was etched on their marred faces. 00:08:59 Speaker 3: The lepus they must live in some kind of colony near by. 00:09:04 Speaker 1: The line of lepers approached cautiously, keeping a fair distance between them and the Disciples. It wasn't uncommon for lepers to colonize and band together. What was unusual, though, was that this colony was seemingly made up of Jews and Sumerians, two groups historically opposed to each other, united in suffering. The Disciples recoiled at the sight of them. However, where the Disciples saw a group of dead men walking, Jesus saw an image of the Kingdom of God. He saw hurting people united together seeking healing and restoration at the feet of Jesus, and was a broken, yet beautiful sight to be halt. One of them walked in front of the others. He had one arm outstretch and the other tucked away in a rapt. 00:10:02 Speaker 6: Sling, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 00:10:08 Speaker 1: The Disciples took steps back as the levers approached, but not Jesus. His pace quickened down the road toward them until he got closer, too close for John's comfort. He nervously shouted to. 00:10:22 Speaker 3: Jesus Master, do you want us to come with. 00:10:26 Speaker 1: You, hoping the answer would be no. It wasn't customary to get that close to them. There was a reason their Leper tribe was so far away from any city in the middle of nowhere. Everyone knew that the disease was a fate worse than death. Jesus stopped when he was with an earshot and shouted. 00:10:49 Speaker 2: My friends, have faith and go show yourself to the priests at the temple. 00:10:54 Speaker 1: The command was a difficult one. He asked the outcast acted by their city to re enter the gates and show themselves to the priests. It couldn't have been what they expected. They heard Jesus had healed Lepers. They heard that he even touched them, and now, without a wave of his hand or a prayer, he was telling them to return to Jerusalem. 00:11:21 Speaker 4: What did he just say? 00:11:23 Speaker 1: One of the masked, with disappointment in his voice. 00:11:25 Speaker 2: He just told us to return to Jerusalem and see the priests. 00:11:29 Speaker 4: No priest is going to come within fifty feet of us. And what about us, Samaritans, We're billy welcome within the gates. He is obeying Jesus worth the risk of ridicule and rejection. 00:11:42 Speaker 1: What do we have to lose? 00:11:43 Speaker 2: We came to him and he responded with a command. 00:11:47 Speaker 1: The ten Lepers agreed to obey Jesus. They turned toward Jerusalem, anxious about what awaited them there. They held each other's arms as they walked, wondering if Jesus was just trying to get rid of them. They walked at their average pace, their sore legs trudged forward, hindered by lost toes and crippled legs. But as they walked, something began to change. They felt strength returning to their legs. They no longer needed each other to keep themselves upright. One of the lepers stopped on the road, his chest pounding. He brought his arms up and turned them over. They felt fine. He uncovered the bandages there, revealing new fresh skin. 00:12:43 Speaker 2: Everyone, uncover your bandages. 00:12:45 Speaker 1: The others frantically unbound themselves and saw that their scars were gone, their fingers restored, and their skin brought back to life. Their faces had signs of life again. Heath had returned, and the hair on their lashes and brows grew back. They felt whole again. They felt human again. Their hearts nearly burst out of their chestsled. They cheered, skipping along the road, clicking their heels to a melody of healing and new beginnings. They waltzed down the road together, dreaming about what they would do once they entered the city. One of the Samaritan lepers stopped. He looked at his palms in his arms, He felt his chest, and flexed his legs. It was like he'd been brought back to life. He could feel the gravel underneath his toes. He could hear the chirping birds and see the blue skies adorned with clouds. His companions were far ahead, slowly fading from view. They skipped and sang their way to Jerusalem. But this man didn't move. He snapped his head back toward Jesus, standing one hundred yards away. He smiled, pivoted his feet, and used his newfound strength to run toward him. He shouted at Jesus, waving his hands and shouting. 00:14:21 Speaker 6: Praise God, Thank you Lord, you truly are the son of David. 00:14:28 Speaker 1: Tears slipped over his full and colorful cheeks. He ran back to Jesus and fell at his feet, kneeling in the dust, and thanked him. With his head lowered to the ground. John took a step back, not from shock at his healing, but with surprise. His bandages were gone now and it was clear he was a Samaritan, a foreigner, Jesus. 00:14:56 Speaker 6: The son of David, Thank you for your mercy. I have my life back now because of you. I was dead, but now. 00:15:07 Speaker 2: Now I'm alive. 00:15:09 Speaker 1: The Samaritan's voice swelled with joy and realization that Jesus hadn't just healed him, but given him hope for a brighter future. Jesus laughed and propped the man up by his shoulders. He dusted off his garment and looked back to the road. 00:15:26 Speaker 2: Were not ten cleansed? 00:15:28 Speaker 1: Where are the other nine? 00:15:30 Speaker 2: Was no one found to return and praise God? Except this foreigner. 00:15:34 Speaker 1: Jesus squeezed the man's shoulders. 00:15:36 Speaker 2: Go your way, my friend, your faith has made you well. 00:15:41 Speaker 1: The leoper nodded, embraced Jesus, hence skipped down the road toward Jerusalem. The other nine may have been healed from leprosy, but only this Samaritan was given the greatest gift of all faith. 00:16:01 Speaker 5: The story of the healing of the ten lepers begins, like many other miracles, broken men and women coming to Jesus to be healed with this heavenly power. At this point it might start to sound like a broken record. We know exactly what's going to happen. Jesus is going to heal, they're going to rejoice, and then a crowd is going to surround Jesus. But let's pause for a moment. There's actually something that's happening within the miracle, an extra layer, if you will. These ten lepers were on the outskirts of town between Samaria and Galilee. We know from the text that these ten lepers were both Jews and Samaritans, two groups that vehemently hated each other, bonded by their suffering. You can imagine how this happens naturally. Between Samaria and Galilee. Lepers were cast out of each region and forced defend for themselves. However, their need for companionship and comfort and suffering transcended their petty cultural differences. Never underestimate the power of feeling understood. There were centuries of hatred between Jews and Samaritans, but the fact that they could relate to one another in suffering bonded them. Christian, Atheist, German, Pakistani, rich, poor, Eastside West Side Boxers briefs. The universal truth among all of us is that we've suffered in some way and at some point in our lives have longed to feel understood and belong And here's a lesson for us. As the Body of Christ is the body of Christ, the group of believers that we call Christians or the Church. Is it a safe place, a safe place to suffer, a safe place to go through trials? You see, sometimes Christian communities can confuse joy with happiness. Here's what I mean. Happiness is a feeling, not something to be avoided, but not something to be pursued as the highest ideal. Certainly because happiness is dopamine dependent, it depends on circumstance, substance or stimulation. An addiction to happiness can sometimes make us run away, bury or avoid suffering and tough conversations. Happiness is uncomfortable with being uncomfortable. But joy is different. Joy is a spiritual discipline. Joy is learned through acknowledging suffering, seeking Christ in the midst of it, and finding meaning. Joy is exercised like a muscle, through gratitude, prayer, and calling to someone higher than your own pleasure. Joy doesn't need everyone to feel all right. Joy is comfortable with uncomfortability. Joy doesn't need everything to be perfect. Joy acknowledges that God is good, all the time, even when things are bleak. James one two through three says, this counted all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. You see, the more comfortable you and I become a suffering, the more patience we have with others who suffer, and the greater our impact on the world will be. You see, if we as believers are not comfortable with other people suffering and going through hard times and through positivity and pithy sayings, we just try and sweep suffering under the rug, we're gonna ruin our witness with the world. You see, we have plenty of people out there who proclaim to hate Christians, But what if Christians were a safe place for them to suffer, grieve, doubt, and wrestle with hard things. You see, just like these lepers, our own divisions of culture or beliefs can take the back seat. When suffering is empathized with and acknowledged. You will be surprised to find how many people you will connect with people who are different than you if you have this shared bond over mutual suffering and understanding. Another thing to point out in this story is that these lepers were healed through obedience. No doubt they had heard about Jesus laying hands on lepers declaring them clean, but they had to obey his word. You see, First Jesus told them to go, and as they went, they were healed. Sometimes we want to change our life so that we can feel freedom to obey God all tied. When I have more income, I'll volunteer when I am less overwhelmed. I'll share the gospel when I feel less insecure about myself. But it is often obedience that brings about change, change that brings out obedience. James two fourteen through eighteen says this, what good is it? My brothers? If someone says he has faith but has not works, can faith save them? If a brother's sister's poorly clothed, they're lacking in daily food, and one of you says to him, go in peace, be warmed and filled without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, you have faith and I have works, But show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You see, faith is worked out, faith is exercised. Faith is given substance as we obey and respond to the commands of Christ. And that is certainly the case with these lepers. They had to obey and respond to the command of Christ before they could experience healing. What you desperately want from God can often be found on the other side of obedience. But that's hard, right. We want God to answer our prayer, and then we want to use that as a springboard for us to start obeying him. But oftentimes that's not how it works. God wants you to start stepping out in faith, obeying him knowing that his commands are sure and true. And then as you do that and create a lifestyle of righteousness and obedience, you will start to find that all these things you're praying for come to fruition. You see, Jesus says, seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all else will be added onto you. Seeking God's kingdom first often precedes these blessings that you so desperately are searching for. So these lepers are healed, but one of them, when he saw he was healed, turned back and started praising God. It's then that Jesus says, we're not ten cleans. Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner, And he said to him, rise, go your way. Your faith has made you well. In reading this, I'm thinking about all the times I've prayed for God to move in my life, prayed for a breakthrough, pray for a miracle, prayed for provision, and all the times he answered, and I didn't return with gratitude or acknowledge him. I just moved on. Books can be filled with events in my life where God showed up, followed through, healed, protected, provided, and redeemed, And I was so self absorbed I didn't fall onto my knees and thank God for his faithfulness. It is said that those who practice daily gratitude are thirty four percent less likely to struggle with mental illness and bouts of anxious depression. Isn't that wild? We rob ourselves of joy by not exercising gratitude. The Jews had festivals, holidays, and meals dedicated to looking back at God's faithfulness and meditating on what He did for them. Gratitude keeps us tethered to faith and strengthens us to press through difficulty. So today meditate on all the things God has done in your life, turn back to Him and praise him for what he's done. Thanks again for listening to the Jesus Podcast. We have a few more episodes showcasing Christ's miracles than After that, we're going to dive into an extra special series on the Sermon on the Mat