In the world of science there is something known as the rule of ten. The rule of ten is an observation concerning energy transfer. It seems that as energy moves from one system to another only about 10% of the energy is transferred. For example, say a plant gets 100,000 calories of energy from the sun. When a cow then eats that plant it receives 10,000 calories and when a person then eats that cow they receive only 1,000 calories of energy. The rule of ten can be observed beyond the world of science. The rule of ten has been observed in the world of finances as well. I think I read somewhere that 90% of Warren Buffett’s wealth comes from only 10% of his investments. And the rule of ten has also been observed by those who study time management and productivity. It has been observed that most of a person’s productivity is a result of only 10% of their work. The rule of ten has also been observed in churches and volunteer organizations where typically 10% of the people do 90% of the work. (Right now, Darrell is working with about 5% for Living Christmas. He’d sure like it if a few more of you could get him to at least 10%)
Today in our lesson from Luke 17:11-19 the rule of ten can be observed. As we are about to see, Jesus heals ten men of leprosy but only one, or 10% return to give him thanks.
Luke begins our lesson by telling us, “11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance.” By telling us Jesus was “on His way to Jerusalem” Luke places the account of the ten Lepers into a broader context. Later Jesus would tell His disciples why He was going to Jerusalem. “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. 33 On the third day he will rise again.”[1] Jesus was on His way to offer His life as the sacrifice for our sins; He was on His way to secure your salvation and mine.
Along the way He traveled between Samaria and Galilee. The Jews and Samaritans did not have the friendliest of relationships. As far as most Jews were concerned the Samaritans had defiled themselves by intermarrying with pagans and should thus be avoided as much as possible. However, that racial hostility was not what caused a group of men to keep their distance from Jesus and His disciples.
Luke tells us the group consisted of ten men who had leprosy. Leprosy was a nasty disease. It rotted away at the flesh causing skin sores and left a person grossly disfigured. Once a person was discovered to have leprosy they were to be treated as pariahs from society and had to wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and anytime someone would come too close they were to cry out, “Unclean!” “Unclean!”[2] The leper’s whole appearance and conduct was to identify him as a bearer of infection and, therefore, an outcast from society.
Can you imagine living like that? It really shouldn’t be that difficult for us to imagine living like a leper. Leprosy was regarded as a picture of original sin. Like leprosy, sin rots away at us and makes us spiritually unclean. But can you imagine if the leprosy laws applied to sinners like you and me? Can you see yourself shouting at people, “Unclean!” “Unclean!” or more specifically, “Stay away from me I’m a liar, I tell lies.” Or “Keep your distance!” “I’m a cheater.” “Come any closer and I’m likely going to take advantage of you.” Or, “Stay back!” “I’m judgmental.” “I know that’s not as bad as the stuff you have done but you should keep your distance anyway.” Thankfully, the leprosy rules do not apply to us, but maybe they should. The prophet Jeremiah describes sin as a sickness in the heart[3]. The prophet Ezekiel says sin defiles us.[4] The apostle Paul says that our sins make us impure.[5] Our sin makes us more than social outcasts. In Isaiah 59:2 the prophet tells us “your iniquities have separated you from your God”. Sin makes us spiritual lepers before our God.
Because of our sin we stand a distance from Jesus. Luke tells us the leprous men stood at a distance “13and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” Allow me to geek out here for a moment because this is one of the more pathetic passages found in scripture. Everything about this verse conveys how pitiful these people were. Luke tells us they “called out”. The calling they did wasn’t just a “Hey! You!” it was an ongoing action; a persistent pleading if you will. This persistent pleading was done in a “loud voice”, but not the kind of loud voice that would be proudly proclaimed from the mountain tops. Rather, this sound was more like a wailing that came from depths of the earth. They address Jesus as their “Master”. The title has more in common with a shepherd who cares for his sheep than it does a Sovereign who rules his subjects. This title is an appeal for compassion; compassion that would move Jesus to “have pity” on them. They do not demand justice, for they know what they deserve. Instead they plead for pity in the hopes that they will be treated better than they deserve.
Considering the similarities between leprosy and our sinful condition, you would think pathetic words such as these would cross our lips more often. Certainly, there are numerous occasions for them to be spoken. Certainly, sinners like us have reason to offer a persistent pleading; a wailing from the depths. Certainly, we have need for compassion. Certainly, it is not justice that we seek. We are spiritual lepers who have occasion to call out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master have pity on us!”
Luke tells us how Jesus responds to the pitiful pleading of the leprous men. “14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” At times Jesus’ miracles are accompanied by an action; the filling of jars with water, a laying on of hands, or the application of mud. Here Jesus does none of those things. Instead it actually sounds like He tells the men to go away. Likely that is something these men have heard before. Nobody wanted a leper around. “gross, go away!” But Jesus’ reply is not as harsh as it sounds. Jesus didn’t tell them to go away. He told them to go and show. You see the priests were the ones tasked with the responsibility of determining whether or not a person had been cleansed. By telling the leprous men to go and show themselves to the priest, Jesus was telling them their prayers had been answered.
But still, think about the faith these men must have had. They had nothing to go on but the Word of Jesus. Sound familiar? Through Saint Peter, Jesus tells us the waters of baptism are “not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.” Jesus tells us baptism “saves us”.[6] Through Saint Matthew, Jesus tells us that when we eat His body and drink His blood we receive “the forgiveness of sins.”[7] Through saint John, Jesus tells us if we confess our sins, He “will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Like the leprous men, we have nothing to go on but the Word of Jesus.
But the Word of Jesus is all that is needed. Saint Luke tells us, “as they went, they were cleansed.” The prophet Isaiah gives a similar description of our cleansing when he says, ““Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.””[8] Like the leprous men we don’t need proof that God will keep His promise to cleanse us, all we need is the Word of Jesus.
The “they” who were cleansed included all ten of the leprous men. Jesus did not show partiality, favoritism, or withhold His blessings from any of them. In the same way Jesus does not show partiality, favoritism, or withhold His blessings from the spiritual leprous people of the earth. This fact is reinforced in passage after passage, God so loved “the world”[9], He wants “all men” to be saved.[10] He invites “all the ends of the earth” to turn to Him[11]. He promises salvation to “whoever” believes.[12]
God’s efforts to bless us are comprehensive and complete. And yet there remains the rule of 10. Saint Luke tells us one out of the ten lepers “when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.” I am not suggesting that we can actually do the math and determine that only 10% of the world is going to return to praise God on the last day. The rule of 10 is not a declaration it is an observation. An observation that while many are called only a few will be saved, that the though the door is wide open only a few will enter, that even though many have been invited only a few will sit down to the banquet. You can sense how sad the rule of 10 makes Jesus. Luke tells us “17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” His words are reminiscent of the sadness He expressed over the spiritual leprous when He said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”[13]
Jesus could have easily become discouraged by the rule of ten. But instead of focusing on the nine that did not return to give Him thanks, He celebrated the one who did. “He said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”” Jesus takes a moment to recognize the faith of the man who returned to give Him thanks and praise. It was a faith that expressed gratitude for physical cleansing he had received, but more than that, it was a faith that confessed that his healing came from God, a faith that recognized that Jesus was not just his Master but also his Messiah. In English Jesus says, “your faith has made you well”. In Greek Jesus says, “your faith has saved you”. The other nine lepers would enjoy the earthly blessing that Jesus bestowed upon them, but this man’ this man who believed in Jesus as his Savior, that man would enjoy the blessings of Jesus for all eternity.
As we think about the work we do together as a body of believers, the rule of 10 could easily cause us to become discouraged. We can think about all the people who are not here and, with Jesus, wonder where they are at. And perhaps if I were preaching this sermon on any other Sunday, I would encourage us to work to change the rule of 10 to the rule of 11 or 15 or 75. But since this Sunday is our thanksgiving Sunday, I would rather conclude my sermon this morning by focusing on the 10%. I would rather celebrate the ones who have gathered here to give thanks and praise to their God who has cleansed them of spiritual leprosy. I would rather take a moment to appreciate the men and women who recognize that Jesus is both their Master and their Messiah. I would rather focus my attention on you. You are the 10% and I want you to know, I thank God for you. Amen
[1] Luke 18:31-33
[2] Leviticus 13:45-46
[3] Jeremiah 17:19
[4] Ezekiel 14:11
[5] Ephesians 4:19
[6] 1 Peter 3:21
[7] Matthew 26:25
[8] Isaiah 1:18
[9] John 3:16
[10] 1 Timothy 2:4
[11] Isaiah 45:22
[12] Mark 16:16
[13] Matthew 23:37