Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-05-29
LESSON FOR MAY 81
THE GRATEFUL SAMARITAN.

THE GRATEFUL SAMARITAN.
LESSON TExT-Luke. 17:11-1s
GOLDEN TExT-"were there none
found that returned to give glory to God
save this stranger" Luke 17:1&
Jesus and his party are on their
last journey to Jerusalem, most
eventful journey. 1t led him between
Samaria and Galilee ". IL, marg.) and
into, or through, an unknown, un
named village. To us this is the most
heroic and momentous moment in his
tory. Jesus knew that his hour was at
hand. He knew all that awaited him
in Jerusalem, yet he "set his face
as flint" and nothing could turn him
from his purpose, his crowning work.
Jesus, however, was never too busy or
In too great haste to do a deed OF
compassionate mercy.
The Type of Sin.
I. A Great Need, w. 11-14.-We are
familiar with the awfulness Of leprosy
and that it is type of sin. Like sin,
leprosy begins within. is insidious in
of the society of the clean. 1t renders
its victims helpless and hopeless, has
no remedy and receives no help from
men; in consumes and finally kills.
This was terrible spectacle that
greeted Jesus eyes as he entered the
village. for these lepers were com
PEELED to live on the outside. Notice
". 12) that they stood "afar on"
(Eph. 2:13), indeed, SO far off that
they were compelled to 'lift their
voices" in order to make known their
request, although it may have been
that the disease had reached their
vocal organs. The Mosaic law com
PEELED the leper thus to stand afar off,
Lev. 13:45, rs. Their salutation was
the cry Of the needy made to one In
authority. The word Master here
used is not that which usually means
teacher, but rather one that would be
applied to one In authority, an ap-
have either recognized his power or
having heard of his miracles they ap
pealed to him to exercise like power
on their behalf. There was no other
who could possibly give them relief,
even so the sinners only hope is to
meet Jesus. He, and he alone, can
! cleanse them from their uncleanness
and wretchedness. Jesus never
! passed that way again, this was their
only opportunity. Their need drove
them to him Outlines our distress
and need are blessings in disguise in
that they drive us to Jesus Though
afar of, and though only one drew
nigh ". 16), yet it was the privilege Of
them all, as It is also our privilege to
draw Nigh" Eph. 2:13. Their CRY
did not fall upon deaf ears Elsa. 59:D,
1t was brief. but to the point, petf
tion. They knew what they needed and
drove straight to the point Their ap
peal to his mercy met with immediate
response, so also will the cry of the
needy sinner meet with like re
sponse (Rom. 1913. The record does
not tell us about the faith of these
men and it is useless for us to spec
ulate. The cry Of faith will have its
answer, Matt. 1929. Their prayer was
brief, 1t must have been humble, be
lieving, earnest ana specific, for wher
"he saw them" ". 14) he gave direc
tions as to the manner whereby they
might be cleansed. He could have
spoken or have touched them, bu
his way at that time was to utter {
command. This resulted In (a) full
filling of the law, (b) test for theiI
faith. (c) testimony to the priests
They showed their genuine earnest
ness by immediate obedience, the,
took him at his word. The record II
wonderfully suggestive, "as they wen
they were cleansed." Faith and works
obedience and results. When we ac
upon his simple yet sublime word we
too, will receive blessed answer tt
our every need. AS we look to him
our great high priest, as we take ou
eyes off of self, we shall be cleansed
John 14:21.23.
Bore Witness Before Men,
II. A Grateful Heart, w. 15-19.-Th
revelation of cleansing brought differ
ent results to these lepers. "One o
them" came back at once to express
his gratitude Before he could scarce
ly speak his petition, now he erie
with loud voice" This is sugges
ton as to the completeness OF hi
cure. He at once uses his restores
voice to "glorify God" and it looks a
though he bore this witness before b
testified to men; (a) being heale'
seems also to have opened his eye
as to the character Of Jesus. He no
only returned thanks, but "worshipe
him" Nor does Jesus refuse to az
cept such worship-an evidence of hi
deity, see Acts 15:25,26; John 5:2
and Heb. lie. The nine were too OF
cupied in rejoicing with their friends
too busy with fulfilling duties fror
which they had long been separated, t
express their thanks. 1t is signiflcan
that this one was Samaritan"
stranger" This is the one Of whor
less would be expected, yet Luke re
cords other good things about tn
Samaritan, Oh. 10:33-35. (Luke, as tn
companion of Paul, shows US not onl
in his gospel, but in his life of Pau
Christ's outreachings towards the Ger
tiles.) The Jews have no dealing
with the Samaritans John 4:9), bu
sin makes strange companions. Jesu
expresses in his question ". IL R. v.
great astonishment, which was ev
IDENTIFY twofold: (a) first the ingrat
tude of the nine and (b) the gratitud
of this stranger" It is interesting I
recall that those three persons wht
during his earthly ministry, receive
the Lords special commendation wer
the heather centurion, Matt. $40, tn
heather woman, Matt 15:242S, an
this Samaritan leper. This leper'
thanks brought Joy to Jesus, Hell
1875, 16, and in his departing he cal
ried a still more wonderful blessin
from the Savior. The ingratitude c
the nine is indeed reprehensible, bu
we need to examine well our conduc
before we condemn others.