Our passage begins with: ‘ten men with terrible trouble’ A brief story of different responses to God’s grace. What is the difference in the one that Christ focuses on? His FAITH, Saving faith! Then Christ describes in detail His second coming when asked about the ‘Kingdom of God’.
Then, as now, our need for faith in Christ is essential, because He is coming back… Or we may die first… We are all assigned a time to die before we are born!
When we develop and practice a Biblical Faith in Christ we welcome His return. As Christ’s disciples we don’t see death as the end; we know it’s the start of real life! So whether we die tomorrow or Christ returns tomorrow we need faith for the future!
Ch 17:11-37
11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
- They were on the border, the population mixed between Jews and Samaritans
- All ten of them looked to Him for mercy (they were desperate / social outcasts)
- Jesus tells them to go get checked out to be cleared for reentering society
- They all go to the priests, discovering they are healed right then (act of faith)
15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”
- There must have been instant recognition by all of them that they were healed
- The other 9 wanted to get to the priests ASAP… too busy to recognize or thank the source
- One is on his knees, thanking Christ for what HE had done (God’s here & healed me)
- Where are others? Implication is some of the others were Jews not samaritans
- Christ clearly separates the one who came back from the other nine
- If he is already healed of leprosy what does his faith heal him of?
- He recognizes Christ as God, the source of all good: The gift of ‘Saving Faith’
This one, not the other nine was eternally healed, saved, born again, redeemed from the spiritual death we are all born into: estrangement from our creator! Mankind is sick! Every human suffers from sin & the consequences of sin. Sin is the infection we should be most concerned with, left to our own devices it will separate us from God forever!
The Good New is God came in the form of one of us to die for us! The Biblical Gospel: Christ’s Death, Burial, Resurrection, Departure & RETURN! Our surrender by faith to Christ’s Lordship rescues us from the eternal consequences of our sin.
20 One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. 21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.”
- Addressing the Pharisees; “you guys cant recognize it, It Is right in front of you”
- They saw only what was visible, they didn’t see the spiritual
- You (Pharisees / Religious Fakers) asking the question proves you can’t see
- Similar theme last week: You (The Jews) should be able to see it (Scriptures)
22 Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see the day when the Son of Man returns, but you won’t see it. 23 People will tell you, ‘Look, there is the Son of Man,’ or ‘Here he is,’ but don’t go out and follow them.
- After speaking to the Pharisees, He then speaks to His Disciples
- My disciples will long for my 2nd advent (Doesn’t refer to hardship / persecution)
- There will be false messiahs, don’t follow after them (Follow Scripture)
24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes. 25 But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation.
- Christ’s return will be seen world-wide from horizon to horizon (supernatural)
- That same Son of Man who will return, will have departed by way of suffering and rejection
26 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 27 In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.
- Not if, but when He returns… it will be a world wide event of ‘Biblical Proportions’
- Noah is building this boat for 100 years, they are partying and getting married…
- Noah finishes, gets on the Ark, it starts to rain…they didn’t see it coming!
- Paul @ 1 Thess. 5: The return of Christ will come like a thief in the night!
28 “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building— 29 until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
- Another example of how God does things without prior notice
30 Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day a person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return home.
- There will not be an accurate prediction of the return of Christ (Matt 24:36-37)
- When His return happens those who have been redeemed will be ready to go
- If you have eternal life in Christ you don’t need anything else:
32 Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! 33 If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it.
- What happened to Lot’s wife? She looked back wanting to hold on to her previous life
- “Whoever tries to retain their life for their own sake will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.” ~ Literal Translation
34 That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.” 37 “Where will this happen, Lord?” the disciples asked. Jesus replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”
- The implication is clearly that families will be vied by God as individuals
- ‘Where there is a dead body…’ Jesus uses a popular proverb to teach that just as dead bodies attract vultures, being spiritually dead draws judgment.
SUMMARY:
Recognizing Christ as the source of all good, by faith, is foundational in redemption.
In Christ, The Kingdom of God has come, but it will be unrecognized by many.
When Christ returns, you wont have to go looking for Him, all humanity will know!
Up until Christ’s return it will be ‘biz as usual’, then a world-wide supernatural event.
One who has given up their life for Christ will be ready to go when Christ returns.
When Christ returns He will take His surrendered followers, others will be left behind.
The saved & the unsaved are and will be intermixed amongst families and vocations.
APPLICATION:
How can you become more aware of and thankful for God’s healing grace in your life?
What if Christ returned today? Is your relationship with Him where you want it to be?
Why is it important to be clear on what Scripture says about Christ’s return?
Why does Christ detail how believers & non believers are mixed in families & work?