Were Not 10 Cleansed?

John Piper

Remember how you felt the first time you saw a butterfly, or a rainbow; or how about that exciting feeling of “walking on air” during that first case of “puppy love?”  And can you still recall how excited you would get building up to and then experiencing Christmas morning?  Of course, some of us are still enough of a kid to continue feeling much of that first-time wonderment, but familiarity does often diminish those first feelings.

As we age, we not only lose the wonder of those first-times, but we are conditioned by the world to be mature and in control of our emotions.  Too many highs or lows are something to be worried about.  Taking things in stride is the sensible way to live.  If something good happens, we note it, see it as balancing out recent bad times, and can’t get too excited because who knows what’s around the next corner?

In Luke’s gospel we read of 10 lepers being cleansed of their affliction by Jesus.  This disease not only caused pain, sickness, and a shortened life, but also those afflicted were cut off from society.  Being unclean meant being set apart in misery at just the time in your affliction when comfort and community were most desired.  After Jesus cleansed the 10 lepers, they went off on their merry way.  But one leper stopped, turned around, and returned to Jesus.  He came back to thank Jesus for making him clean and he proceeded to praise Jesus for His power and compassion.  Jesus then asked the famous, rhetorical question, “were not 10 cleansed?”  Whether they were too excited to think clearly, or afraid that the gift might not last, or in a hurry to see people they missed and get on with their lives, we don’t know.  But imagine the amazing joy they must have felt upon losing their affliction.  It is easy for us to imagine the actions of the one who returned.  We, too, would return to the Lord and thank Him for His mercy.  Or would we?

We gather together as the Church to praise God, recognize His sovereignty, and thank Him for loving us enough to cleanse us of our sins.  Those sins are something we cannot remove by our actions or feeble power.  Sin, by its very definition, is separation from God.  So, our sins not only debilitate us, but prevent us from experiencing the joy and comfort of God’s presence.  Christ’s death and resurrection brought about the cleansing that brings us back into Holy Communion with our Creator.

Yet, look around at worship.  Do you see the wonder, excitement and thankfulness of the leper who returned?  Or do you see people going through the motions, planning after-worship activities, or empty seats, reminding us of the 9 who went on their way?

God is all powerful and all knowing.  He is the Creator of the universe.  What gift do you get the Deity that has everything?  Well, there is actually something we have that only we can give to God.  It is the only thing we can give God that He cannot get on His own.  That gift is our love.  We give God love when we recognize what He has done for us and show our thankfulness.  As we celebrate this Easter season let’s reflect on this reality of our faith.  Weren’t we all cleansed?  How will you respond?

            Each Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection.  See you in worship!