We all know the story and the apparent moral taught to us in Sunday School: "Be thankful". Except maybe there is more to the story. - Richard Dahlstrom brought this out in a recent podcast sermon from Seattle's Bethany Community Church (https://podcasts.app...i=1000439414955)... In short, Luke 17 tells us about Jesus' encounter with 10 Lepers. He "cleanses" 10 but only one returns to give thanks and praise, having recognized that he was "healed".
The differences in words may be significant: 10 "cleansings" (Greek word which translates to our word "catharsis") but only 1 "healing" (Greek word translates as "salvation" ). We normally think of the word "salvation" as a cathartic event which seals our eternal future. But many stop there and don't follow Christ or even recognize or thank him for his great work in our lives.. Certainly being cleansed from sin's power IS cathartic - we are forgiven, justified, but maybe not fully "healed". Romans 5:10 argues that we've been justified /reconciled by the death of Christ, but "much more" will we be "saved" by his life! Following Christ "heals" - sanctifies us. We therefore accept both Christ's death for cleansing and follow him for our "healing and salvation: We are healed from our prior life and habits and thereby enter into the life for which we have been created and called. As Jesus says to the returning leper: "Your faith has made you well"
What do you suppose happened to the other nine?
JD Fitz
Journey Community Church, Tacoma, WA