- Perhaps on of the most familiar and traditional Thanksgiving texts is the account of
Jesus and the Ten Lepers. As Luke 17 records, they cried out, "Jesus, Master, have
pity on us!". Without any apparent delay Jesus responded, "Go show yourselves to
the priests." As they left Jesus’ presence they were miraculously healed.
The traditional question is this. "Which of the ten lepers were thankful?" The
traditional answer, however, may not be the correct one. The answer is "all of
them." That’s right. All of them.
All of them were undoubtedly thankful they were healed. Who wouldn’t be? They
recognized the change in their physical condition. They not only saw—but felt—the
leprosy leaving their bodies. They could move their fingers, hands, arms, legs and other
parts of their bodies. They felt the wholeness that resulted in the return of their
strength.
Yes, they were thankful. They were thankful they could return to their homes, their lives
and their livelihood. They had experienced the fulfillment of their deepest longing:
healing.
If all ten were thankful, why is it that only the Samaritan returned to Jesus? Because his
thankfulness was more than a superficial recognition of God’s healing power. His
thankfulness was more than just a façade of religious gratitude which goes to church,
says a prayer or two of thanksgiving, and then continues on with one’s life.
In contrast, the Samaritan’s response to God’s power recognized the that the
gracious power of God worked deeply in his heart and soul. This deep healing was far more
significant than the "mere" healing from leprosy.
The Samaritan's Response-
- When the Samaritan threw himself at Jesus’ feet this was not just an act of
worship. It was the ultimate total response of soul-felt thanksgiving. He gave oneself
fully and unreservedly to Jesus. He placed himself and everything He was at the complete
disposal of Jesus. This total action of giving himself as a "living sacrifice"
was nothing less than the full, complete and God-pleasing response of undeserved grace.
The Samaritan would not use his healing for himself. He would use it for God.
Since the Samaritan’s response of thanksgiving was qualitatively different, the next
obvious question is, "Why was it different?" Certainly it was different because
of the unique action of the Holy Spirit working through the words of His Lord. Certainly
it was because of faith. But the one thing that made it to uniquely different from the
others may be hinted at in the verses immediately following this account. There one finds
Jesus’ words, "The Kingdom of God is within you."
Herein lies the reason for the difference. Though all ten were healed, though all ten were
thankful, and though all ten were "religious," only one recognized the true
significance of the miracle. The "Kingdom of God" was within him.
From this time forward, his life would not be directed by the externals.From this time
forth he would understand that even if the leprosy were to return, he would have the most
important thing anyone could ever have in their lives: the constant and ever-growing
presence of God’s gracious working through the Kingdom of God in him.
Regardless of the circumstances, the ever-present recognition that the Kingdom of God was
within in would move him to perpetual gratitude in Christ ’s service. No matter what
the external circumstances, no matter how difficult, no matter what the challenges, the
recognition of having the power and presence of the Kingdom of God within him would cause
him to throw himself at Jesus’ feet over and over and over again. His deep sense of
thanksgiving could do nothing less. It is the legacy and calling of all in whose hearts
the Kingdom of God is present.
Thankfulness And Meaning
- Victor Frankl, in his book, Man’s Search For Meaning (New York: Simon and
Schuster, 1984) described life and survival in the Nazi death camps during World War II.
In life-threatening circumstances, Frankl noted the key for survival.
-
- "Everything can be taken away from man except for one final thing--the last of
human freedoms--to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose
one's own way. [Despite of the conditions in the death camps]…in the final analysis
it becomes clear that the sort of person the prisoner became was the result of inner
decision, and not the result of camp conditions alone.
Fundamentally, therefore, any man can, even under such circumstances, decide what shall
become of him or her, mentally and spiritually. He may retain human dignity even in a
concentration camp. Dostoevski once said, "There is only one thing I dread: not to be
worthy of my sufferings."
These words came frequently to mind after I became familiar with those martyrs whose
behavior in camp, whose suffering and death, bore witness to the fact that the last inner
freedom cannot be lost. It can be said that they were worthy of their sufferings; the way
they bore their sufferings was a genuine inner achievement. It is this spiritual
freedom--which cannot be taken away--that makes life meaningful and purposeful." (
New York: Washington Square Press, 1984, pp. 86-87,).
When the Samaritan leper was healed, it was not just his body (as the other nine
experienced) but his soul that was healed. When he received and recognized, by grace, the
presence of the Kingdom of God within him, he realized an inner spiritual freedom far
greater than that which Frankl described.
When the Samaritan experienced this "spiritual freedom—which cannot be taken
away," he gained a profound, inner understanding of the Kingdom of God within him.
This made his life meaningful and purposeful" for God. It is this experience which
led him to be ever-thankful…and never ceasing to throw himself at Jesus’ feet.
- Thrown At Jesus' Feet
Throwing oneself at Jesus feet…repeatedly…is the hallmark of the "Ministry
of Thanksgiving." Despite the conditions, the conflict, the difficulties, the
criticism, the lack of affirmation and the soul-wrenching threats of rejection and
antagonism, the Ministry of Thanksgiving continues for one reason and one reason alone. The
Kingdom of God, given by grace and enlivened through God’s Word and Spirit, is within
us. This confidence, in success and failure, gives, renews and reaches to the confidence.
This confidence gives us "unconditional faith in an unconditional meaning" in
Jesus Christ. This is not merely a mark of faith. It is the key to the survival of the
"soul."
By throwing himself at Jesus feet, the Samaritan was demonstrating that he was beginning a
new life in the full recognition that, by grace, the Kingdom of God was within Him. For
everyone in the service of Jesus Christ, the presence of the Kingdom of God within us
works within us the same response.
Whatever the circumstances, are you throwing yourself at Jesus’ feet? Whatever the
consequences of throwing ourselves down before Jesus’ feet one thing is for sure. It
is the hallmark of one’s Ministry of Thanksgiving. It is this ministry to which Jesus
called the Samaritan and us.
May God work within you so that your ministry for the Gospel of Jesus Christ may be a
ministry of joyful thanksgiving.
Thomas F. Fischer
Topical
Index Articles 1-49
Articles 50-99 Articles
100-149 Articles 150-199
Articles
200-249 Articles 250-299
Articles 300-349 Articles
350-399
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