Day 64, Luke 17:11-18:14
Luke gathers some episodes from this time when Jesus draws closer to Jerusalem for the climactic week of His ministry. The ten lepers are healed, yet the only one who returns to give thanks is a Samaritan. This is a foretaste of what is to come: multitudes of Gentile “unbelieving dogs” will come and give thanks to God for salvation in Jesus from the day of Pentecost onward. Note that all ten are healed, but thankfulness comes from the one who knows he doesn’t deserve it!
The rest of this chapter gives us the broad principle that you can’t reduce the Kingdom of God to observances or dates or expectations. God’s Kingdom is bigger, more revolutionary, and less predictable than anything in this world. We do well to avoid being drawn into focus on future events at the expense of our relationship with Jesus now. That can lead to mistaken teachings like “The Rapture” from these verses, which leads to an escapist disregard for the hurting humanity around us. (This is not the place to expand that thought, but feel free to email me if you would like more on this).
Faced with the need to be patient and persistent as we wait for God’s sudden Kingdom coming, Jesus teaches us that God is more committed to justice for His children than a human judge who may need to be badgered into doing what is right. And if we feel we don’t deserve God’s kindness, that is exactly what qualifies us to receive it! By contrast, the self-righteous will one day be humiliated by the revelation that they are NOT right with God.
God’s Kingdom is good, unexpected, and just. How will you see His Kingdom come for you and through you today?
Have a great day!
Mark.