Mercy, Gratitude, and Communion: Lessons from the Lepers

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus’ Mercy Reaches the Outcast and Unclean

Jesus meets the ten lepers in the borderlands—outsiders among outsiders, cut off from family, community, and worship because of their disease. Yet, it is precisely in this place of separation and brokenness that Jesus draws near, hearing their cry for mercy. He does not shy away from their uncleanliness or their status as outcasts; instead, He responds with compassion and grace, showing that no one is too far gone or too unworthy for His love. In a world that often pushes people to the margins, Jesus steps into the in-between places, bringing hope and restoration to those who feel most alone. [03:21]

Luke 17:11-14 (CSB)
While traveling to Jerusalem, he passed between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he told them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And while they were going, they were cleansed.

Reflection: Who in your life today might feel like an outsider or outcast? How can you reach out to them with the mercy and welcome of Jesus?

Day 2: The Power of Jesus’ Word to Cleanse and Restore

When Jesus tells the lepers to go show themselves to the priests, He gives a command that seems impossible in their current state. Yet, as they obey, they are cleansed—not by ritual or effort, but by the power of His word alone. This is how God’s word works: it accomplishes what it declares, bending reality to His will. Just as Jesus’ word brought healing to the lepers, so too does His word spoken over you in baptism, absolution, and communion declare you clean, forgiven, and beloved. You do not have to stand far off; the Word Himself has drawn near and made you whole. [08:22]

Luke 17:14 (CSB)
When he saw them, he told them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And while they were going, they were cleansed.

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you struggle to believe God’s word is truly effective? What would it look like to trust and act on His promises today?

Day 3: Faith Seeks the Giver, Not Just the Gift

Of the ten cleansed lepers, only one—a Samaritan, a double outsider—returns to Jesus, falling at His feet in worship and thanksgiving. The others receive the gift and move on, but this man recognizes that the true blessing is not just healing, but relationship with the Giver Himself. Faith does not simply rejoice in the gifts; it seeks the presence of Christ, desiring Him above all else. Gratitude flows not as a condition for grace, but as a response to the mercy already received. [11:37]

Luke 17:15-19 (CSB)
But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God. He fell facedown at his feet, thanking him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Didn’t any return to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And he told him, “Get up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.”

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself seeking God’s gifts more than His presence? How can you intentionally return to Jesus in worship and gratitude today?

Day 4: Jesus Crosses Every Border to Bring Us Near

Jesus’ journey through the borderlands is a picture of His mission: crossing every divide—cultural, religious, and even the ultimate border between God and sinners—to bring those who are far off near. On the cross, He becomes unclean for us, bearing our sin so that we might be made righteous and welcomed in. No matter how distant or unworthy you may feel, Jesus refuses to stay away; He steps into your uncleanliness, speaks His word of mercy, and draws you close. [15:56]

Ephesians 2:13 (CSB)
But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Reflection: What “borders” or barriers do you sense between you and God, or between you and others? How does knowing Jesus has crossed every border for you change the way you approach Him and those around you?

Day 5: Living as Those Made Clean—Reflecting Mercy to the World

Having been cleansed and brought near by Jesus, you are sent out to carry His mercy into the world. This is not about earning God’s favor—you already have it in abundance—but about reflecting the forgiveness, love, and welcome you have received. You are called to forgive as you have been forgiven, to love as you have been loved, and to reach out to those on the margins with the word of belonging in Christ. One day, Jesus will speak the final word, raising His purified people to eternal nearness with Him. Until then, keep returning to His feet, where mercy and thanksgiving never end. [16:48]

Colossians 3:12-13 (CSB)
Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.

Reflection: Who is someone you need to forgive or show compassion to today, in light of the mercy you have received from Jesus? What step can you take to reflect His love to them?

Sermon Summary

The story of the ten lepers in Luke 17 is often remembered as a lesson about gratitude, but it is so much more than that. It is a story about the mercy and graciousness of Jesus, who meets people in the borderlands—those places of separation, brokenness, and exclusion. In the time of Jesus, leprosy was not just a physical disease; it was a sentence to a life of isolation, cut off from family, community, and worship. The ten lepers, standing at a distance, cry out not for healing specifically, but for mercy. This is the heart of faith: recognizing our deepest need is not just for physical restoration, but for the mercy of God.

Jesus responds not with a touch or a dramatic gesture, but with a simple command: “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” It is a word that seems impossible in their current state, yet faith takes Jesus at his word. As they go, they are cleansed. This demonstrates the power of God’s word to accomplish what it declares. When Jesus speaks, reality itself bends to his will—uncleanness is made clean, sin is forgiven, and the outcast is brought near.

Among the ten, only one—a Samaritan, a double outsider—returns to give thanks. He recognizes that the true temple is not a building, but the person of Jesus. His gratitude is not a condition for grace, but a response to it. The other nine are healed, but the one who returns receives something deeper: salvation. Faith does not just seek the gifts; it seeks the Giver. True faith is not content with blessings alone, but desires communion with Christ himself.

This story is not just about people long ago; it is about us. We, too, have been made clean by the word of Christ—through baptism, absolution, and the Lord’s Supper. We no longer stand at a distance, but are brought near by the One who crosses every border to meet us in our need. Our lives become a continual return to Jesus, falling at his feet in worship and thanksgiving, not to earn his favor, but because we have already received it in abundance. And as we go, we are called to carry that mercy into the world, reaching out to those on the margins, reflecting the love and forgiveness we have received. Until the day when Christ speaks the final word, raising us to eternal life, we keep returning to his feet, where mercy and thanksgiving never end.

Key Takeaways

1. Mercy at the Margins: Jesus intentionally goes to the borderlands, the places of exclusion and brokenness, to meet those who are outcast and unclean. He does not wait for us to become worthy or to draw near on our own; he crosses every boundary to bring us into fellowship with him. This challenges us to see where we might be called to meet others in their places of need, carrying his mercy to the margins of our own communities. [03:21]
2. The Power of God’s Word: The healing of the lepers happens not through touch or ritual, but through the spoken word of Jesus. His command, though it seems impossible, is effective—faith takes him at his word, and reality is transformed. This reminds us that God’s promises are not empty; when he speaks forgiveness, life, and salvation over us, it is accomplished, regardless of how impossible it may seem. [08:22]
3. Faith Seeks the Giver, Not Just the Gift: The Samaritan leper’s return to Jesus shows that true faith is not satisfied with receiving blessings alone. Faith desires relationship with the Giver, recognizing that the greatest gift is communion with Christ himself. Our gratitude flows not from a sense of obligation, but from the joy of having received mercy and being brought near to God. [11:13]
4. Gratitude as a Consequence of Grace: The story reveals that gratitude is not a prerequisite for God’s mercy, but its natural outflow. The Samaritan’s thanksgiving is a response to the grace he has already received, not a means to earn more favor. This frees us from transactional thinking in our relationship with God; we give thanks because we have already been abundantly blessed, not to secure future blessings. [13:20]
5. Living as the Cleansed and Sent: Having been made clean and brought near by Christ, we are sent into the world to reflect his mercy. This means forgiving as we have been forgiven, loving as we have been loved, and reaching out to those who feel excluded or unworthy. Our lives become a testimony to the One who crossed every border for us, as we await the day when he will speak the final word and bring us fully into his presence. [16:48]
** [16:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:07] - More Than a Story of Gratitude
[02:35] - The Borderlands: Setting the Scene
[03:21] - Outcasts and the Cost of Leprosy
[05:22] - The Leper’s Cry for Mercy
[06:30] - The Kyrie: Our Own Cry for Mercy
[07:31] - Jesus’ Command and the Power of His Word
[08:51] - Baptism and the Word That Cleanses
[09:58] - The Samaritan’s Return and True Worship
[11:13] - Faith Seeks the Giver
[12:24] - “Your Faith Has Saved You”
[13:20] - Gratitude as a Response to Grace
[14:44] - Jesus Crosses Borders
[15:56] - The Cross: The Ultimate Border
[16:48] - Living as the Cleansed and Sent
[18:06] - The Final Word: Eternal Nearness

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 17:11-19 (CSB) — 11 While traveling to Jerusalem, he passed between Samaria and Galilee.
12 As he entered a village, ten men with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance
13 and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 When he saw them, he told them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And while they were going, they were cleansed.
15 But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God.
16 He fell facedown at his feet, thanking him. And he was a Samaritan.
17 Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?
18 Didn’t any return to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
19 And he told him, “Get up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.”

Observation Questions

What did the ten lepers ask Jesus for, and how did he respond to their request? ([05:53])
What was unique about the one leper who returned to Jesus, and how did Jesus describe his response? ([09:58])
According to the passage, what happened to the lepers as they obeyed Jesus’ command? ([07:31])
How does the story describe the relationship between the lepers and the community around them? ([04:24])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the lepers cried out for mercy instead of specifically asking for healing? What does this reveal about their understanding of their deepest need? ([05:53])
The sermon says that the Samaritan recognized Jesus as the true temple, not just a healer. What does it mean to seek the Giver rather than just the gifts? ([10:50])
The other nine lepers were healed but did not return to Jesus. What might this suggest about the difference between receiving God’s blessings and truly knowing him? ([12:24])
The sermon describes Jesus as intentionally going to the “borderlands” to meet outcasts. What does this teach us about where Jesus chooses to work and whom he chooses to reach? ([03:21])

Application Questions

The lepers were isolated and excluded because of their condition. Is there anyone in your life or community who feels like an outsider or is “on the margins”? What is one practical way you could reach out to them this week, following Jesus’ example? ([03:21])
The lepers’ cry for mercy is echoed in our worship when we say, “Lord, have mercy.” When was the last time you honestly cried out to God for mercy, not just for a specific need, but for his presence and grace? What would it look like to make this a regular part of your prayer life? ([06:30])
Jesus’ word alone was enough to heal the lepers, even before they saw any change. Is there a promise of God that you find hard to trust right now? What would it look like to “take Jesus at his word” in that area of your life? ([08:22])
The Samaritan’s gratitude was a response to grace, not a way to earn more blessings. Do you ever find yourself trying to “earn” God’s favor through your thankfulness or good works? How can you shift your mindset to gratitude that flows from already being loved and accepted? ([13:20])
The sermon says, “Faith seeks the Giver, not just the gift.” Are there ways you have been more focused on what you want from God than on knowing him personally? What is one step you could take this week to deepen your relationship with Jesus himself? ([11:13])
Having been made clean and brought near by Christ, we are sent to reflect his mercy. Is there someone you need to forgive or show mercy to, as you have been forgiven? What is holding you back, and how might you take a step toward reconciliation? ([16:48])
The story ends with Jesus saying, “Your faith has saved you.” How does knowing you are already accepted and made clean by Jesus change the way you approach worship, prayer, or your daily life? ([18:06])

Sermon Clips

``And there's something really important on display here. And that's how God's word works, that it really does what it says, that when Jesus speaks, reality bends to his will. He speaks cleansing, and uncleanliness is gone. He speaks forgiveness and sin disappears. He speaks life, and death runs away. [00:08:22] (25 seconds) #WordOfGodTransforms

The other nine received the gift and they went on their way. But one came back to the giver. One came back because faith recognizes where mercy comes from. He didn't return to earn anything. He returned because he already received everything. And friends, that's the nature of faith. It doesn't boast in its healing, it boasts in the healer. Faith doesn't just want the gifts. Faith wants the giver. Faith doesn't just rejoice in the blessings, it rejoices in the blessed One. For faith doesn't just seek cleansing as the lepers cried out, lord, Master, have mercy on us. It seeks Christ. [00:10:55] (44 seconds) #FaithSavesTheSoul

You see, sometimes this story is simply preached as the idea of being thankful. Be thankful like the Samaritan, not ungrateful like the nine. But that can miss the gospel that's going on here. See, the Samaritan's gratitude is not a condition for grace. It's actually a consequence of that grace he's received. Gratitude doesn't cause faith. Faith causes gratitude. [00:13:10] (26 seconds) #WorshipWithoutEarning

In a sense itself, the cross is that final border, the place between heaven and earth, between God and sinners. And here too, Jesus stands, reaching out his arms to reconcile the two, to bring those who are far off near. Again at the cross, the cry of the lepers, jesus, have mercy on us, finds its ultimate answers. The one who knew no sin becomes sin for us. The one who was clean chooses to become unclean, to bear the sins of the world, so that those who are unclean might become righteous, that the outcast might be brought in. [00:15:29] (39 seconds) #SaviorWhoDrawsNear

That's the gospel, my friends, not the nine who forgot to say thank you, but a savior who refuses, refuses to stay away. In Christ, that distance is gone. He has stepped into your uncleanliness. He has spoken his word of mercy over you. He has made you clean. And now, like the Samaritans, we may fall at his feet. Not at a distance, but close enough to touch. Because in the body and blood of Jesus, you do touch him. You receive him. And he says again to you, rise and go your way. Your faith has saved you. [00:16:08] (40 seconds) #LivingCleanInPeace

So what does it look like to live as those who have been cleaned? Well, it means that we get to go in peace, carrying his mercy into this world. We go not to earn his favor, we've already got that in abundance, but to reflect that mercy into a world that desperately needs it. To demonstrate that by forgiving one another. Because in Christ Jesus, we've already been forgiven by loving the other, because we've already been loved completely and fully in Christ Jesus. [00:16:48] (36 seconds) #BelongingInChrist

But until that day, until that sure and certain day, we keep returning again and again to the feet of Jesus, where mercy is found, where forgiveness is spoken, and where thanksgiving, true thanksgiving, never ends. [00:18:18] (18 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does true faith recognize about God's mercy?

How does Jesus demonstrate crossing social and spiritual borders?

In what ways does gratitude flow from receiving grace?