Don't Go There, Jesus

Pentecost 20 (C) Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’

Sermon
You might want to get out your pens and pencils for this. I know many of you are fans of punk rock. Last year a new group from Seattle, Washington burst onto the punk rock scene with a new hit single “Terminal Boredom.” It won punk song of the year. The name of the group? The Cute Lepers. During an online interview, the lead singer was asked how they came by the name the “Cute Lepers,” expecting some punkish alternative answer or something. The lead singer simply said, “Well, two of our band members had leprosy when they were teenagers.”

Now, that’s not something you hear every day. When was the last time you heard of someone in this country getting leprosy? When was the last time you heard of anyone in any country getting leprosy? It is not very likely. In fact, you are more likely to see our music director, Dan Andersen, body slamming at a punk rock concert than to run into a leper. It’s just not that likely.

Jesus has a way of showing up in unlikely places. You see that clearly in today’s gospel lesson from Luke 17. Jesus is going to Jerusalem. That is where his mission reaches its climax as he is crucified and resurrected. As he heads toward Jerusalem, he passes through a region between Samaria and Galilee. And somewhere along the way, he comes across of group of lepers.

Now, leprosy in Jesus’ day referred to any variety of skin infections and conditions, including psoriasis and eczema. But what was most feared was the disease today known as Hansen’s disease. This is what we normally think of as leprosy. It’s not so much a skin condition as it is a nerve condition. It is a bacterium that affects the peripheral nervous system and shows various symptoms. People with this disease have lesions over their body. Open wounds and raw flesh exposed to the elements and air. They would often cover themselves with bandaging and strips of cloth to protect the sensitive area. In advanced stages, Hansen’s disease would cause disfigurement. Fingers would curl in upon themselves, creating a claw-like appearance. Ears would change shape. Noses would sink into the face.

It was a frightful sight. And people in Jesus’ day were pretty freaked-out about it. It was among their greatest fears. Even though it was and is not contagious, the idea of being anywhere near a leper wigged people out. So lepers were cast out of their homes and towns and villages to live along or in colonies begging for help.

That’s where Jesus comes in today. As he travels to Jerusalem, he comes near a group of ten lepers. And as he approaches they call out to him, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When they call out, they are doing what they are supposed to do. Lepers were required by law to warn anyone coming near of their presence. They were required to sound the alarm of their disease and disfigurement so that others could high-tail it out of there.

But Jesus . . . Jesus isn’t alarmed. Jesus doesn’t turn and run. He doesn’t take a step back or away. He doesn’t wince or scowl or in any way shield his view. He stays put with the lepers. He looks at them. And he speaks to them. He has a way of showing up in unlikely places.

In the advanced stages of leprosy, people begin to resemble each other. The lesions, the bandages, the claw hands, ears and noses – all these symptoms make it easy to group them together, to see them pretty much in the same light. So the Bible says that Jesus spoke to them he spoke to them as a group and said “Go and show yourselves to the priest.” The reason Jesus sends them to the priest is that the priest is the one who had to issue them a clean bill of health. The priest had the final say whether or not they could re-enter society. Once the priest gave them the once-over and they passed they could go back home to their families.

As the lepers left Jesus to go to the priest, they were healed.

It is when they are healed that we learn that one of the lepers was not the same as the others. One of the lepers was keeping a secret. One of the lepers didn’t belong. He was a Samaritan. Samaritans in Jesus’ day were looked on as mongrels. No self-respecting Jew would get caught dead on the same side of the street as a Samaritan. No self-respecting Jewish leper would get caught dead sharing the same side of a rock as a Samaritan leper.

The church is sometimes referred to as a hospital for sinners. It is a gathering place for broken and sinful people. And on the surface sinners pretty much all look the same. The Bible says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” There is a sense where we can all be lumped together. But just as we see in the story of the ten lepers, when some gather, they have a secret. People come to church with private hurts and burdens like the Samaritan.

Some of you, gather with your friends and family on Sunday mornings in the presence of Jesus and deal with things hardly another soul knows about. Some of you gather here week in and week out after gutting out another week of a struggling marriage. Some of you come to church after slugging it out financially fighting for your financial life. Some of you come with struggles with your kids, grown or small. Some are dealing with parents. While so many of us might look like the same old garden variety sinner, many if not most, bear secret and private burdens. Places where God’s presence is hard to detect.

Listen to me! Jesus has a way of showing up in the most unlikely places. He shows up where you would least expect.

Jesus does not run for cover when the alarms are sounding. He does not turn his head to protect his sight from harsh realities. No, he takes his place at your side. He stands his ground. He is there for you. Jesus is there in the privacy of your bedroom during the screaming match between you and your spouse fighting for your marriage. He is there when your kid gives you a look like you have just lost you mind as you try to help him or her avoid some of the mistakes you have made. Jesus is there in the hospital room as doctors, nurses, and surgeons take invasive measures to revive a life.

There is no secret that you can keep from him. There is no burden that he will not help shoulder. He stands with you when no one else in the world will. There is no question about in the Bible, in this world, or in today’s gospel from Luke. But there is one question that has yet to be answered. And it is a question that Jesus himself asks:

Are you the one? Are you the one who return to Jesus when the crisis has passed? Are you the one who will seek him out once he has stood with you when no one else would? Are you the one who will stand with him as he heads to Jerusalem to give his life for the world?

When he realizes he has been healed, the Samaritan . . . the secret keeper . . . the hider of private burdens, returns to Jesus to thank him.

Are you the one?