Luke Chapter 17

vs 13

Ok, so they don't ambush Jesus, unless you call asking him to have pity an ambush. But maybe they think their voices will have more weight in numbers.

vs 14

Jesus had to simply walk past them to heal them. Didn't touch them or anything. 10 guys, all at once! What an awesome guy. But the story doesn't end there.

vs 15-16

All lepers were equal when they had leprosy. They were equally worthless in society's eyes. But now that they're healed, they are people again, so you can discriminate against them using other things, like their race.

Now, I'm not actually sure what the happening order is here. It doesn't actually say that any of the guys go and present themselves to the priest. They are all healed before that, because they are healed as Jesus passes by.

I'm actually of the opinion that they didn't go to the priest straight away. Well, perhaps the others all ran off to do that, while the Samaritan guy threw himself at Jesus' feet first instead. And fair enough, too. I mean, he's a Samaritan - does he have to go and present himself to a priest that he doesn't even agree with?

vs 17

But Jesus is shocked that of all the 10 who were healed, only one came to thank Jesus for what he had done. Like I said - perhaps the other 9 went off to find a priest, in accordance with Jesus' command.

vs 18

Jesus does say 'Return', which does make you think that they first went to the priest (even the Samaritan) and then he returned afterwards. I'm unsure - I mean, Jesus said "Go present yourself to the priest" but they were healed before they did that - so it is possible that since they'd been healed, they all went off and did what Jesus said. But then the Samaritan barneyed back up the road to find Jesus and thank him.

That's probably how it is interpreted by most people, I'm just interested that priests are not again mentioned. The point Jesus makes, specifically, is that this guy isn't even a Jew, and yet he is the one who comes and thanks Jesus afterwards. The other nine go about their lives, I guess. Almost like they expected Jesus to heal them! Instant ownership of the Messiah, because he's jewish.

vs 19

Now, all 10 were healed, but Jesus only says this to the one guy. Did the other guys all break out in leprosy again? I think not. But this guy is commended on his faith. And also, should be commended for going the next step and seeking relationship. I mean, it's not like he became best friends forever, but he sought out Jesus to give him thanks. That puts Jesus in his proper place, as Master (which all 10 lepers called him) and his place at Jesus' feet puts the Samaritan in the right place as servant.

vs 20

Tell that to all the people who sit with Revelation open on their laps trying to recognise the signs of the times. There is a case to make that this is a worthwhile Christian thing to do. I think it's secondary to Jesus command to "Be ready" when he comes, rather than to try and recognise when he comes. I think when he comes will be obvious. Will we be ready, or will be have been too busy sitting on our porches with Revelation open wondering if credit cards are the anti-christ?

vs 21

Jesus in this case is in fact referring to the breaking in of the Kingdom of God into our earthly time. Which, of course, comes from him coming into the world. The translation issue here is a mega one. We spent ages on this in class at college. Most scholars think it is obvious that Jesus isn't saying "within", because the Pharisees obviously did not have the kingdom within them. So instead, he is saying "among" you, and by that referring to himself.

I totally agree that this is the typical, conservative interpretation and textual critique. But there are some, like my wife, who think we are too hard on the Pharisees, and point out that not all of them were total messiah-killing bastards. So they seek a different interpretation, but to be honest, even then it is hard to declare what "within" could mean in this context. I have heard it interpreted as "within your grasp" - as if they are close to it, but need to have faith in Jesus. That's not just a stretch, it is an apparent translation possibility.

vs 22

So obviously he's going away, and he won't come back. Of course, he comes back for a little while, but then he goes away again, to return, well, more than 2000 years later.

This topic of conversation, of course, fits in well with the previous one with the Pharisees, especially if Jesus meant that the kingdom was "among" them - because he is saying that the kingdom will, in one sense, leave. Adn they will long for the days when the Kingdom of God was breaking into this world like it did when Jesus was there. Don't we all sometimes?