Programming Note: Today we begin reading Philippians alongside Luke. We’ll take this short epistle of Paul more slowly than we did the narrative of Acts. In the latter part of Acts, we read of various times that Paul was in prison or house arrest. It is widely assumed that Paul is in prison as he pens the letter to the church in Philippi, perhaps his most beloved epistle.
Luke 17:11-37 | Philippians 1:1-8 | John 19-20
Both of our readings today deal with gratitude. The main point of the story of Jesus’ healing of the ten with skin diseases is probably gratitude. But do note the phenomenon that Jesus healed all ten of the individuals who were in need. Sometimes Christians filter compassion for this reason or that. Jesus didn’t seem to do so, healing all the lepers in this story, feeding all the people on a hillside, or best yet - dying on the cross for the sinfulness of all people. Should our acts of compassion do the same, without reservation or expectation?
Paul writes to the church in Philippi from prison. The book of Philippians might be considered his most positive epistle. And it really is an encouragement to so many. And yet, Paul writes from prison and the very heart of Philippians focuses on the suffering and death of Jesus.
Why do you think these themes would result in such a grateful and warm letter?
Luke 17:11-37
On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men with skin diseases approached him. Keeping their distance from him, they raised their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, show us mercy!”
When Jesus saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” As they left, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw that he had been healed, returned and praised God with a loud voice. He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus replied, “Weren’t ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? No one returned to praise God except this foreigner?” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up and go. Your faith has healed you.”
Pharisees asked Jesus when God’s kingdom was coming. He replied, “God’s kingdom isn’t coming with signs that are easily noticed. Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ Don’t you see? God’s kingdom is already among you.”
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “The time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Human One, and you won’t see it. People will say to you, ‘Look there!’ or ‘Look here!’ Don’t leave or go chasing after them. The Human One will appear on his day in the same way that a flash of lightning lights up the sky from one end to the other. However, first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be during the days of the Human One. People were eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage until the day Noah entered the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise in the days of Lot, people were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, and building. But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. That’s the way it will be on the day the Human One is revealed. On that day, those on the roof, whose possessions are in the house, shouldn’t come down to grab them. Likewise, those in the field shouldn’t turn back. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to preserve their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in the same bed: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together: one will be taken and the other left.”
The disciples asked, “Where, Lord?”
Jesus said, “The vultures gather wherever there’s a dead body.”
Philippians 1:1-8
From Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.
To all those in Philippi who are God’s people in Christ Jesus, along with your supervisors and servants.
May the grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers. I’m thankful for all of you every time I pray, and it’s always a prayer full of joy. I’m glad because of the way you have been my partners in the ministry of the gospel from the time you first believed it until now. I’m sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus. I have good reason to think this way about all of you because I keep you in my heart. You are all my partners in God’s grace, both during my time in prison and in the defense and support of the gospel. God is my witness that I feel affection for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus.
Prayer
God,
Sometimes I think this generation - in this culture, time, and place - is really rather weak. I know, I know…I should have compassion and grace for all people. But we do seem to be quite the bunch of whiners sometimes. Human emotion and feelings are real - I believe that. And circumstances of difficulty certainly exist.
But it just seems that we can complain about anything.
Lord, give me the posture of Paul, who, despite circumstances, was always ready to encourage and give you praise.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.