“Your Faith Has Made You Well”
Luke 17:11-19
Key Verse:17:19
“Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’”
Hello, everyone. My name is Joseph Lee, and I am one of the Young Leaders here at University Bible Fellowship. I welcome each and every one of you who came out today to join us in our welcoming day where we can praise and worship and listen to the word of God. I am a Rutgers Alumnus, class of 2010. College life is a unique and intense season. You’re at a point where you’re faced with big decisions, like figuring out your future, your identity, and your place in the world. With so much happening, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and even lose sight of your faith, especially when you’re juggling academic pressures, relationships, and personal goals in life. But amidst all the busyness, there’s one thing that you certainly want to consider. That is Jesus’ call for us to have faith in Him.
The Bible passage for today comes from Luke 17:11-19. It is a short passage, through which we witness ten lepers who are in desperate need of healing. Although they came to Jesus just for physical restoration, Jesus offers something deeper: that is the personal relationship with him, which leads us to have spiritual wholeness. As we examine this passage, we’ll discover how faith, gratitude, and having a deeper relationship with Christ can transform our lives, especially in times of uncertainty and struggle. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us and hear God’s words.
I. Faith in Action (11-14)
As Jesus makes his way to Jerusalem, he travels along the border between Samaria and Gaililee. As Jesus is going into a village, ten men with leprosy meet him. They are standing at a distance because they are not allowed to get near anyone. What do they do next? Let us read verse 13 together. “and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” With the advancement of technology and medicine, leprosy is not so common these days. However, there are about 100 cases found in America each year. Leprosy is a long-term infection caused by bacteria. Over time, it causes permanent damage to the nerves, eyes, and limbs. Imagine your body parts becoming disfigured and deformed without any pain or sensation. (I am not going to show you any photos because I want you to enjoy the dinner later on.) Lepers didn’t feel physical pain because of numbness. But the disease made them socially and spiritually isolated. Those who suffered from leprosy were considered cursed and unclean and were forced to live outside the community, cut off from their families and religious life. In essence, they were the outcasts of society.
Despite their social status, these ten lepers demonstrate their faith by crying out to Jesus saying, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”. Though they maintain their distance, they acknowledge Jesus as their only source of hope. How does Jesus respond? Rather than healing them instantly, Jesus instructs them saying, “Go, show yourselves to the priests” (17:14a). This instruction is significant because, under the Mosaic Law, only priests could confirm a person’s healing from leprosy and allow them back into society (Leviticus 14:1-32). The ten men had to obey Jesus’ command before they were healed. They came out to Jesus by faith. But they still had to fight against doubt and fear in their hearts. How did they do?
“And as they went, they were cleansed.” Their healing came as they acted in obedience, demonstrating that faith requires stepping out in trust before we see the outcome. Faith in Jesus involves more than just belief—it involves trust and action. In Hebrews 11:1, faith is described as “the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” The ten lepers didn’t wait for confirmation of healing before obeying Jesus. They acted on His word alone, trusting that He would fulfill His promise. This principle is recorded throughout the Bible.
Consider Abraham, the father of faith. In Genesis 12, God said to Abraham, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” God challenged Abraham to leave his hometown and go to a place he had never seen. Can you imagine? He was 75 years old and childless. It seemed to make a lot more sense for him to stay where he was. But do you know what Abraham did? The very next verse says, “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him…” (5a) Abraham obeyed God without knowing all the details, trusting in His promise to make him into a great nation. Like the lepers, Abraham’s faith was demonstrated through his action of obedience. And surely, God kept his promise, making him the father of all nations.
William Carey, the father of modern missions, is another great example of faith. Born in 1761 in England, Carey worked as a shoemaker but had a deep passion for sharing the gospel. At the age of 32, Carey with his family left England for India with no guarantee of success. He believed that God had called him to bring the gospel to the unreached, even though missionary work in India was full of difficulties, including opposition from colonial powers, language barriers, and resistance from the local people. Carey persevered and served the people of India for over 40 years, and his labor in the Lord was not in vain. His faith in God’s calling drove him to act, even when the results weren’t guaranteed. And God blessed him to be a blessing.
As college students, you may find yourselves in situations where God is calling you to take a step of faith, whether it’s receiving physical or spiritual healing, trusting Him with your future, standing firm in your faith amidst challenges, or stepping into leadership opportunities that stretch you beyond your comfort zone. Sometimes, God calls you to take action even when the outcome seems uncertain. But let us remember that faith is not passive but active. It moves us forward based on God’s promises, knowing that He is good and faithful. I pray for you today to take a small step of faith. When you do so, I pray for you to receive Jesus’ healing. Amen.
II. The Power of Gratitude (15-18)
Let us take a look at what happens next. Take a look at verses 15-16. # Let us read them together. “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.” # The fact that the grateful leper was a Samaritan is incredible. Samaritans were despised by the Jews and considered religious and ethnic outsiders. Yet, it is this “outsider” who alone returns to acknowledge the source of his healing. Jesus was surprised at the lack of gratitude from the other nine lepers, asking, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” (17:17). Although all ten received physical healing, only one recognized the importance of returning to Jesus to give thanks. His gratitude wasn’t just about acknowledging the healing—it was about recognizing the One who had healed him.
Gratitude is a key element in our relationship with God. It’s not just about being polite; it’s about recognizing God’s hand in our lives and responding with worship. # In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul writes, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Giving thanks is God’s will for us! Amen! Gratitude opens the door to a deeper relationship with God because it reminds us of His goodness and His presence in our lives.
#Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian writer, shows an amazing example of gratitude. During the time of World War II, Corrie and her sister Betsie opened their home to Jewish refugees and helped them escape the Holocaust. Then the Nazis arrested the entire family and imprisoned them in a political concentration camp. # There, Corrie and Betsie endured unimaginable hardship. Yet, in her book The Hiding Place, Corrie recounts how Betsie encouraged her to give thanks to God for everything, even for the fleas in their barracks. As it turned out, the fleas kept the guards away, allowing them to hold secret Bible studies and minister to fellow prisoners. The sisters’ unconditional gratitude, even in horrific circumstances, is a powerful testimony of faith.
In your own life, it’s easy to focus on what you don’t have or what’s going wrong right now. But remembering to give thanks to God can change your perspective. # It can help you to see God’s provision and faithfulness during difficulties and challenges. Whether it’s the stress from exams, troubles in relationships, or uncertainty about your future, choosing to thank God—even for the smallest things—can help us meet God and build a relationship with him.
# How often do you pause to thank God for the things He has done in your life? Have you missed opportunities to give thanks, like the nine lepers who went on their way? That’s okay. We can still give thanks to God. Let us pray that we can give thanks to God daily, not only for His blessings but also for His presence in our lives. Amen!
III. Faith That Makes You Whole (19)
When the Samaritan returns to Jesus with gratitude, how does Jesus send him off? Let us read verse 19. “Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (19). While all ten lepers were healed physically, only this man received a deeper, spiritual healing. The phrase “made you well” can also be translated as “made you saved” or “made you whole.” The Samaritan’s faith not only brought physical healing but also a life-transforming relationship with Jesus. In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Can you hear Jesus eagerly wanting to give us life that is whole and complete?
# St. Augustine, an early church father, lived a restless life, seeking fulfillment in worldly pleasures and intellectual pursuits. But nothing satisfied him until he placed his faith in Christ. # In his work Confessions, Augustine writes, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” His transformation exemplifies that the wholeness we seek cannot be found in worldly success, pleasures, or knowledge—it is only found in a relationship with Jesus. Amen. In college life, you might be trying hard to seek fulfillment in academic success, popularity, or getting a high-paying career. Do you think any of these will make your life whole and complete? You can try or you can take today’s message to your hearts. The Samaritan’s faith in Jesus led him to come to Jesus, and Jesus made him whole. And Jesus offers the same wholeness to you today.
A little bit about myself: I was born into a Christian family. To be exact, my parents were full-time college ministers long before I was born. Growing up in the church and learning about the Bible was part of my normal life. For the most part, I was a good kid. I respected what my parents did, spending most of their time sharing the gospel with random college students whom I called uncles and aunts. Although we were poor, I never realized it. I knew about Jesus, but I didn’t truly know Him. I always had a yearning for deep peace and joy, but I sought satisfaction in the wrong places. I’ve struggled with the sins of lust and greed, believing that if I satisfied my desires for pleasure and wealth, I would feel fulfilled. However, the more I tried to quench my thirst with sinful thoughts and actions, the more I felt like I was digging a deeper pit of darkness.
It wasn’t until Jesus came into my heart during a night of prayer that I was truly found. When I was suffering in my sins, yearning for a drop of peace, Jesus came to me in my heart and said me, “Joseph, my child, I do not condemn you. I love you. But I want you to know that I died on the cross for you. For your sins, I was whipped and flogged. I forgive you all you sins. Now go leave your life of sins and live your life for me.” Since that day, I ahve committed my life to him. I have 10,000 reasons to thank Jesus: for saving me, for calling me, for using me as an unworthy servant of His words. Praise the Lord! Jesus changed my and he is changing you also.
This passage reminds us of the importance of faith, gratitude, and wholeness. Faith is trusting God with your life, even when the outcome is uncertain. Gratitude is an attitude that connects you to God and deepens your relationship with Him. True wholeness isn’t found in temporary fixes; it comes from a life-transforming relationship with Jesus. You will face many challenges and pressures, but Jesus is calling you to rise in faith. He doesn’t just want to heal one part of your life—He wants to make you whole. Whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, uncertainty about your future, or deeper struggles, remember that Jesus is the One who can bring true healing and restoration.
As you reflect on this message, consider the Samaritan leper’s response. He returned to Jesus in faith and gratitude and experienced wholeness. Will you return to Jesus in faith today? Will you trust Him to bring wholeness to your life? Jesus sends us off by saying, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” As you rise in faith, may you experience the fullness of life that comes from knowing Jesus, trusting that He alone can make you whole. Amen.