Where Are the Seventeen?
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Straight to the Cross
Happy Thanksgiving, America!
COLUMN: Fidelity
Where are the Seventeen?
by Mike Benson
Eye-witnesses say that it was a stormy evening on
Lake Michigan. Night-time navigation was always
difficult in 1860, but especially so on this
occasion. Gale-force winds made the trip all the
more perilous. Passengers were nervous and with
good reason.
Suddenly, just a half-mile off shore from
Winnetka, Illinois, the steamboat "Lady Elgin" was
rammed by another vessel. A large schooner had
lost its bearings during the tempest and collided
with her on the open water.
Edward Spencer was on board the Lady Elgin when
the accident occurred. He was a student from
nearby Northwestern University and decided to
help. Oblivious to the storm and its attendant
dangers, Edward plunged into the icy waters and
began rescuing fellow passengers. There had been a
total of 393 patrons on board the two ships; 279
of them drowned on that awful day.
Edward lived —- and so did seventeen other people
whom he had saved during the deluge. However, the
strain of the occasion exacted its toll on his
young body. The nerves in his legs had been
irreparably damaged during the mishap, and doctors
were forced to confine him to a wheelchair for the
rest of his life.
On his 80th birthday, Edward's friends and family
gathered to celebrate. Someone in his company
asked him, "What is your most vivid memory about
that tragic day?" He replied, "Not one of the
seventeen returned to thank me."
I wonder which burden was more difficult for
Edward to bear? Was it the lifetime loss of
movement in his legs, or was it the thoughtless
negligence of those seventeen unnamed passengers
whom he had snatched from that watery tomb long
ago?
In Luke 17, Jesus came in contact with a group of
men who were suffering with leprosy. Their plight
as well as their knowledge of the Lord's power
prompted them to cry for help. Commenting on this
incident, one author notes:
"The law of Moses required those afflicted with
the loathsome disease of leprosy to keep away from
the rest of the people (Lev. 13:45-46). This is
why they 'stood afar off.' Because lepers could
not associate with others, they usually
congregated together for the sake of association;
and, in this instance, there were ten of them. One
of them was a Samaritan; the others were Jews.
Ordinarily, the Jews had no dealings with the
Samaritans; but, their common affliction had drawn
them together.
"Leprosy is one of the most dreaded and terrible
diseases known to man. It starts with sores; then,
it eats away at bodily tissues until the body
itself begins to be consumed. The nose, the lips
disappear; fingers decay and fall off; joint after
joint separates, eventually, the vital organs
cease to function and death follows.
"Those who had leprosy were regarded as
ceremonially unclean; they were required to live
outside the city; and, had to cry out 'Unclean!
Unclean!' at the approach of others. The lepers
remained at a distance because they were forbidden
to draw near to others —- this being a sort of
quarantine to keep from infecting more with the
disease.
"The lepers heard of the Lord; they know of His
powers to heal; and they pleaded with Him to 'have
mercy' on them. Their deep sense of need led them
to beg for whatever ministration the Lord felt
disposed to give them…
"Jesus heard the pitiful cries of these desperate
men and was willing to help. He told them to go
and show themselves to the priests… A person who
was healed of leprosy was to show himself to the
priest who made an offering for him and officially
pronounced him clean (Lev. 14; Matt. 8:4). Though
actually clean through the miraculous power of
Christ, these lepers had to be made legally clean
by compliance with the law of Moses in order to be
allowed association with the people" (J. Noel
Meridith, "Exhortations for Servants," Luke-—Fifth
Annual Firm Foundation Lectureship, William S.
Cline, editor, 1988, 414-415).
Ironically, despite the fact that Jesus had healed
ten men, Scripture says that only the Samaritan
came back and expressed his heartfelt gratitude.
"Now one of them, when he saw that he was healed,
returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and
fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him
thanks" (vv. 15-16a).
I wonder what the Lord felt when that singular
leper returned and said "thank you" (v. 17)? Then
too, I wonder how the Lord feels today when we
fail to express gratitude for the "healing" (Isa.
6:9-10; 1 Pet. 2:24) He has granted us? He walked
the lonely road to the cross; He gave His life as
a ransom on our behalf. He made salvation possible
to us all (Titus 2:11). But are we saying "thank
you" in return? Where is our gratitude?
Church leaders lament low Sunday night attendance,
poor contributions, the inability to find adequate
Bible class teachers, and the glaring lack of
conviction for what is true and right.
Congregations at times, seem more concerned about
buying furniture, installing carpet, and repairing
plumbing than they do about the plight of men's
souls (Matt. 16:26; cf. Acts 8:22) and eternity
(Matt. 25:46). Could it be that we've forgotten
about Edward Spencer? Could it be that we've lost
sight of the enormity of what Jesus did for us
nearly 2,000 years ago on the tree (Rom. 5:15-18;
6:23; Eph. 2:8)? When the apostle Paul considered
his deliverance from the consequences of sin
(i.e., death, Rom. 6:23) he exclaimed, "Thanks be
to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Cor. 9:15)!
When we begin to recognize the sacrifice that was
made on Calvary, we will stop thinking in terms of
obligation and requirement. Our motivation to
follow Jesus won't be prompted by command alone,
but out of an abiding gratitude that pours forth
from our lives (Jas. 2:14-26). Thankfulness will
be translated into loving, life-long devotion and
submission.
Do you need to say "thank you" to Jesus? Where are
the seventeen?
"In everything give thanks, for this is the will
of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess. 5:18;
cf. Phil. 4:6; Col. 1:12; 2:7; 3:17; 4:2; Heb.
13:15).
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