But Wait… There’s More!

Thanksgiving Eve A 2023

Deuteronomy 8:7-18

II Corinthians 9:6-15

Luke 17-11-19

There’s a certain magic to infomercials. The best ones are found only in the secluded hours of the late night. A secret hidden in the darkness. There you are sure to find some magical home contraption that will fix your life right up. The Showtime Rotisserie and Barbecue, a box that runs on electricity and your own culinary imagination that can cook an entire thanksgiving meal and requires you merely to set it and forget it. The Slap Chop that can mince a whole onion in just a few aggressive slaps. The Ginsu Knives that are so sharp they can cut straight through a tin can. 

Any of these life-changing tools can be yours for just 4 easy payments of $19.99! And just when you think it couldn’t get any better, the salesperson utters four magical words guaranteed to light your heart with pure joy, “But wait… there’s more!” Blessing upon blessing. Not only do you get the Showtime Rotisserie, but if you call in the next 10 minutes you’ll get a free deluxe baster and flavor injection set. Not only do you get the Slap Chop, but if you act now, you’ll receive a second Slap Chop at no cost! Not only do you get a set of Ginsu Knives, but if you reach out now, you’ll receive a set of limited edition Ginsu steak knives at absolutely no additional price!

But wait… there’s more!

Jesus offers us his own “but wait… there’s more.” Ten lepers come to Jesus for healing. Jesus tells them to go to the priest and on the way they are miraculously cured of their skin disease. One of the ten men turns around, drops to the ground, and thanks Jesus for his generous healing. Jesus marvels that it was the lone Samaritan who took the extra step to give thanks and proclaims to him, “Your faith has made you well.” 

Slow down and take a closer look at this story and you’ll see something pretty out of place. Jesus tells the man that his faith has made him well, but he declares this well after the man had already been made well from his leprosy. The Samaritan was already healed when he came back to Jesus to give thanks. So what does Jesus mean by saying, “Your faith has made you well?”

We have several other stories of Jesus miraculously healing someone and declaring to them that their faith has made them well. The woman with the issue of blood boldly and faithfully dares to touch the fringes of Jesus’ prayer shawl for healing and Jesus declares that her faith made her well immediately after she is healed. In this case, though, the Samaritan man was already made well before he made any kind of faithful action. More than that, the other nine men were still cured of their leprosy and remained healed despite not coming back to give thanks and be praised by Jesus.

Being made well, then, must be about more than just being made physically well. Being made well is about more than miraculous healings of the body. This is Jesus’ “but wait… there’s more!” moment. The Samaritan had been healed of his leprosy, but wait… there’s more blessing! He also finds hope in a better tomorrow; he finds joy and gratitude at his new found freedom; and most of all, he finds a trusting relationship with God in Jesus Christ.

We confess that on the cross, Jesus saved us from the power of sin and death. We are forgiven of all our sins against God and neighbor. We are given the sure promise of resurrection. We are forgiven and freed. But wait… there’s more. There’s more life in store for us. Our lives are transformed at the salvation given to us in Christ Jesus and so we are free to live what Jesus calls, “abundant life.” We, like the Samaritan, are free to have joy and gratitude; free to develop meaningful relationships of service and kindness; free to love boldly; free to give thanks; free to have unbounded hope. Our faith or trust in God has made us well. We grab hold of the life that really is life. You have been saved from sin and death in Christ Jesus… but wait… there’s more!