Luke 10:30-37 (NIV) In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho,
when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and
went away, leaving him half dead. A
priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he
passed by on the other side. So too, a
Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where
the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds,
pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to
an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them
to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will
reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
The Good Samaritan overcame prejudice
and animosity. He could easily have ignored the needs of a Jewish victim after
all there were Jews around who could have looked after him. It was
inconvenient, time consuming and perhaps dangerous to help a man who had been
attacked. The helper might also become a victim. The Jews and the Samaritans
didn’t get on at all and there were fundamental religious and social differences
between them. Jesus went out of his way to meet Samaritans and talk to them.
The hero of the story, told to Jews, was one of a despised race. This exposed
the racism of Jesus listeners and their self righteous smugness. It is
universally difficult for people to go to those who are different, to strangers
or foreigners and reach out to them in compassion. To do so shows the gospel
has really penetrated into our hearts. It is safer, more comfortable and easier
to stick with our own. In the UK 90% of ‘whites’ don’t have a ‘black’ friend.
Believers must break down the barriers between races the most important of
which are in our hearts.
Father
help me to follow the example of the good Samaritan.
Ken has a wonderful message regarding this passage which begins with the Jewish lawyer trying to catch Jesus off guard. Jesus answers this question, which is not "Who am I a neighbor to" but "Who is my neighbor?" (though I think he meant the first, Jesus answers the second), with this story of a racially hated person being a neighbor to a Jew, to the lawyer in fact. It is the picture of one who is hated returning love instead and is the ultimate picture of what Jesus did for all people while they were at enmity with Him. HE neighbored US for no reason at all. This is not the "good" Samaritan, for Jesus does not render exceptional behavior which is expected and normal, but this is the HUMBLE Samaritan doing what it normal for humans to do. The conviction falls on us all. You are right on in your application for Ken uses this passage when helping churches formulate their thinking about life with and ministry to immigrants. This is kingdom reality.
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