In The Ditch
Lu.10:25-37 “On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” What is written in the Law?” he replied, “How do you read it?” He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind: and Love your neighbor as yourself.” “You have answered correctly. “Jesus replied, “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 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 expenses you may have. Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” “The expert in the Law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
It was not unusual for those whose life was centered on understanding the Law to question Jesus. In that day, there was a constant effort to trick him so they could find reason for persecution and prosecution. It is interesting that Jesus responded to the query from the “expert in the Law” with a question regarding the interpretation of the Law. Jesus avoided debate and went to the heart of the question which was love. The Law did not have the element of love embedded in it. Love is what would provide hope for all those not able to keep the Law. Love provided a way for mercy, for grace, for kindness, and forgiveness. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Jn.3:16
It was action of love that even observed the beaten man and caused this Samaritan to go out of his way to provide urgent care binding up the wounds and transporting him on his donkey to the nearest lodging. We do not know how long that lodging may have been, but we know that the Samaritan paid the bill in full, not even knowing what the final cost would be.
I wonder if you and I could have been the Priest or the Levite who crossed to the other side of the road when we saw the suffering man. He was probably unconscious or groaning and screaming in pain. Responding to the needs of this suffering individual would cost us important time, our talent and our money in order to meet his needs. I am sure that both the priest and the Levite had what they thought were legitimate reasons for ignoring the opportunity to provide care.
Mercy means to assume the need on the part of him who is to receive it. The thought of being merciful sometimes shudders the soul. Mercy is sacrificial, whether small or great, it always necessitates a cost! Acts of love cost! Love is moving towards someone else with their best interest in mind.
Many years ago, I offered a ride to a young man to take him to his destiny which was several miles away. I was not planning on going in that direction, in fact the opposite but I felt the need to do it anyway because I genuinely cared about the guy. As I was driving, he said to me. “Isn’t ride taking you out of your way?” I thought for moment, and replied jokingly, “This whole Christian walk is out of my way.” Sacrifice is not what our selfish mind wants to do. Jesus said, “If you are going to follow me, pick up your cross. There is nothing convenient about carrying a cross.” It is as contrary to a normal life as it can possibly be. Demonstrating love sometimes means that you have to choose it instead of doing what your mind is presenting as an option.
Every single day we have the opportunity to extend God’s faithful love through the actions of mercy. Those acts are found in a multitude of opportunities. Jesus gave us a list to consider in Mt.25:34-40. “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes, and you clothed me, I was sick, and you looked after me, I was in prison, and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Who knows what happened in the victim left for dead alongside the road after he was saved by the Samaritan who just happened to be going by. The Samaritans were considered less than the other ethnic groups in that region. They were half-breeds. They understood being ignored, rejected and judged by others. This Samaritan understood this suffering man’s unfortunate predicament and did something about it. He showed him mercy. He did not judge him or condemn him for the situation. He loved him!
Not everyone can be the Samaritan, but the opportunities abound in the city where you live, in your family, in your neighborhood, in your church, where you work or attend school. Let’s pay attention and love the way Jesus would love. Who knows, it could be you and I laying alongside the road someday. Just sayin! ☺
It was not unusual for those whose life was centered on understanding the Law to question Jesus. In that day, there was a constant effort to trick him so they could find reason for persecution and prosecution. It is interesting that Jesus responded to the query from the “expert in the Law” with a question regarding the interpretation of the Law. Jesus avoided debate and went to the heart of the question which was love. The Law did not have the element of love embedded in it. Love is what would provide hope for all those not able to keep the Law. Love provided a way for mercy, for grace, for kindness, and forgiveness. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Jn.3:16
It was action of love that even observed the beaten man and caused this Samaritan to go out of his way to provide urgent care binding up the wounds and transporting him on his donkey to the nearest lodging. We do not know how long that lodging may have been, but we know that the Samaritan paid the bill in full, not even knowing what the final cost would be.
I wonder if you and I could have been the Priest or the Levite who crossed to the other side of the road when we saw the suffering man. He was probably unconscious or groaning and screaming in pain. Responding to the needs of this suffering individual would cost us important time, our talent and our money in order to meet his needs. I am sure that both the priest and the Levite had what they thought were legitimate reasons for ignoring the opportunity to provide care.
Mercy means to assume the need on the part of him who is to receive it. The thought of being merciful sometimes shudders the soul. Mercy is sacrificial, whether small or great, it always necessitates a cost! Acts of love cost! Love is moving towards someone else with their best interest in mind.
Many years ago, I offered a ride to a young man to take him to his destiny which was several miles away. I was not planning on going in that direction, in fact the opposite but I felt the need to do it anyway because I genuinely cared about the guy. As I was driving, he said to me. “Isn’t ride taking you out of your way?” I thought for moment, and replied jokingly, “This whole Christian walk is out of my way.” Sacrifice is not what our selfish mind wants to do. Jesus said, “If you are going to follow me, pick up your cross. There is nothing convenient about carrying a cross.” It is as contrary to a normal life as it can possibly be. Demonstrating love sometimes means that you have to choose it instead of doing what your mind is presenting as an option.
Every single day we have the opportunity to extend God’s faithful love through the actions of mercy. Those acts are found in a multitude of opportunities. Jesus gave us a list to consider in Mt.25:34-40. “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes, and you clothed me, I was sick, and you looked after me, I was in prison, and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Who knows what happened in the victim left for dead alongside the road after he was saved by the Samaritan who just happened to be going by. The Samaritans were considered less than the other ethnic groups in that region. They were half-breeds. They understood being ignored, rejected and judged by others. This Samaritan understood this suffering man’s unfortunate predicament and did something about it. He showed him mercy. He did not judge him or condemn him for the situation. He loved him!
Not everyone can be the Samaritan, but the opportunities abound in the city where you live, in your family, in your neighborhood, in your church, where you work or attend school. Let’s pay attention and love the way Jesus would love. Who knows, it could be you and I laying alongside the road someday. Just sayin! ☺
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