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Dear people loved by God,
This week in church we’re talking about the Good Samaritan. Most people remember how this ends with the Samaritan taking care of the man who fell among robbers, showing undue kindness and paying for his care. Perhaps even our Lord’s admonition to go and do likewise stays with us at the end. This understanding makes the passage into Law with the command to help our neighbor and be charitable. There is nothing wrong with charity and helping those in need, especially showing mercy to those who can’t repay you.
While the scriptures are full of admonitions to do such good works, there is a lot more to this lesson that we don’t want to miss. Do you recall how it starts? A man sought to test Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus answered: You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.
Jesus gives a good answer, that even the lawyer is pleased with. Now look at yourself, your life, your thoughts, and actions, and ALL your motivations. Are they completely pure and good as required by Jesus own words? No. They’re not even close, and that is the problem. With this interpretation we’re in deep trouble unable to fulfill the law and receive eternal life.
Instead of putting ourselves in the driver’s seat, filling the role of the good Samaritan, what if Jesus is the Good Samaritan? We’re the man who fell among the robbers being left for dead in our sins. Then it is Jesus who shows us mercy, gives us healing and undue kindness. Jesus bandages us up and cares for our needs. He is the good neighbor. He shows mercy. As his disciples, we follow him.
This ends much better for us poor sinners, when we see Jesus as the good Samaritan giving us the gospel of forgiveness and peace, instead of trying to satisfy the law on our own.
Join us this weekend to hear more!
Blessings on your week!
