Fan Or Follower? Series

Fan or Follower

Luke 10:25-37

February 5, 2023

There’s a quote attributed to the Dalai Lama:

“Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.”

Many of us would say AMEN to that. We don’t all like rules. There’s lots of articles on the internet which teach you how to learn the rules so that you know how to break them.

Then we have that saying, “rules were made to be broken.” As a parent, I thought my rules were the law. They were legally binding for my kids. Do this . . . or else. It didn’t always work out that way. I was a little naive. And after awhile, you realize your rules or laws need to be modified.

What was once a rule for your child when they were 3, no longer applies when they’re 8, and changes again when they’re 16. And they change again when they’re married, and so on. And how many of you grandparents; aunts and uncles have allowed the kids to do what would have been unacceptable years ago?

And, if we’re not careful, we can use rules to help us avoid doing the right thing. We saw this quite a bit in the Bible. The Pharisees often caught the attention of Jesus for the ways they mismanaged and changed the ways they followed the rules or didn’t follow the rules or Jewish laws. These laws were passed on from the O.T.

They often followed these laws in a way which allowed them to circumvent the law or as a way not to help someone who was in need. For example, they said it was wrong to heal someone on the Sabbath because that was work, but they would help their livestock get out of a ditch when it was stuck. Stuff like that which really makes no sense.

We’re in a series of messages which are asking us about our relationship and willingness to follow Jesus. I’m asking us . . . . ARE YOU A FAN or FOLLOWER? And along with that . . . to define the relationship you have with Him. We’re in our final 2 weeks of the series.

So, let me ask you this before we jump into a well known story from the Bible. Let’s say you’re working in an office and people need to fill out forms to get the help they need. According to the rules at your office, or maybe even state laws . . . certain forms must be filled out. The person who has a need comes in, having filled out all of the forms, but they’ve missed some stuff.

Now, technically, they are not eligible to receive what they need / or the benefits. So, do you ignore the rules and help them . . . or do you simply follow th rules and deny them assistance?

On the surface, it seems pretty clear cut, but it’s not always that way. You may be a rule breaker and your coworker is a rule follower.

So, with that in mind, let’s look at Luke 10:25-37, it’s one of Jesus’s most famous parables, the parable of the Good Samaritan - - - -

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put Jesus to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 Jesus said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”

27 And he 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.”

28 And Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.

32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’

36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”