On The Road To Jericho

Jesus constantly demonstrated His compassion in the gospels. He was able to weep over the sinful city of Jerusalem and at the grave of His friend, Lazarus. As Hebrews says, he truly was touched by the feeling of our infirmities. Twice he fed great multitudes with just a handful of food. After raising a young girl from the dead, his instructions were to give her something to eat. He even broiled some fish for some weary fishermen.

A man told Jesus that if He would, He could heal him. Jesus simply said, "I will." No examination, no qualifications, no recriminations, simply "I will." At another occasion on the Jericho road he heard the cry of a blind man whom the disciples were trying to hush. This man had an urgent need. He was blind and needed to see. Jesus met his need and healed him on the spot.

One day Jesus felt compelled to cross the proverbial tracks and go through Samaria. In fact Jesus spent a lot of time on the wrong side of the tracks. Aren’t you glad for that! There he met a women who happened to be of the wrong race and the wrong religion and she wasn’t exactly spotless in reputation. Jesus met her at her point of need and offered her Living Water so that she would never thirst again.

He found another women who was about to be stoned for adultery. Her accusers, being all men. had evidently decreed some much less severe penalty for the male in this story. Perhaps a good sharp slap on the wrist. Jesus extended instant forgiveness with the injunction to "go and sin no more." This women found her altar at the feet of Jesus. Jesus had met her where she was, at her point of need.

Jesus said that He was the Good Shepherd, who gave His life for the sheep. He came to seek and to save the lost. He actively pursued and wooed the sinner. We’ve all seen the picture of Christ holding on to a branch while reaching down to rescue a stranded lamb. As the old song says, "I was that one lost sheep." Jesus left 99 righteous saints singing and shouting at the church house and pursued me.

The Samaritan took the poor soul to a local inn, made a down payment and left instructions for any further expense to be put on his tab. He promised to come again and repay the expense.

Luke 10:33-35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Jesus has left us a down payment. He has filled us with His Spirit which Paul stated was the earnest or down payment of our inheritance. He has promised to return and there is a ledger being kept, whether of good or of evil. Jesus will repay.

Hebrews 6:10 tells us, "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." We know that even a cup of water given in the name of Jesus will be worthy of a reward (Mt. 25). Likewise Christ is coming to exercise vengeance upon those who don’t know God and who don’t obey the gospel of Christ. He said He is coming and that His reward is with Him.