Our Samaritan. (Hix)

Luke l0:25-37-And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”

And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

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

Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.

So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’

So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

A lonely road, the only spectator was God.

On a lonely road when nobody else is around, what each person really is, comes out!

lf you want to know what, we really are, it’s what we are in the dark. "

He Fell-He was a victim, like so many other people, no fault of there own they become a victim.

Wounded Him-We have all been wound at one time or another.

Maybe it’s physical, emotional, economical. `

We are at times….The Walking Wounded.

Leaving Him-Tommy with his salt shaker.

Half-Death-John 8:51-Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”

We may see others die, people around us may see us die.

They may say, “He’s dead or she’s dead!” But we won’t see it!

We will see just like Steven saw!

Jesus tasted death for everyone!

1 Cor. 15:55-O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”

Passed By On The Other Side.-They had to deal with their indifference.

These where sensitive, smart, caring people at least professionally; what did they say to themselves to walk on by.

They had to rationalize their actions.

l—Could not touch a dead body. would make them unclean.

2—Someone will think I did it.

We Rationalize Our Actions-We don’t want to deal with reality, that people are hurting and dying and going to hell.

A missionary to lndia—Broke the microscope.

Plato said, "I can understand why children are afraid of the dark but I can’t understand why grown-ups are afraid of the light.

He Had Compassion-We feel just because we have felt, we have

done something, but feeling and doing are to different things.

The Caregiver—The least likely person….A Samaritan—Half Breed.

Not a religious leader, just an average Joe.

Everyone in this story remains nameless ,why because at one time or another we have been each person in this story!

We have been hurt and we have hurt other people, maybe not intentionally but we have!

It is up to us which attitude or personality, we are going to be.

Who’s my neighbor? .Anyone Who Needs Help!

What kind of man was the victim?

We don’t read about if the Samaritan ever received a thank you, no pat on the back.

According to Jesus it doesn’t make any difference.

Doesn’t matter if they never thank you for giving, never thank you for helping, never thanking for calling, never thank you for send a card….I believe Jesus is saying, “I Will Repay You!”

Jesus is our Samaritan-He has come, picked us up, bandage us, taken us to the house of faith, a place of healing, we call the church.

He is coming back and the bill already been paid!