Are we Really the Good Samaritan?
One
of my professors often says that readers and interpreters are grounded in their
social locations. What they meant by that was that when we read a particular
text, we tend to put ourselves in the story, and we put ourselves in the story
as the hero. When we read the Bible stories, we are Moses telling the Pharaoh,
to let our people go. We tend to identify with the hero, the winner of the
story. We are David, never Goliath, we are Adam and Even, never the serpent,
and of course in this parable told by Jesus, we like to see ourselves as the
Samaritan.
And that is where we are in the
text today. Samaria is a place named after a mountain in the area, 42 miles
north of Jerusalem. It was the capital residence and burial place of the kings
of Israel. Became the name for all
of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (1 and 2 Kings), conquered by the Greeks,
then the Romans. When you look at someone now you never know what he or she has
been through. The city destroyed when the Romans took over and rebuilt, but it
never got the same prestige it once had. Got to the point that people went out
of their way to avoid going through Samaria when traveling. To be called a
Samaritan was to be called a bad word in those times; it meant they didn’t know
whom your bloodline came from. Almost like being called a half-breed or a mutt,
an outsider, child that comes into a house because one of the people cheated.
The Samaritans couldn’t come to the temple to worship.
In
the text today we find Jesus, just after he sent the seventy out to spread the
good news casting out demons, healing the sick in the name of Jesus. He tells them not to rejoice over the
power they have, but to rejoice that their names are written in Heaven. I spoke about this last week at my home
church. I talked about the calling of names, the 70 aren’t named and they are
told to be happy that their names are written in heaven. We take pride in our
names, we protect our names, even when people try to trap us up to disrespect
our names, our reputations. That is what the lawyer did in the text; he stood
up to test Jesus. Trying to trap him in the law, but he didn’t know Jesus like
we know Jesus, that Jesus was the best lawyer that money can’t buy.
Jesus
turns it back on him, and asks what is written in the law? Lawyer knew the
scriptures and is quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. But then lawyer couldn’t leave well
enough alone and he asks who is my neighbor? The Samaritans were good
neighbors, but when the new people moved in, they were not so good. We can
clique up by nature, we like being around like-minded people. There is benefit
to being around like-minded people, but we must be able to reach outside our
comfort zones to bring others to Jesus. That is what we are here for right?
This life is temporary; we need to be concerned about the eternal.
The
race of the beaten person is not mentioned, it could be anybody. Not just the
people at the intersections looking for help, but it could be me, or you, or
anyone else. Slighted by those who should have been his friends. On the side of
the road, broke busted and disgusted. Beaten up by life. Beaten up by the job,
by friend and family members. But The Samaritan came down this road. Took care
of his hurts.
I don’t see myself as the
Samaritan, because God knows I don’t always do the right thing. I don’t see
myself as the Levite, because I was not born into this chosen race, I don’t
even see myself as the priest, even though I accepted my call and preaching is
my profession. I see myself as the one on the side of the road, in need of
help. And I like to see the Samaritan as my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The
Samaritan didn’t have to stop and help the beaten traveler but he did. Jesus didn’t
have to save me, but he did. It is an example of Christ work, and the work we
are to do for others.
The Samaritan was minding his own
business, but saw someone in need of assistance; Jesus was in Glory and saw
humanity in need of salvation. The Samaritan was moved with pity and tended to
his wounds; Jesus was filled with love and was wounded for our transgressions.
Isaiah 53:5
New King James Version (NKJV)
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
The Samaritan gave the man, oil and wine for his
wounds. The bible says
Psalm 104:15
New King James Version (NKJV)
15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man,
Oil to make his face shine,
And bread which strengthens man’s heart.
Oil to make his face shine,
And bread which strengthens man’s heart.
Wine is refreshment, and oil brings joy, he was getting
refreshment and joy from the Samaritan so he didn’t have to look like what he
had been through. In Christ we are
new creatures, all things have passed away so we too don’t have to look like
what we have been through.
The Samaritan put the man on his animal and brought him to
an inn, Jesus put himself on a cross and brought us all a way to heaven.
Even though the Samaritan was considered bad, what he did
even his enemy, this lawyer saw worth in.
Philippians 2:10
New King James Version (NKJV)
10 that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under
the earth,
The Samaritan helped the beaten traveler, just like God helps
those who seek Him.
Psalm 121:1-4
New King James Version (NKJV)
God the Help of Those Who Seek Him
A Song of Ascents.
121 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from He,
Who made heaven and earth.
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from He,
Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Stop by me Jesus, pick me up Jesus, clean me up Jesus, and
leave something for me to let me know your coming back. The best part about the
story of the Samaritan is this, he says he’s coming back, and Jesus is coming
back.
They whipped his back so it could hold you up
Stretched his arms, now they are long enough to reach you
Buried in the tomb, all of our sin, all of our diseases.
I’ve got the scars to prove he is a way maker; I can be a
witness that he’s a burden bearer, a heavy load sharer.
He is the Ancient of Days!
He is Adam’s Redeemer!
He is Abel’s Vindicator!
He is Noah’s Ark!
He is Abraham’s Sacrifice!
He is Moses’ Burning Bush!
He is Joshua’s Battle-Ax!
He is Gideon’s Fleece!
He is Samson’s Power!
He is David’s Music!
He is Solomon’s Wisdom!
He is Jeremiah’s Balm in Gilead!
He is Ezekiel’s Wheel in the middle of the wheel!
He is Job’s Horse pawing in the valley!
He is Daniel’s Stone rolling down through the mountain!
He is Matthew’s King!
He is Mark’s Suffering Servant!
He is Luke’s Great Physician!
He is John’s Word Made Flesh!
And He is Acts’ coming of the Holy Ghost!
I look over my life, and I look at what I used to be, and
what I could have been but Jesus spared me. It reminds me of the Hymn Love
Lifted Me
Love Lifted Me
words: James Rowe
music: Howard E. Smith
I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.
Refrain:
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me!
