The parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10.25-37) reminds us that at some point in our lives we would all find ourselves in one of three situations –
a – at the crossroads of life’s perils in need of God’s mercy
b – caught up with hectic schedules and walking by the opportunities to help and serve others
c – available and adjusting our schedules, allowing God interrupt our plans so someone can be saved
Can we identify with any of these?
A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
I’ve heard sermons where it was said the man shouldn’t have been travelling to Jericho and should have stayed in Jerusalem or how he shouldn’t have been travelling alone as a companion might have fought off the attackers or he shouldn’t have travelled at night, we’re not told what time this happened or he shouldn’t have taken along with him so many expensive items and while many of these might be helpful travel advice, the fact is none of us are in control of all the details of our lives. Very strangely, we live in an evil world that is under the control of the enemy and bad things still happen to good people even when they’ve done everything possibly and practically right.
How do we explain Abel being killed for something he had not done or Ham being cursed by Noah or being responsible for his father’s irresponsible behaviour or Amnon raping Tamar for serving him a meal in his room. What had Ruh and Naomi done to deserve the loss of thier husbands and in-laws in Moab? And all the baby boys that Pharaoh and Herod ordered to be killed at the time? What had Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah done to be placed in the line of fire so David could have her? And Job, after all his wholehearted devotion to God and being blameless, upright and having the fear of God had no guarantee for a life free from troubles. And those in Siloam who died upon whom the tower fell? And we all know someone or some situation that feels unfair.
When we have more questions than answers, our only hope is to hold on to God for mercy. It’s easy to ask – why or why me or why hasn’t God done this or that. There are questions that will remain unanswered on this side of eternity but not until we see Jesus. We rest in God’s promises that all things, the good, bad and ugly will work together for our good because we love God and are called according to his purpose. We may not understand fully what or why God is up to but like Paul, we can say confidently we know in whom we have believed and we are persuaded that He is able to keep what we have committed to Him until that day.
Contrary to what is being preached from many pulpits today, following Jesus is not a guarantee that all of life will be easy and comfortable. Jesus said that in this world we will have troubles but we can be comforted and consoled that he won’t give us more than we can bear. While we lie on the roadside, attacked, stripped, beaten or abandoned, let’s keep our eyes on Jesus. If He doesn’t send help to deliver us, He promises to be with us in the struggle. Sometimes God allows certain things to keep us humble, so we can depend on Him, so we can become more compassionate and extend grace and empathy to others but maybe to also remind us we’re still on a journey ‘home’.
A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
The priests and Levites kept very busy schedules. Besides their own personal and family issues which was often relegated, the overwhelming responsibility of mediating between God and man, the daily offerings and sacrifices, the high standards to adhere to inorder to remain pure and acceptable before God was enormous. The book of Leviticus, probably the least read book of the Bible highlights the punishing details of rituals and routines that were upheld and still inadequate to appease God’s anger at sin. And these men did what was expected per their protocol, to walk away from dead animals and people to avoid being unclean.
And many of us may be extremely busy, focused on the tasks ahead, trying to keep up with the protocol and stay away from anyone and anything that will get us out of line. But may I suggest that the reason some people can walk by an opportunity to serve and help others is because they have not experienced what it means to be attacked, stripped and beaten. Empathy is a virtue lacking among so many. Not many are able to understand the pain others are faced with, not many are able to sit with someone in their pain, we are quick to rebuke and prophesy over the situation but can we enter their world, even briefly of those to whom life has been unfair to.
I doubt the priest and Levite had known any family and friends who had been in a similar situation. They may have been judgemental and wondered in their hearts how this man deserved what had happened. And if we are not quick to identify reasons why some things have happened to certain people, we exonerate ourselves as if we’re better than them as we think they must have done or not done something right to avoid such catastrophe. Or we excuse ourselves, blaming our busy schedules and hectic deadlines from extending our hearts and hands, hoping someone else would come by to do the dirty work.
“There is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done, and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did. Somebody got angry about this because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done”. What if we’ve been avoiding the tasks and the people God has assigned and entrusted to us only? Will we allow people die by the roadside so we can get on with our lives?
But a Samaritan … he took pity on him, went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine … put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him … took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper
The Samaritan in this parable isn’t just a man from Samaria but Jesus identifies the person no one expected to help anyone let alone the Jews as they had no relationship with each other. And isn’t it such an irony that the people we expect will be there for us often have one excuse or the other and out of nowhere with no effort of ours, God sends help from unexpected places. Are we not grateful for the disappointment and betrayal from the Levites and priests in our families, churches and communities? Let’s not put anyone on a pedestal, let’s watch what they do when life doesn’t go as planned.
The Samaritan was not an idle unemployed man roaming the streets with his donkey as many of us might think. He was on his way somewhere but unlike the other two who saw a dying man and walked on by, he stopped and took pity. He didn’t just pray over him and wish him all the best, he allowed his schedule to be disrupted, he spent his time, effort and resources resuscitating a man hanging between life and death. And that’s the difference between sympathy and empathy. Lots of people say they are sorry some things have happened but their hearts are untouched and unbothered, their wallets and deep pockets remain sealed and their schedules continue as planned but not the Samaritan. Will we be God’s hands and feet to those holding out for His mercy?
It’s interesting the Samaritan travelled with a first-aid box. Maybe he had been in a similar situation himself or had seen too many accidents as he journeyed each time. It must have been an added weight of things but he carried them along. Something happens to our priorities, our perspectives and the choices we make when we’ve been where pain and suffering resides. The way we speak to and treat people, the willingness to allow God disrupt our plans, our availability and generosity to others realising we’re only stewards and own nothing, all of that is a reflection of our relationship with the Lord and the love and compassion we’ve also recieved from Him.
If the Samaritan was alive today, this event would have been posted on his social media pages, his camera focused as the dying man is bandaged and carried onto his donkey with lots of emphasis as he’s wheeled into the inn besides all the regular updates about how much was spent and how disruptive this was. Sadly pride, insecurity and the pressure to garner the applause of others are some motivating factors. God is the final judge, can our selfless and sacrificial service to the Lord be done in secret as we trust Him to remember and reward our labour of love? The Bible is silent about the dying man giving any thanks to the Samaritan and isn’t this what Jesus is calling us to do- loving those who might never acknowledge, appreciate or reciprocate our kindness.
Lord fill my heart with your love and compassion, help me never forget the price you paid to rescue me, I want to be your hands and feet so others may come to know you. Amen