Issue 264
Based on Luke 10:25-37
Finally the central figure of the story arrives…… It is worth noting the workplace edge to this story which is there in so many biblical episodes: this Samaritan was a regular traveller; Jesus uses the phrase “As he travelled” to imply that this was a route often taken. In addition the Samaritan had a good line of credit with the landlord of the establishment at the Jericho end of the road. Lastly we are informed that he had a donkey and supplies with him. The picture is of a commercial traveller on a regular business trip. It’s possible, of course that the back story is to do with a regular trip to see relatives. Either way, this journey has an element of regular and functional activity, and to interpret it as a working trip is the simplest response to the Storyteller’s intention.
So you can be confident that there is learning to be had here for your week, not just your evenings and weekends. You will already have observed that this is the fourth lone traveller to set out on this road of blood. On a human level this Samaritan is no less reckless than the other three. As a regular traveller he would have known the best times to travel in order to minimise risk, but nevertheless, it was a risky journey.
All these travellers and, if you want to learn from them, all of us, set out on risky journeys all the time. From womb to tomb there is risk.
But we can’t have it both ways; if the victim made mistakes in travelling, then so did all the others. He may have made more, but they all made some. We are all risk-taking, foolish travellers. We are all prodigal sons and daughters, rich young rulers, women bent double or caught in traps; we are all dying thieves. Which one of us is without sin and can cast the first stone of criticism at the folly of others? And which one of us has not made ridiculous mistakes on our journeys? Next time you see someone beaten up and victimised like the one out of four on the Jericho road , it would be worth remembering that there, but for a different time and place and the grace of God, go you. We all have the capacity to fall very quickly, and bad times are just a heartbeat away. So how dare we even consider walking by on the other side of the road?
Now the story intensifies: the Jews had hated the Samaritans for over seven hundred years; they considered them impure, heretics, and enemies. Skirmishes and disagreements characterised their history. The word ‘Samaritan’ was used as an insult even if the victim had no Samaritan blood at all. Jesus was himself insulted in such a way by the authorities. Some of the listeners to this story would spit on the ground at the mention of the word and the whole audience would have expected the Samaritan to go over to the victim and finish him off, or rob him further.
Now think of the person at work whom you like least. They have been awful to you, bullied you or insulted you. They have been the bane of your life. Now you have a small insight into the context of the goodness of the Samaritan. He didn’t just cross a road, but crossed seven hundred years of lies, prejudice, hatred and suspicion. He crossed religious, political and social divides. He put aside all the reasons, risks, and doubts, to leave remaining the only characteristic that they had in common – their humanity.
He didn’t set up a campaign for better conditions on the Jericho road; he didn’t shout about the size of the security services, or just make a record of what he saw – none of these would have helped.
The man was wounded and needed oil, wine, and bandages. The man was unable to move so he needed transport. The man was incapacitated so needed a place to recover. He had been robbed so he needed money.
Real help is not just about feelings. It is not even about feelings and actions. It is about feelings expressing themselves in the right actions – The actions that actually meet the real need of the victim.
Real help is not about whether you like someone, condone their behaviour, or have the time. Real help is not about assessing inconvenience. It is not about whether the person deserves it; iIt is about mercy – if they deserved it, it wouldn’t be mercy.
We’re almost done with this Samaritan but he’s not done with us yet. There are a few more twists and turns on this road – we’ll travel them shortly
Luke 10:25-37
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered: ” ‘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, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
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Geoff Shattock
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