I Might Not Like It But I Need Detours

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.'"

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

In reply Jesus said: "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. 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. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii 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.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."

Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

I want to speak to you about a subject that I believe resonates with many of us on our journey of faith. The title of today's message is

"I Might Not Like It, But I Need Detours."

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts open and ready to receive Your Word. We ask for Your guidance and wisdom as we dive into this passage today. Help us to see with Your eyes and to love with Your heart, especially when it’s not easy, convenient, or comfortable. May Your Holy Spirit move within us, prompting us to take the detours in life that lead to loving others as You have loved us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Life often presents us with detours—those unexpected turns that pull us away from our planned path. Like most of us, I don’t like detours. They disrupt our plans, delay our progress, and can be inconvenient, even costly. However, in the spiritual journey of life, detours are sometimes necessary, especially when it comes to loving like Christ.

In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus teaches us that love often requires us to take detours, to step out of our comfort zones, and to engage with those who may not look, act, or even smell like us.

The "lawyer" in this context is an expert in the Jewish law, a "scribe." Scribes were scholars who studied, interpreted, and taught the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. They were respected religious leaders and were responsible for drafting legal documents, contracts and deeds, as well as offering interpretations of the law for various legal and religious matters. In this passage, the lawyer's question reflects his role in understanding and applying the law, but Jesus' response challenges him to go beyond legal knowledge to embrace the spirit of the law—love and compassion.

Jesus told the parable to challenge the lawyer's understanding of who qualifies as a "neighbor." By using the example of a Samaritan—a group despised by the Jews—as the one who showed true neighborly love, Jesus expanded the definition of "neighbor" to include everyone, regardless of social, ethnic, or religious boundaries.

The lawyer, in seeking to justify himself, represents the self-righteous attitude that can arise from strict adherence to the law without a corresponding heart of love and compassion. Jesus used the parable to expose the inadequacy of mere legalism and to point to the deeper, more inclusive love that fulfills the law.

The Priest and the Levite – Avoiding the Detour (Luke 10:31-32):

Both the priest and the Levite saw the wounded man but chose not to help. They passed by on the other side, avoiding the detour.

Maybe they had important duties at the temple, or maybe they feared becoming ceremonially unclean. Whatever the reason, they saw the detour as too costly, inconvenient, or beneath them.

How often do we avoid detours in our own lives? We might see someone in need, but we justify not helping with thoughts like, "I’m too busy," "It’s not my responsibility," or "It’s too risky." Yet, by avoiding these detours, we miss opportunities to love like Christ.

The Samaritan – Embraced the Detour (Luke 10:33-35):

The Samaritan, a person despised by Jews, saw the same wounded man but responded differently. He took the detour. He was moved with compassion, bandaged the man’s wounds, placed him on his own donkey, and brought him to an inn where he cared for him. Not only did he take a detour, but he also made personal sacrifices—time, resources, and even safety—to help a stranger.

Application: To love like Christ means embracing detours. It means allowing compassion to move us beyond our plans and comfort zones, reaching out to those who may not look, act, or smell like us. As 1 John 3:18 says, "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

Being Different to Love Like Christ:

Jesus' choice of a Samaritan as the hero of the story would have shocked His Jewish audience. The Samaritan's willingness to love someone different from him reflects the love of Christ, who reached out to sinners, tax collectors, and even those who nailed Him to the cross.

Scripture Reference: In Matthew 5:46-47, Jesus challenges us, "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?" True Christian love crosses boundaries and breaks down barriers.

Additional Scripture: Romans 12:20-21 encourages us, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Conclusion:

Loving like Christ often requires taking detours—unplanned, inconvenient, and sometimes costly. But these detours are opportunities to show God’s love in a world that desperately needs it. Our neighbor may not look, act, or smell like us, but they are created in God’s image and are worthy of our love and compassion.

Do you want to love like Jesus?

Jesus’ earthly ministry was full of moments where He encountered and embraced detours—times when He was interrupted or taken off His intended path to meet the needs of others. His compassion and willingness to serve, even when it was inconvenient or unexpected.

Reference: Mark 5:21-34

Context: Jesus was on His way to heal Jairus's daughter when a woman who had been suffering from a bleeding condition for twelve years touched His cloak, believing that this would heal her. Jesus stopped, even though He was on an urgent mission, to address the woman's faith and declare her healing. This detour was not only a moment of healing for the woman but also an opportunity for Jesus to demonstrate that no one is too insignificant to receive His attention.

Reference: Matthew 20:29-34

Context: As Jesus was leaving Jericho, two blind men cried out to Him for mercy. Although the crowd tried to silence them, Jesus stopped and asked what they wanted Him to do for them. He healed their blindness, showing that He was willing to take a detour from His journey to respond to their desperate need.

Reference: John 11:1-44

Jesus received news that His friend Lazarus was sick, but instead of going immediately to Bethany, He delayed His journey, knowing that Lazarus would die. This "detour" in timing allowed Jesus to perform an even greater miracle—raising Lazarus from the dead—demonstrating His power over life and death and revealing the glory of God.

Reference: John 4:1-42

Context: Jesus "had to go through Samaria" on His way to Galilee, a route most Jews avoided. This intentional detour led to His encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, where He revealed Himself as the Messiah and brought salvation to her and many in her village. This story shows Jesus' willingness to cross cultural and social barriers to reach those in need.

Reference: Matthew 15:21-28

Context: While Jesus was in the region of Tyre and Sidon, a Canaanite woman approached Him, pleading for her daughter to be delivered from a demon. At the outset, Jesus seemed to refuse, but the woman persisted in faith. Jesus took a detour from His primary mission to the Jews to heal her daughter, demonstrating that His compassion and power extend to all who have faith.

Reference: Mark 10:13-16

Context: While Jesus was teaching, people brought children to Him so He could bless them. The disciples tried to turn them away, seeing this as an interruption, but Jesus rebuked them, saying, "Let the little children come to me." He took time to embrace and bless the children, showing that even what might seem like a small detour is valuable in God's eyes.

In Acts 1:8, Jesus commands His disciples, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." This verse is often seen as a roadmap for the spread of the Gospel, starting from the familiar and extending outward to the unfamiliar and even hostile territories. In the context of our sermon on taking detours to love like Christ, this command can be understood as a divine mandate to embrace the detours God places before us, extending our love and witness beyond our comfort zones.

Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria in the Context of Detours:

Jerusalem – Starting with What is Familiar:

Jerusalem represents the immediate context, the place where the disciples were already located. For us, it symbolizes our immediate circles—our family, friends, and community. It's the place where sharing God's love might feel the most comfortable because we are among those who are familiar to us.

Even in familiar settings, God may call us to take detours—to reach out to that crazy cousin or that evil neighbor in need of Christ to reconcile someone in our family of faith. These detours might not seem grand, but they are the foundation of our witness and love.

Judea – Expanding to a Broader Context:

Judea represents the broader cultural and regional area surrounding Jerusalem. It’s familiar, but a step beyond the immediate. This could include our workplace, social circles, or the larger community.

God may call us to take detours in our broader context— to help a someone in crisis, to engage in community service.

These detours require us to look beyond our immediate needs and consider how we can serve others in our larger community.

Samaria – Crossing Cultural and Social Boundaries:

Samaria was a region inhabited by people who were despised by the Jews due to deep-seated ethnic and religious differences. For the disciples, going to Samaria meant engaging with those who were considered "other" and were generally avoided.

Samaria represents those places and people we naturally want to avoid—those who are different from us in terms of race, culture, socioeconomic status, or beliefs.

The next time Jehovah witnesses come to your door, open the door!

Jesus calls us to take detours into these difficult and sometimes uncomfortable areas, to share His love and to demonstrate that the Gospel is for everyone.

It’s in these detours that we truly embody the radical love of Christ.

To the Ends of the Earth – Embracing the Ultimate Detours:

Jesus expands the mission to the "ends of the earth," signifying a call to take the Gospel to every corner of the world, regardless of the challenges or the unfamiliarity.

In our lives, this means taking significant detours—perhaps in mission work, in engaging with people of different faiths or cultures, or in going to places where the love of Christ is unknown. It’s a call to move beyond all boundaries, embracing the detours that lead us to be His witnesses to the entire world.

As we go about our lives, be open to the detours that God places in our path. They are not distractions but divine appointments. Remember, "I might not like it, but I need detours" because through them, we can love like Christ.

Today, commit to being like the Good Samaritan. Take the detours necessary to love those God puts in our path, even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. In doing so, we fulfill the law of Christ and witness to a world in need of His love.

Closing Prayer:

Lord, help us to see the detours in our lives not as obstacles but as opportunities to love like You. Give us the courage to embrace these moments, to step out of our comfort zones, and to show Your love to everyone we meet. May our lives be a testimony of Your grace and compassion. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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