LUKE 10:25‑37

25. Then a man skilled in the Jewish Laws came to test Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?”

26. Jesus asked the man, “What is‑written in the Law? What do you read?”

27. The man answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your life and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor the same‑as you love yourself.”

28. Jesus told the man, “You are correct. Do that and you will live forever.”

29. But the man wanted to prove himself correct. The man asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30. And Jesus told a story to the man, “A man traveled from JERUSALEM to JERICHO, and some robbers came and tore‑off his clothes, punched the man, and began leaving. The man was‑almost dead.

31. And it happened the same time that a Jewish priest traveled on that road, but happened the priest saw the man, the priest went across the road and passed‑by.

32. Also on that road came a temple servant, and he saw the man lying on the road, and also he passed‑by.

33. Then came a man from the country named SAMARIA, and he saw the man and felt sorry for him. That man came and wrapped‑his‑body and poured OIL and gave‑him some wine and put the man on his donkey and lead the man to a house and took‑care of that man.

34. The next day the man from SAMARIA took‑out some money and gave the money to the housekeeper.

35. ‘Please take‑care‑of my friend, and any more money you need I will pay you after I come again.’

36. Jesus asked the man, “Which of the three men do you think was a good neighbor to the man beaten‑up by the robbers?”

37. The man said, “The one man that was kind enough to help.” Jesus said, “You go now and do the same thing.”

Intro

The President of the United States is the most powerful man in the world. Anytime the President chooses (wants), he can send an army to this place or that place. The President can send a bomber (plane) to any place in the world. The President can drop regular bombs or different sized nuclear warheads (shape mushroom cloud). The President can order troops (army group) into a place or withdraw the troops. The President can sign an EXECUTIVE ORDER and freeze prices in our economy (e-money). The President has great powers to rule our country! The President has power over the military, the economy, the environment (e-circle), over FOREIGN (out-of-country) and DOMESTIC (in-USA) policy (rule).

However (but), the greatest power the President has is not in the military and the economy. No! The President’s greatest power is NOT in the military and the economy! The President’s greatest power is in his ability to SERVE. Yes! The President’s job is to SERVE the country…to uphold (support) the constitution of the United States! The President’s power is to be the servant of the country. The President is to serve in the interest of the people of America…to do the best for us, the people of the USA!

If (idea) you look around the world the most powerful men and women, are the ones (people) with the greatest ability (possible) to SERVE. Parents have great power over their children! ?Why? Parents can help or destroy the child’s life with the service they give or don’t give! If a parent never teaches their child, the child will have great difficulty in life. However (but), if a parent teaches their child many things, then chances (good percent) are the child will have a better life. Serving is the greatest way to demonstrate (show) power. The ability (power) to serve means you have more than enough for yourself. You are rich, therefore (happen) you can afford (share) to give away or serve. I have more than enough food so I can share. I have more than enough money so I can share. I have more than enough strength so I can “lend you a hand (help).”

A pastor’s power is one of service. The pastor serves the members by (through) bringing God’s Word and forgiveness to the people. Teaching the member the way to believe, share, and serve others (people).

A layperson’s power is in the service they give to other people. A layperson helps by comforting, bringing God’s word, doing things for the pastor and members.

A church member’s power is in service to God and others…a kind word, a nice card sent in the mail, cutting the church grass, bringing food, smiling and shaking hands, helping in everyway possible to bring Christ to people. A church member’s smile and help is great power!

Service is a God like quality. God has more than anyone. God can do more than anyone. God can afford to share. Anyone doing SERVICE for another person is being like God. Be like God and serve! Be a good neighbor and serve! Know that Jesus serves you! Know that Jesus saves you by (through) His service…by His life, death, and resurrection! Without Jesus’ service on the Cross; we would all be lost and broken people. We would all be going to Hell, if Jesus never served as our Savior.

?How many times have we heard the story of the GOOD SAMARITIAN? This is really a story of being like (same) God. God is the best neighbor and friend. Jesus shows us the way to be a good neighbor or friend. Let’s make a comparison (mirror) between people and us in the SAM story.

First the robbers in the story are a picture of evil people, the devil, and/or meanness on the earth. The robbers grab and beat up the traveler (travel-er). ?Who is the traveler? Sometimes the name traveler can be signed as a pilgrim. A pilgrim is someone traveling through a place but doesn’t have a home there. Long ago, the English pilgrims traveled across the ocean to America, but they (pilgrims) didn’t build a home on the ocean. We, Christians, are pilgrims on the earth. True, we build homes on the earth; nevertheless (no matter) we are passing through this world. We are traveling here for a short time…70, 80, 100 years then we are gone. We are like the person robbed and beat up. We get old and the world beats us down. The world strips us clean. Many of us give up fighting back. We are left on the road like the traveler…almost dead. We can’t even help ourselves. We are poor, beaten, and naked to the Sun…soon we will die. We are the man beaten up and left for dead.

Notice (eye point)! The priest comes by (past) the beaten up man. The priest walks around the man. The priest doesn’t help and doesn’t want involved. The priest does nothing wrong to the man. The priest does not break the exact wording of 5th Commandment, “Thou (you) should not murder.” The priest did nothing to the man. However (but), the priest, breaks the deeper meaning of all the commandments...to love and serve. Verse 27 says, “The man answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your life and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor the same‑as you love yourself.’”

The thing the priest fails to do…is to love and serve the poor man. The priest cares nothing for his brother, neighbor, fellowman, and friend.

The layperson (church worker) is no better than the priest. The layperson walks around the man. The two people, out of all people, that should have helped the poor man, left the poor man to suffer and die. Shame! The priest and layperson are a picture of Christians in America today. We play at church. We come 1 hour on Sunday and think we have done a great service to God. We sing a little. We clap a little. We eat a little. We meet a little together in our comfortable way. We think we are good Christians! I wonder? ?How many people are we walking past? ?How many people are we leaving on the side of the road? People that need a drink of life…baptism! People that need a comforting touch and a kind word for their spirit…Lord’s Supper! People that need a good word…Jesus loves you and died for you. People whom need to hear preaching of the Gospel. “Come with me I know where there is an inn (hotel). My church (inn) can help, we can provide for you until our Master comes back.”

?Who is the GOOD SAMARITIAN? ?Who is the good SAM? Jesus is the GOOD SAM. The SAMARITIANS were a hated people. The SAM people were half JEWISH and half BABALONIAN. Many people called them half-breeds. People hated Jesus because Jesus was different. Jesus was perfect. Jesus was fully God. Jesus was fully a man. Many people refused Jesus, but Jesus loved and served. Jesus ignored their hatred. Jesus loved! Jesus did not pass by us. Jesus did not pass anyone. Jesus stopped on His travel. Jesus pours His wine of forgiveness in our mouths. Jesus fed us the bread of life…His true body. Jesus helped comforted our minds with His Word of love being preached to all the world. “Peace on earth good will toward men…a Savior is born.” Jesus is the GOOD SAM! We have been placed in His inn; the Christian Church. Now we can help others by (through) serving with Jesus’ Word and Sacraments. Now we can be A GOOD SAM too! Be like God and serve! Amen.

8th Sunday Pentecost

LUKE 10:25‑37

Intro