The Good Samaritan

During the first year of our marriage, I decided that I was going to surprise my wife with a weekend getaway for Valentines Day. So I got online and rented a little condo in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Betsy was still taking classes at Southern Miss during this time, and I remember calling her to tell her about the surprise. She answered the phone and I was like, “Guess what babe!” I spent way too much money, I blew the budget…dont be made, but I booked us a weekend getaway!” So when you get out of class, come home and pack a bag, we're leaving tonight! So the rest of the day, I was like a kindergartener on his first day at school excited about this trip. Im texting her all day long, “Babe, you wanna know where were going?!” And she being the reasonable one in our marriage is like, “Babe, isn’t this supposed to be a surprise?” Im like, yea you’re right….5 minutes later…BABE, WERE GOING TO GULF SHORES! I BLEW THE BUDGET ON A PRIVATE CONDO ON THE BEACH IN FEBURARY!!!”

So we get the car all packed up and head out that afternoon…So here’s where the story get’s interesting. Betsy is way better with directions than me. Like typically, if you put that girl in a car, she can get you where you need to go. But there’s a catch…she has to traveled that route at least one time before. Because what I found out about my amazing bride on this trip was that my wife’s sense of directions have nothing to do with roads and maps…she has the memory of an elephant when it comes to landmarks.

Her sense of directions are like, go down that highway until you get to the 4th overpass, take a right by the big church, drive until you hit the 4 way and take a left, then take a right by the big oak tree….

So at this point, neither one of us have gone from Hattiesburg to Gulf Shores…see she could have gotten me to gulf shores in her sleep if we went from our hometown because she had done it countless times. But this was the first time for us to take this route…so instead of relying on her keen since of direction via landmarks…we had to rely on google maps.

So we type in the address of the place we are going to…and on our way we go…about 2 hours later we are sitting in Dolphin Island looking out across the bay at Gulf Shores wondering what went wrong. Were on this side of the bay…and we can sort of faintly see the other side of the bay where we are supposed to be…so we pull up google maps and we see where there is this little checkbox that says “avoid ferries” that we hadn’t checked when we plugged in our directions.

And in a lot of ways I feel like there are these seasons in life that feel exactly how I felt sitting at the edge of that bay that night. Like we’re bee-bopping along through life and the next thing we know, we find ourselves at the end of that road we thought was leading us to our destination. There’s a road-block: maybe it’s cancer, maybe it’s losing a job, maybe it’s the death of a loved one, or maybe it’s a global pandemic.

In those moments we got two options: we can either stubbornly get angry and sulk in our disappointment and cynicism…OR…we can trust that God is still on His throne, that his plan hasn’t been thwarted, and that maybe he wants us to redirect and go a different direction.

That’s what this whole series that we have entitled “RECALIBRATE” is all about. All of us right now are facing a disruption in life. We have all hit a roadblock. And we believe that as followers of Jesus, it is our duty to recalibrate…to adjust…our lives to be conformed more into the image of Christ even in the midst of crisis such as these.

And this is why I believe that the passage we are going to be hearing from this morning is so important: right now we are all finding ourselves on Dauphin Island at the end of our road in a lot of ways…and the temptation for us to pull back and make sure that we take care of ourselves first. Let me make sure I have enough toilet paper, let me make sure I have enough food and water, let me make sure I have enough money…let me make sure that I am taken care of…and then I might help others. Essentially…its a me before you lifestyle…

And if you are a believer in Jesus Christ today…if you call yourself a followers of his…what we find in God’s word—and especially this passage of Scripture is that Jesus calls us to a life that flips that around totally.

And this is the big idea of the message this morning: No matter our circumstances, Jesus calls us to live a ‘You Before Me’ lifestyle.

So if you will read along with my in Luke 10:25-37

Luke 10:25–37 CSB

25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the law?” he asked him. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.” 28 “You’ve answered correctly,” he told him. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus took up the question and said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. 34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”

So here’s how we are going to break down this “You Before Me” Idea this morning:

We are going to look at WHAT it is...

And then I want to end with asking the WHY question: “Why does Jesus tell the story of the Good Samaritan?”

So First, “What is the ‘You Before Me’ Lifestyle Jesus calls us to?

We Engage All Kinds of People With All Kinds of Problems (v. 30-33)

Luke 10:30–33 ESV

30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

When the lawyer in this passage asked Jesus “Who is my neighbor...” He was looking for a loophole in God’s Law. What the Lawyer was actually asking was, “Jesus, tell me who I can exclude…theres no way that God’s law requires me to love everyone…so where’s the qualifier? Who can I consider as my neighbor.

You see in Jews during this time period would have considered their neighbors to be their Jewish brothers and sisters…people that were like them. But Jesus doesnt respond that way…instead he tells this story of a man who found himself at the wrong place at the wrong time. He was jumped by a gang of robbers, stipped of his clothes, and left for dead on the side of the road. Later these two religious leaders pass by, each of which see the man in the midst of his crisis, and instead of stopping to help…they both continue on their way. Jesus doesnt tell us why these two Jewish leaders didnt stop…it could have been fear, it could have been that they felt they were too busy, or they simply could have just been totally apathetic…but for whatever reason they decided that they didnt have

And then…all of the sudden…a Samaritan happens to be passing by…and look at what Luke says...

Luke tells us that…of all people…it’s the Samaritan that has compassion on the man, and engages him…Dont miss this…Jews and Samaritans HATED each other. The best present day equivalent that i can think of to describe how Jews and Samaritans thought of each other during this time is if like Nancy Pelosi and Donald Trump…these people absouletly despised each other.

At the end of the story Jesus asks the Lawyer, “who was the one neighbor…” and the Lawyer answers, “The one who showed Mercy...” He couldnt even bring himself to say that a Samaritan was the man who loved his neighbor.

Listen, the lawyer is looking for a loophole in the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself…and what Jesus essentially tells him is this: There is no loophole…When God says to love your neighbor, he was talking about anyone and everyone in need or crisis…there are no boundaries to neighborly love in the eyes of God.

We are called to love our neighbor no matter where they were born, what neighborhood they live in, no matter what they look like, no matter what they act like, no matter their circumstances, no matter their religion or creed, no matter their political leanings, no matter their social status, no matter how rich or poor, no matter what gender or sexual orientation…

And look, it doesnt just say that the Samaritan pitied the man and then carried on about his buisness…no, Jesus says that “He went toward him...” He engaged him!

So Christian…let me ask you this question…when you see a person in crisis…how do you typically respond? Do you withdrawl? Do you make judgements? Do you carry on about your business? Or do you engage with the same intensity with which you deal with your own needs?

The Good Samaritan lived a “You Before Me” lifestyle because he was willing to engage all kinds of people with all kinds of problems. And if we desire to recalibrate our lives to love our neighbors as ourselves, we too must be willing to engage all people regardless of their circumstances.

But notice, the Good Samaritan didnt stop by engaging this man…he did so by sparing no expense....and this is our second principle for How we can pursue a “You Before Me” lifestyle…we engage all kinds of people with all kinds of problems…and we spare no expense to do so...

We Spare No Expense (v. 33-35)

Luke 10:33–35 ESV

33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’

The Preist and the Levite failed the test of the Great Commandment because they saw the cost of caring for this poor man as too great a sacrifice to make to their own wants and desires for life. But not the Samaritan, the Samaritan was a good neighbor because he withheld nothing back from caring for this man in need.

First, he canceled his plans…whatever he was on the road to Jericho to do…was no longer his top priority…he wasnt worried about making the staff meeting on time. He wasnt worried about keeping his schedule. His number 1 priority from that point forward was helping this man

Second, He put himself at risk…here he was…in the same neighborhood where a guy was just mugged…for all he knew the robbers were lurking behind some rock just waiting for the weak soul that was niave enough to stop and try to help this man. But the Samaritan didnt care…he would rather put himself in harms way than let this man suffer and potentially die.

Third, he bandaged up his wounds…Luke tells us that he use oil and wine, two very precious and expensive resources during this time period that people used as medication and soothing balms for wounds.

Fourth, Luke tells us that he placed him on his own animal…his only ride…The Samaritan was willing to suffer the consequences and walk the rest of the way to Jericho.

Already we see the cost of loving our neighbor…but the Samaritan doesnt stop there...

Next Luke tells us that he takes the traveler to a hotel and he pays two denarii of rent…the equivalent of a weeks long stay…so hundrends of dollars in our day and age

Then…to just put the icing on the cake the guy gives his credit card to the inn keeper and essentially says this, “it’s on me…no matter the cost…it’s all on me, just take care of him...”

We Must First Recognize Our Inability

Ultimately…when you read the Good Samaritan it’s easy to get so caught up in the story that you lose sight of the conversation that Jesus is telling this story in. The irony in this story is that the Lawyer’s question has a major assumption in it: Do you remember the question? Look at it again…verse 25

Luke 10:25 CSB

25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Do you see the assumption…WHAT MUST I DO…there it is.

You see this lawyer assumes that there is something that he can do to earn his salvation. He believes that he can justify himself before a holy and righteous God by keeping the Law....

Just think about it…Jesus essentially says to the Lawyer, “Okay…so you are interested in what you need to do in order to earn eternal life? —I tell you what, here’s what you need to do: Simply make sure that every action you have ever taken over the course of your life, every word that you have ever spoken, every emotion that you have ever felt is done with unwavering—uncompromising—all encompassing—devotion to God. And make sure that you love every single person you ever encounter—even your greatest enemy—enough to meet all of their needs with the same amount of joy and intensity with which you meet your own needs. DO THAT…and you can earn your eternal life...

HERES THE POINT: You see church, from time to time, we might be able to honestly say that we are doing OK with the few laws that we actually remember God telling us to follow that day. But when you see the full force of what that law is getting at you're going to realize that there really is no way to keep that standard. How in the world can a person ALWAYS do everything they do with FULL DEVOTION to God? And just as mind-blowing—how in the world could a person love and serve their neighbor—never complaining or with a begrudging attitude? It’s just not possible…and that’s precisely Jesus’ point in this Parable. He is trying to show the Lawyer his own inability to fulfill the command to love God because he is revealing how incapable this lawyer is to actually love His neighbor the way God intends.

And let me tell you my temptation this morning, my temptation is to preach a sermon about how we need to all go be the Good Samaritan this week. We need to go love the poor, feed the hungry, give aid to the sick, and bring justice to the orphan and widow…and yes…as followers of Jesus we are called to do all of those things....but doing these things isnt ultimately what the Parable of the Good Samaritan is about.

You see, We arent the Good Samaritan in our life’s story…Jesus is. Jesus is the Truer and Greater Good Samaritan who lived with the You Before Me lifestyle. Jesus saw us lying totally exposed left for dead in the ditch…beaten and brocken by sin…and he didnt see us as a problem to avoid…he didnt leave us lying there unmoved by our helpless state…Just as the Good Samaritan went over to the traveler on the Road to Jericho…Jesus came to us, stepping down from his throne in heaven and humbling himself by becoming a servant on our behalf. Just like the Good Samaritan put himself in harms way, spared no expense providing for this man in crisis …so Jesus put himself in harms way by placing himself in our place, taking on the curse that we deserved as a result of our sin, and lavishly poured out the riches of God’s grace for all who trust in Him....

This is the point of the Good Samaritan…And the only way that you and I will ever be able to be able to honestly put Others Before Ourselves is if we recognize that God—through the person and work of Jesus Christ—put our needs before His own. So when we love and serve those in need…we do it from a place of having first been loved by Jesus, served by Jesus, healed by Jesus, cared for by Jesus, advocated for by Jesus, vindicated by Jesus, justified by Jesus, and ultimately…saved by Jesus.

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Just this week I heard stories about women from our church driving around to neighborhoods giving away free lunch to under privileged kids, in Jesus name.

We have people paying rent for international students from all over the world, in Jesus name

We have donated enough can goods to feed a small army…in Jesus name...

Neighborly Love is happening here…but church…God isnt done…there are all kinds of people with all kinds of needs around us and we—the bride of Christ—are called to be His hands and feet. Jesus said,

Matthew 25:35–40 ESV

35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

It is at the heart of the Jesus that we minister to the needy and broken…so let’s get after it...

God has more needs for us to meet.

He has more hearts that he wants to change.

And you and I are God’s means to bring about this change in the world around us…Jesus has given you his authority and his power and annointed you to fullfil your ministry with His Spirit…we have all we need, Church. So lets go...

Here’s where we go from here:

Next Steps:

This week, I will find ways to serve people outside of my normal social circles, in Jesus name.

This week, I will take one practical step that will allow me to love my neighbor without sparing any expense (set a budget, start giving through your church financially, etc…)

Today, I recognize my inability to be the neighbor God has called me to be, and I surrender my life to His grace toward me in Jesus Christ—the only Good Samaritan that has ever lived.