The Good Samaritan

Well today we are looking at a passage that I am sure many of you have heard before called the good Samaritan.

And really a good samaritan is a phrase we still use today and its from this passage

where basically a good Samaritain is someone who helps a complete stranger.

And actually a few years ago I had a good Samaritain story happen in Arika and I’s life not where we were the ones helping, but we were the ones being helped.

And I know some of you have heard this story before, but I am using it a little differently.

Because a few years ago Arika and I were on our honeymoon and we were really blessed where we were able to go to Jamaica

And one of the things we did while in Jamaica is we learned how to use a sail boat.

And so we went sailing quite a bit, but our last day there it was really windy, and I told Arika we were okay going out still

And not only that but it was probably our last time going out and so I took us out far

Where by the time we were getting ready to turn around the land was looking pretty small

So I went to turn around and made it about half way and the wind actually caught the boat and pointed it back out to sea

And so I just thought I messed up and tried again, but I got about half way and the wind caught the boat and turned us back out to sea.

And so at this point its sinking in that we are in bad shape,

Arika is crying

I have been married to my wife for a week and managed to get her lost at sea

But then waves were rocking the boat,

we were drifting further away

There may have been a couple boats that could see us, but they did not seem to care

I mean things were not looking good.

But after a short period (that felt like an hour) of drifting out to sea

Out of no where this guy on a sail boat comes and in a Jamacan accent (which I will not attempt) he says “hey man are you guys okay?”

To which we said no

But whats amazing is as soon as he knew we needed help he started giving me directions and helped me turn it around and led us back into shore.

But have you ever had an experience like that? Where you feel helpless, and chances are there are people around but not helping

but then someone comes and they help you out in a way they will probably never even know.

And really today this happens in the story we are in which is in Luke 10:25-37

And like I mentioned this is the story of the good Samaritain.

And my hope for us this Sunday is to understand how we are to help be the person that helps our neighbor, but also understand what we can do if we are the person in the story today that is in need of help.

So once again we are in Luke 10:25-37 and we will just be starting in verses 25-29 and this first part just gives us some context around the story. It says this:

Luke 10:25–29 NIV

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?”

So there is someone who is an expert of the law and from what we can tell he is actually someone who is trying to challenge Jesus’s ministry.

And so he ask Jesus what does the law require of someone to have eternal life?

And I love it because it you look at this passage Jesus does not even answer, but instead he ask him what do you think?

To which he says the best awnser for this time before Jesus died which was love God and love your neighbor.

And I love it because Jesus just says good job and moves on.

And so now this guy is embarrassed because while there is no such thing as a bad question, it probably is a bad question if you knew the awnser.

And he ask another one saying okay, but who is my neighbor?

Basically he is asking okay who do I have to love. Becaue I have to love my neighbor so who is my neighbor?

And so this is where Jesus begins to tell this story and what we are going to see is their are 4 different categories that are represented in this story and I can guarentee we fit in at least one of these catagorys and possibly a couple when it comes to how we treat our neighbor.

So we are going to start at verse 30 and this is the first category and its a bad one to be in. and it says this:

Luke 10:30 NIV

30 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.

So the first people that are brought into the story are the robbers.

But these are the guys who attack this man, they strip him of his clothes and they basically leave him dead.

and these are people we usually do not talk about a whole lot.

Because in our minds we go I have never robbed a person or almost killed them.

so I am not a robber, but can I be honest if we were to think of this catagory a little broader these are those of us where we cause problems in others lives.

Where instead of building people up we are actually tearing them down and stripping them of their dignity through our words or actions.

It would be like if I really liked this shirt and I was telling you about it and one of you said well I think your shirt looks terrible and you wear it to much.

I mean you did not beat me up, but there was some hurt.

And on a serious level though their are people who they love to tear down others.

They hurl insults out of jealousy, they actually can cause anxiety in lives, they can make people not want to get out of bed in the morning.

And the big issue with robbers is they do not just rob one person but they will rob others.

And so these people have the ability to leave people like the man in this story. Completely hopeless and alone.

And I need to say this because to often there are people in churches who are robbers. people who tear down instead of build up.

And even the smallest offense satan can blow it up to cause so much hurt.

So if you find yourself in this category I you need to stop and figure out why you are doing this.

Because you are leaving to many people dead when Christ has called us to be the people who are life giving.

Well lets check out the next part of this passage because this next group is one I think a lot of us might fit in. Look at verse 31 and 32. It says this:

Luke 10:31–32 NIV

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.

So now their is a priest and a levite and both of these people were known to be very religious and they are walking the same route as the man who has been robbed.

In fact they see the man lying their ahead almost half dead and you think they would run to him and make sure they are okay, but instead it says they actually take a different path so they do not have to deal with the issue.

And this sounds terrible and it is, but really when you think about it when we see an issue thats someone elses fault it is pretty natural for us to want to ignore it.

I mean you see it even in kids. I was at kids camp and one kid was carrying his dishes and dropped it

and so I ask some of the kids to help clean the mess and all of them go thats not my mess.

I didn’t make it why should I have to clean it up.

But the truth is we do this as adults to, and part of the reason is we say thats not my mess, but then as adults often times we get caught it what ifs that stop us from loving people.

For example in this story the priest and levite are probably thinking what if the robbers are still there

What if this cost me to much time or money

What if the guy is actually dead (which in this time the Jewish people would be considered unclean and would have to clean themselves in the temple)

And what you see is these people get so caught up in the what ifs that they allow the what ifs to dictate what they do rather than the will of God.

And we are so guilty of this, because we make the what ifs in our mind and these what ifs stop us from doing one of the most important things which is loving!

Well look at this last part because this last part of scripture focuses on the person each of us should strive for. Verses 33-37 says this:

Luke 10:33–37 NIV

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, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 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.’ 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.”

So finally the a Samaritan comes into the story and Smaritains at this time were viewed lower in society, but what is amazing is while everyone else walks by him and ignores him

The it says the samaritain takes pity or has compasion on him.

And not just that but he has deep compassion for him. The word for compassion in the Bibles original language is also translated as his bowls were yearning.

Not that he had to go to the bathroom, but its saying he was so overfilled with compassion for this man that his stomach was probably hurting.

And so look what he does because he cleans his wounds with wine and soothes them with oil

He bandages the wounds

He places the man on his donkey which means the Samaritain is walking

and he takes the man to a hotel.

Where he gives the in keeper two denarii which at this point could put someone up in a hotel for 2 months and not only that but he says if he needs to stay longer all cover it.

So basically he gave this guy a blank check.

And this seems extreme doesn’t it? but I think the Smaritain understands who is his neighbor and it is everyone.

Because the Smaritain is not asking all the what if’s but he sees this person laying their how God sees him which is priceless.

Because when somthing is priceless we value it right?

I mean say this necklace was worth 1 million dollars. Its not I am pretty sure we got it at target,

But if it was worth a million dollars and after church I left here on the pew I can almost guarantee someone would grab it and hopefully return it to me.

But you know when their is a person and they are created in the image of God (which is every person)

It does not matter the beliefs they have, it does not matter differences, interest we have, or race those people are valuable to God

And should be valuable to us where we are there for someone and not just that, but we are willing to do what the Samaritain does in this story which go above and beyond because that person is so valuable.

And really my prayer is that we will be people who are like this man where we are not focusing on the what if’s but we are focusing on the value of the person, which is so high.

Well I want to just focus on one last category and I really believe there are some of us who may be in this category and this one is different than the others, becaause I believe some of us here today would say out of all the people in this story I feel like the man on the road.

We feel like we have been beat up, hurt, and left for dead by something that has happened, something that someone said, possibly even a situation that happened with someone else in the church who tore you down.

and you have gotten to the point where you feel like the man on the road helpless, and hopeless.

You have given cries for help but it seems people have ignored you

You have moaned but feel forgotten

And ultimately you feel stuck.

If that is you first off can I just say we have a God who is ready to rescue you. And not just that but he will meet you in the most rough part of your life.

I mean if he was willing to meet you on the cross, the most painful place, than there is not a mess big enough in your life that he won’t meet you in.

He want’s to grab you by the hand and begin the healing process.

And ill be honest the healing process can take some time.

The man on the road had the heal, but when he grabbed the samaritains hand and got pulled off the ground that was the first step on the road to recovering.

And this morning God’s hand is reaching down and we have the opportunity to take the first steps towards his healing

All we have to do is grab his hand and say yes.

But I need to say this. Please do not let it stop there. Find someone to help you through this process.

because wether you have been burnt out, used, betrayed, or anyother hurt, I can guerentee there is someone in this room who has been where you have been and is ready to help pick you us.

Because God gave us Himself, but then he also gave us people to live life with.

We need eachother.

So as we close I just want you to close you eyes, reflect on a possible pain, hurt, betrayel or whatever may be holding you back or keeping you down.

This morning God is reaching to pull you back up will you grab His hand and rise?