We’re told to follow the example of Christ.
What does that mean? Yes, we have a book full of examples, but what was the core tenet of who Jesus was? What’s the essence of the man we’re to emulate?
We can expose the motivating force that daily compelled the Master in the tale of the Good Samaritan. Luke 10:25-37 reveals the compelling saga of pride, prejudice, and compassion as revealed by the words of our Lord.
Jesus begins by giving a concise answer to a question he’s been asked:
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”
And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.”
And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
Knock, knock. The man wasn’t satisfied with Christ’s answer. He wanted to pick and choose the people to whom he extended compassion. His intent is revealed in Verse 29:
But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In response, Jesus did what he so often did. He told a story. He put the truths of the life he lived into a format the man could understand.
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. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.”
Jesus did more than simply recount a series of events. He painted three inherent flaws in human nature. The robbers exhibit the careless cruelty and selfishness that so easily erupts when people think only of themselves. The priest is filled with pride and refuses to identify with the injured man. The Levite lets his prejudice override his better nature, and he steps to the other side of the road to distance himself from the disaster.
Only the Samaritan reveals the nature of Jesus. When he saw him, he had compassion.
Jesus went on to reveal the extent to which the Samaritan lets his heart rule his actions toward the man the others had seen as a worthless rag to be cast aside.
“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. 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.’ ”
Next comes the question that Jesus asks of all of us:
“Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”
It’s when we let our lives truly mimic that of the Savior that we can say with an honest heart that we understand the passion of Christ. Jesus’ questioner seemed to comprehend.
[The expert in the law] said, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Jesus’ response is the same to us today:
And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
Where has our moment of kindness seeped into the lives of others? Where have we shown mercy when it was not our responsibility? When have we been Jesus to those around us, even when it cost us time and money?
Go and do likewise. To be like Jesus is to be merciful to those we know and those we don’t.
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Code: FGO.G.18.17a.vp.esv