The Christ-Like Samaritan

The Christ-Like Samaritan

Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Luke 10:30-37

Christ fulfills what the law of God demands. In the message before us, Christ is expounding the second table of the law, the summary of which is, to love, ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ He gives the parable of the Good Samaritan in answer to the question, ‘who is my neighbor?’ If we look carefully at the Samaritan, we see, in him a vivid picture of Christ. The Samaritan was a despised person. The Jews despised the Samaritans as being inferior racially and religiously. So also, they despised Christ as being ‘born of fornication,’ and as being ‘a sinner.’ The Samaritan was a compassionate person, as was Christ. He saw the man beside the road bruised, wounded, and destitute. He stopped for him and ministered to him, just as Christ does to broken, bereft people. The Samaritan was a practical person, as is Christ. He did for the man what he could not do for himself. He bound up his wounds and brought him to safety. So Christ does for us. The Samaritan was a self-sacrificial person. He paid the innkeeper what the destitute man could not pay for himself. So Christ has paid for us what we could not pay ourselves. The Samaritan was a thorough person, as is Christ. He promised to return to settle all accounts. So Christ has promised to return to settle all accounts. Let us dwell today, please , on the abundant goodness of this Christ, Who in our best interest ‘has done all things well.’ O, Loving Christ, we praise You that You have done all these things for our good.

Our Gracious and Loving Christ,
we praise You for Your compassion upon us, poor broken souls.
We thank You for Your abundant mercy upon us, that You bind up our wounds,
and bear us to a place of safety.
For all these things we magnify and glorify You.

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice