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Good Samaritan
303
at the wounded man, they could not tell whether he was Jewish.
They thought he might be a Samaritan, and they turned away.
But now a Samaritan came where the sufferer was and had com-
passion on him. The Samaritan knew very well that, if their con-
ditions were reversed, the stranger, a Jew, would pass him by with
contempt. He himself might be in danger of violence by spending
extra time in the place. But it was enough that here before him was a
human being in need and suffering. He took off his own garment to
cover him. The oil and wine he had brought for his own journey he
used to heal and refresh the wounded man. He lifted him on his own
beast and moved slowly along at an even pace, so that the stranger
might not be jarred and suffer increased pain. He brought him to an
inn and cared for him through the night, watching him tenderly.
Before going on his way in the morning, the Samaritan placed the
man in the care of the innkeeper, paid the charge, and left a deposit
for his benefit. Not satisfied even with this, he made provision for
any further need, saying, “Take care of him; and whatever more you
spend, when I come again, I will repay you.”
[233]
When the story ended, Jesus fixed His eyes on the lawyer and
said, “Which of these three do
you
think was neighbor to him who
fell among the thieves?” The lawyer answered, “He who showed
mercy on him.” Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.”
So the question, “Who is my neighbor?” is forever answered.
Our neighbor is every person who needs our help, every soul
wounded and bruised by the enemy, everyone who is the property of
God.
In the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus gave a picture of Him-
self and His mission. Humanity had been bruised, robbed, and left to
die by Satan. But the Savior left His glory to come to our rescue. He
healed our wounds. He covered us with His robe of righteousness.
He made complete provision for us at His own expense. Pointing to
His own example, He says to His followers, “As I have loved you, ...
love one another.”
John 13:34
.
The Samaritan had obeyed the dictates of a kind and loving heart.
In doing this he had proved himself to be a doer of the law. Christ
told the lawyer, “Go and do likewise.”
The lesson is no less needed today. Selfishness and cold formality
have nearly extinguished the fire of love and dispelled the graces