If there’s one story I was sick of hearing, it’s this. I learned it at School. I learned it at Sunday School. It featured in every second sermon and every third rebuke. It’s the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
After years of “I know this one” and all the self-satisfaction of a millennial Christian, I was challenged to teach on it.
And as I put myself in the shoes of each of the four characters of the story, I was struck by a clearer vision of God’s character, and of my duty in response.
The Jewish man, beaten half-to-death
The victim of a random attack, he was hurt, robbed, and emotionally distraught. He was dying. And he was alone.
So often in life, the will of God, “that none should perish” is obstructed by the will of man, “that we should strive to get ahead”. We, the favoured of God are thrown to the ground in circumstances beyond our control. The promise of God is concealed by our misunderstanding and self-satisfaction; His Presence constrained by the bruises of our hurt person and hurt pride.
But the gutter is where Godʼs grace, strength and power are at peak strength! When we’re assaulted by the stress, confusion, and malice of our mortality, the challenge is to look toward eternity. To get up. And not to get even or get ahead, but to get above. The old adage is true: when youʼre knocked to your knees, youʼre in the perfect position to pray!
The Priest who saw
The passing Priest SAW the Beaten Man. But then crossed to the other side. We are called Priests of God (Revelation chapter 1 verse 6). Our commission? The ministry of reconciliation: between one another and between man and God (2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 18).
That ministry requires us to be both witnesses for Christ, and sometimes witnesses of unutterable suffering; the raw and often darkest parts of humanity. It doesnʼt take a mission trip to Africa to see the idolatry, heinous abuse and evil that man is capable of inflicting. Just turn on the news!
The response God expects? Love enduring, without conditions. Love that’s willing to see and know the purpose and reality of Christ’s suffering.
The Temple Assistant who approached
The Temple Assistant saw the Beaten Man. And he APPROACHED the Beaten Man. But then he opted to cross to the other side.
His role in Jewish custom was to make the Temple clean and services function — to make Godʼs House approachable and accessible to an imperfect public. We have a similar duty; to represent “the manifold wisdom of God” (Ephesians chapter 3 verse 10) in our blindly rebellious and shame-veiled communities. As we read: to reconcile.
So upon seeing a broken world, just as the Priest did, we must approach. And upon approach, we have a choice to make: do we move on and do what we MUST do? Or do we give a moment, as Christ did Samaria / Bethesda / Bethany / Gethsemane… to bring healing? As much as we talk of boundless love, we’re commissioned to live with a love that weeps and mourns, celebrates and dances. A love of broken hearts and undeserved hurts.
The Samaritan and the example
Weʼve all heard that it was exceptional for him to assist the Beaten Man because of the racism that afflicted so much of Jewish society. But I reckon thereʼs something simpler in his heart. Letʼs pause there.
The conversation concludes with the confession that “... the one who showed him MERCY is the good neighbour.” That word “mercy” is the Greek word “eleos”. Itʼs a word made up of two roots: one meaning “good will” and the other meaning “the desire and action to help”. Mercy, then, is good will met by the desire to help, actioned.
You see, the Priest refused to engage with the Beaten Man. He did not have the good will to empower the Beaten Man. To help him become the whole, healthy, potential-realising man God had created Him to be. It was “my will, not Thine be done”.
Challenge one: Letʼs be a people with Godʼs will. That none should perish, but that all should be made like Him! How? Approach peoples’ awkwardness and brokenness with a heart to see Him bring restoration.
The Assistant took that step. He approached the Beaten Man. But when he saw the darkness, he returned to the light. To the other side. It was easier. What he failed to realise was that he was the light. Light followed him. Light was in him. The Light of the World longed to shine out of him. All he needed was the desire to help, to act. To do God’s will, not just think about it.
Challenge two: Knowing God’s will, let’s be a people who act on it. To be Christ, and not just know Him. How? Words of encouragement, hands of prayer, and maybe a Facebook full of Godʼs love and not religious debate (**cough** thatʼs a Biblical command **cough**).
The Samaritan looked at the Beaten Man with Godʼs will in His heart. He approached the Beaten Man with a real and active desire to help. And he sacrificed to see the Beaten Man become whole. Now that Samaritanʼs example has been heard by people in every nation on earth. What a legacy!
When we elevate Godʼs will above our own, and one another above ourselves, we become the City on a Hill. The favoured. The answer to a beaten, bruised and bloodied world.
Challenge three: respond.
Jak Hardy is the Founder of WorldChangers Global, an innovative not-for-profit tackling development through education. A leadership, development, and policy consultant, Jak aspires to be the world’s leading voice on the health benefits of Nutella. He holds a Diploma of Ministry, has trekked through a valley discarded degrees in law, theology and politics, and is completing postgraduate business at the University of the Sunshine Coast.