The Other Side of the Samaritan Parable

"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, went away, leaving him half-dead." (Luke 10:30 NIV)

These are the opening lines to a very famous parable that Jesus told about the Good Samaritan. In this story with purpose, Jesus described a priest, a Levite and a Samaritan each encountering the same dying man on the side of the road. The priest and Levite passed by on the far side of the path: presuming this man was not their neighbor. The much-despised Samaritan, however, was moved with compassion and went to great lengths to tend to the wounded man’s needs. Perhaps the Samaritan possessed such empathy because of atrocities personally experienced as a member of a disenfranchised people group?

Last night we watched the Chosen as a church family. In that particular episode, Jesus sought out the robber from the roadside in the Good Samaritan story. You could say he was a bad Samaritan: accosting and thieving. Turns out, the desperate ruffian had a wife and daughter starving to death. He had participated in these heinous acts against his fellow man out of love and fear for his family. By the bad Samaritan’s testimony, his efforts had backfired. He was worse off than before. (Spoiler: sin always leaves us worse for the wear.)

Of course, the writes of the Chosen series have taken a lot of license with this parable, but it made me think: who is my neighbor? I am not only indebted to the victim on the side of the road, but also the culprit that put him there? Every one of us has a sin story. My infractions against Jesus are no less heinous than the injurious thief. The grace God offers me is just as excessive as the grace He gives to a convicted felon.

Our ever-increasing grasp of the imago dei demands that we see people as souls: wounded, tormented, beleaguered souls. Hurt people hurt people, plain and simply. But, you and I, we carry the hope of the world around in our frames. Eye contact, and earnest conversation, a cup of cold water offered in Jesus’ name can go a long way in reminding a person of their intrinsic value. It might even open their heart to the Savior of their souls.

It struck me again in last night’s episode how Jesus went a long way out of His way to tend to the robber’s affliction. This desperate soul was destroyed by what he had done, drowning in sea of shame and self-hatred. Not only had Jesus left the warm reception in Sychar, but He had also stepped away from the success experienced in Galilee, all to seek out this one lost and hurting man. Truly, He descended form heaven to sit down with sinners and offer salvation and relationship.

Friend, His work is our work. If Jesus sought out miserable souls to offer relationship and speak salvation, then so should we. No one is too far gone. Every person is an image bearer and needs to be treated as such. We behave as neighbors when we notice another’s pain, when we stop to tend to it as best we can.

Summer is winding down and my heart is preparing to return to substitute teaching. I won’t sugar coat it, it’s a rough gig. Many of my students don’t have dads. Some have disinterested mothers. There is a whole heap of pain passing through the halls of my junior high each and every day. The Lord has opened to me a door of opportunity. I get to be a neighbor to these hurting children. Today I see it: the ones who hurt the most say and do the meanest things. They are aggressive and angry. They are defiant and distant. I’m reminded: they are little boys and girls left on the side of the road. They are just figuring out how to survive in a world that has already bared it’s cruelest teeth. I get to serve these kids in love. I get to see something different in them, to offer compassion and even, perhaps, a new way of living. Substitute teaching is holy work and that is precisely why it is so hard.

This revelation of sacred vocation isn’t unique to me. Whatever you put your hand to, is holy, too. There are no cushy jobs in this world anymore. Culture has changed and there are angry, hurting people everywhere. Wherever you serve, you possess unique opportunity to take Christ into the situation. Love your neighbor.

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" The expert of the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 11:36-37 NIV)

Lord, forgive us for losing sight of the souls around us. It seems easier to lover the victim than the perpetrator, but You have asked us to care for both. What’s more, we are all offenders and You have freely given us grace. Who are we to withhold it? Help us keep this in mind when we are annoyed, offended or frightened. The bullies in life are hurting children at heart. You haven’t give up on them, neither should we. Give us grace and strength to make eye contact, to listen with love, and to offer peace. We want to be better neighbors for Kingdom’s sake. Amen.