Exodus 20: 12-21. Luke 10: 25-37.
Bertie Bassett represents all races of people that are welcomed into the church.
The lawyer was testing Jesus on his interpretation of scripture. This Lawyer questioned him on a crucial point, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus replied what is written in the law? How do you read it?.”
The Lawyer summed up the law when he said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind,’ and love your neighbour as yourself.”
Jesus in his response said, “You have answered correctly, do this and you will live.”
The lawyer then said to justify himself, “Who is my neighbour?”
In response to the Lawyers question, Jesus was challenging the Lawyers interpretation of loving his neighbour through his parable.
A Jewish person in Jesus’ day acknowledged nobody as their neighbour except those who were Jews.
In his parable Jesus gave no formal identity to ‘the man’ whether he was a Jew or Gentile, only stating that the man had been robbed, and left half dead. The priest and the Levite acted in a way the lawyer would expect. The law did not allow them to do anything to the injured man.
The Samaritan bathed the injured man’s wounds with oil and wine, and lifted him up, then he helped him onto his donkey. He went out of his way in order to bring him to the Inn to be looked after untill he returned.
After Jesus had told the Lawyer the parable, Jesus tested the Lawyer by asking him, “Which of these three, The priest, the Levite or the Samaritan, do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” the Lawyer’s response, “The one who showed mercy?” He couldn’t bring himself to say ‘the Samaritan as the Jews and the Samaritans didn’t get on. But he did acknowledge he was the neighbour in the parable.
Let us consider the possibility that the introduction of the Samaritan into the parable was pointing to Jesus’ own ministry
He demonstrated his love for God and for his neighbour when he healed the 10 lepers, it was only the Samaritan who came back to him and gave thanks to God for his healing. Luke 17; 16 and he had a conversation with a Samaritan women at the well, he revealed to her that he was the Messiah, God’s anointed. His ministry through her brought healing between Jesus the Jew and the Samaritans, Jesus stayed with them for two days at Sychar. John 4
The parable’s interpretation after Jesus death, resurrection and ascension. This far reaching parable that touches millions of lives when we see ourselves as being robbed of our eternal life through the injuries of sin and the causes of sin. Jesus paid the price for our sin, his life laid down on the cross and so when anyone turns to Jesus in repentance and faith, he pours out into their wounds the oil and wine of forgiveness, the Spirit of God’s love the beauty of forgiveness and healing.
Jesus said, “I will repay” There is nothing outstanding left for us to do, can’t earn eternal life, it is a finished work. Last week Chris said, “God’s love is total and complete” So all we need to do is to receive and enter into God’s love, his eternal life.
A fortnight ago I heard Gordon Cruden’s testimony: 6 months after Gordon became a Christian he was fishing on a trawler in the North Sea. He said, “A storm blew up and a huge wave caught him and he found himself in the sea. He thought he was going to drown, he cried out to God, “I don’t want to die , but I’m ready to die,” As soon as he had said this, a beautiful peace came over him and he likened it to when Jesus rebuked the wind and the sea and said, “Peace, be still” and a calm came over the sea.” Gordon had no fear of death, he was ready to die, he knew he had already entered into eternal life.
Bertie Bassett represents all races all people
This parable is being worked out today in response to our loving God and His desire that we should love our neighbour as our self, in our own community. The world it seems to be in chaos with the displacement of people escaping persecution and poverty. Asylum Seekers coming from Afganistan, Syria, and many other countries are being settled across the UK.
There are 10 families that have already settled in Rossendale and this number to increase to 30. The church is working with government organisations to provide special ‘Drop ins’ three are now set up across the valley.
Prayer God of perfect love and mercy, look on us your children as we seek to build your kingdom in our communities. Give us the gifts we need to build one another up, to be good neighbours helping us all to meet our potential. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us that we might know your forgiveness and peace. Help us to show your mercy to one another as we seek the best you have to offer for each one of us. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.