On Friday night of camp this year, I presented a different approach to the parable of “The Good Samaritan”. I would like to recap here for anyone who might find it interesting.
Usually, the message is simply stated. We are to avoid being hypocrites like the Levite and Priest, to see to the immediate needs of the wounded, and to address their longer term needs as well. The fact that Christ used a Samaritan as the good examples has the necessary shock value to show us that “outsiders” have a place in the work and kingdom of God. We are to “go therefore and do likewise”.
I am not at all seeking to minimize the parable’s typical application, but I believe there is likely more we are to learn from the example. As was often the case, Jesus may have been presenting a challenge to his disciples that he would soon accomplish as an example. Let’s look at the story again:
First, the traveler is alone on the road, robbed, beaten, stripped, and left for dead. This is an illustration of the reality for most of mankind. Each of us, after we reach a certain age, is often determined to travel the dangerous paths of life apart from the safety of parents, godly companions, or fellowship with Christ. Encountering “robbers” is inevitable, and many of us have been left in various stages of distress “in the ditch”. Some have been merely robbed, and continue to plug along bitter but self reliant. Others have been beaten, and are covered in the wounds sin has left. Many have been stripped bare, forced to face the shame of their sin but unable to overcome it. And sadly many seemingly have lost all hope, left for dead along the road in utter despair.
Next we have the priest and Levite. Obviously these are those that simply do not help; they merely seem to pass judgment and continue on their way. I wonder if this could be the Law—powerless to do what needed to be done to save the desperate traveler. If so, it is not simply a matter of choice but the reality of the depth of devastation that the priest and Levite faced.
What about the Samaritan? An outsider, rejected by society, he was despised. Still he alone had the means and the will to offer aid. He tended to the needs, began the healing process, and delivered the wounded traveler to the Inn. The care was provided at His expense, and yet the long term needs would be entrusted to others. Of course, this seems a clear reference to Christ himself. Jesus told the story fully aware of the role he would ultimately play.
Imagine, though, how the story would have ended if the next lines in Luke had been: “then the innkeeper took the money, and, once the Samaritan was out of sight, he put the wounded traveler out on the street.”
I can imagine some hostility leveled at the innkeeper for such an offense. So who does the innkeeper represent? I submit that we—the Church—are the innkeeper in the story. Think about this for a moment. Christ alone is capable of truly rescuing the sinner hopelessly left in the ditch. Christ alone possesses the means for the long term needs. Yet he places those he rescues along the road in the care of the church and expects us to meet their needs. In return, he promises to return to us and repay us in full.
I wish to draw just a few more applications. The Church often serves merely as a place for applying a bandage or two, and then we simply put the wounded back out on the street. In addition, many who are charged with the care have no interest in the work—they simply like hanging out at the inn! Some statements made by the innkeepers are, “She doesn’t look so bad”, “Can’t the inn down the road take this one?”, and “how much longer is he just going to lie there?”
Surely we must do better than this.
As a final observation, none of us can truly be the ultimate “Samaritan”. Christ alone is able to rescue. Our job is to be his agents along the road, at the inn, and everywhere else that people are found. Then we can point them to the Samaritan that can actually help. Much harm can be done when the best the wounded have to hope for are some good people wandering around trying to help who never put the wounded in contact with the Physician.
Agape—or at least the best I can do,
Chris
