The Lawyer
A certain Jewish lawyer stood up to ask Jesus a question. Perhaps he wanted to know if Jesus really knew the path to eternal life. But putting Jesus to the test, he cleared his throat and asked, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25)?” Being that he was offspring of Abraham he, along with other Jews, believed that eternal life could be inherited. The belief was that eternal life was something that could be passed down to him after his death, like inheriting something from another loved one’s death. This Jewish lawyer also held to the idea that he could do something to inherit eternal life. However, you can’t do anything to gain an inheritance, you receive it by birthright. A lawyer of the Torah would certainly know that.
Like this certain lawyer, there are those who believe they can obtain eternal life because someone in their family is saved. There are also those who believe that they can do something to earn eternal life. Both are wrong. You cannot inherit eternal life like some sort of earthly estate passed on each generation. Rather, Jesus, through His death and resurrection, would give eternal life freely. Jesus was the Guarantor of eternal life to anyone who believed, to the Jew and Gentile alike (Rom. 1:16). Jesus, too, was going to do what no man could do for himself. Man did not have the ability to work or earn salvation (Eph. 2:8-9). Rather, Jesus Christ would purchase salvation and then freely give to those who believe (Rom. 5:15-16).
Jesus, the embodiment of wisdom, volleyed a question to the lawyer, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it (Lk. 10:26)?” Jesus knew exactly what the Law said, and knew how the lawyer would respond. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” answered the lawyer (Lk. 10:27). He answered correctly, but Jesus wasn’t through. “Go and do likewise, and you will live” Jesus countered (Lk. 10:28). With a smirk, and sarcastic tone the lawyer asked yet another question: “And who is my neighbor?” He was attempting to justify himself (Lk. 10:29).
It is with this question that Jesus begins to tell a parable. Jesus answers the question by shrouding truth in symbolism and imagery. But let the reader understand, that Jesus isn’t just describing what a neighbor is, but he is wanting the lawyer to see how broken he is.
The Traveler
It was a hot sunny day in Jerusalem. Zion sat perched on a hill in Israel, some 2500 feet above sea level. Traveling to Jerusalem you would lift up your head and eyes to see the Temple in its glory. The hills of Jerusalem are considered natural defenses against attacking enemies.
The psalmist wrote, “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within her citadels, God has made himself known as a fortress” (Psalm 48:1–3).
Jerusalem, Mount Zion, the dwelling place of Israel’s Sovereign King. High up on the mount sits the Temple, which houses the glory of God. James Montgomery Boice wrote:
“From the north, west, and east, and even from the immediate south, the way to Zion is uphill, which is why the psalms always speak of going “up” to Jerusalem. There on the lofty hills of Zion, the towering ramparts of the city rose, and the breathtaking beauty of the city beckoned.”
However, there was a man, most likely a Jew, who decided to go down to Jericho. Jericho was a 15-20 mile journey down from Jerusalem. The man was leaving the City of God to head downwards towards Jericho. Jericho was situated next to the Dead Sea about 1300 feet below sea level. This was a drastic change in climate and altitude. However, this man was going to leave the beautiful elevated city of God for lowly Jericho. The trip towards Jericho was a dangerous one. The pathway between Jerusalem and Jericho was riddled with caverns, ravines, cliffs, in addition it was a narrow and curvy road. Not only was the terrain dangerous, but it was infested with unsavory fellows who would scheme, attack and rob unbeknownst travelers. Many called this route “The Bloody Way” or the “Red Way.” Many lives had been hurt and lost on this dreadful route. No doubt this was a formidable choice to leave the safe haven of Jerusalem to campaign to Jericho.
However, this certain man left Jerusalem to go down to Jericho. Like Samson going down to Timnath (Judges 14:1) and Jonah going to down to Joppa (Jonah 1:3), he went down only to find his ruin. Those who leave the dwelling of God only go downwards. To leave the place where God’s Spirit dwells is to end up lower than before. None go down to find God, but you must travel upwards to Mount Zion to find His presence.
Our traveler moved downwards toward Jericho where he fell among robbers. The phrase “he fell” in the Greek means to come across or meet a hazardous or negative situation by accident. He didn’t intend to get in this situation, but here he was. Ensnared by a pack of robbers where they stripped him, beat him, and left him half dead (Lk. 10:30).
As he lay there half-dead was he thinking of those who had warned him of the dangers of traveling down to Jericho? Did regret fill his mind? He is now unable to get back up toward Jerusalem under his own strength. He may not even be able to move. He is in no condition to save himself. He is unclad and broken. The thieves have come to steal, kill and destroy. He has nothing left but anguish and pain. Who will come down to where he is?
The Priest
Now by chance, a priest was going down that road. This is just what this broken man needed, someone who would have the disposition to help him. A priest was a servant of God by definition. He was one who offered sacrifices for the people’s sins and was considered to be a epitome of spiritual fortitude. Surely this man would show mercy to this discomfited man. The traveler, in expectation and hope, gathered enough strength to lift up his hand in an attempt to get the attention of the priest. However, when the priest saw the naked, half-dead traveler, he passed by on the other side.
The priest who stood for the rituals of the law, who knew about the sacrifices, was taught concerning mercy and love did not come to where he was. He passed by on the other side. He sidestepped and walked passed the hurting traveler. The traveler had a short-lived hope. He remained in his condition, left for the circling vultures who tarried for his inevitable death.
The Levite
Inadvertently, a Levite came passing by. A Levite was a member of the Levitical priesthood that assisted the priests. He, too, would have been familiar with the Law and justice. Surely this man would come to where the impaired traveler lay. Instead of stopping to help, the Levite pretended not to notice the man in need. He looked in all other directions and feigned to be distracted by all of the other scenery. Ignoring the traveler’s groaning and cries of despair the Levite hurriedly walks by. The Levites gave a tenth of their spices, mint, dill and cumin. But they neglected the more important matters of the law–justice, mercy and faithfulness (Matt. 23:23).
“This is it,” the traveler thought to himself “I am going to die here. No one will come to where I am. This is an awful place to be, and who would want to attempt to help me? They too are afraid of what may happen to them. I am destined to die in this condition.” The vultures that once circled from a distance have come closer to feast on their prey. Another victim of the Bloody Way.
The Samaritan
But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was (Lk. 10:33). The ears of those listening to Jesus’ story perked up. One listener asked in disbelief, “a Samaritan?” No one liked a Samaritan. They weren’t truly Jewish, and they weren’t truly Gentile. They were a mixed bag of confusion. Samaritans were reviled. Today, when someone uses the phrase “Samaritan” it is one of respect and honor. Hospitals and social agencies proudly proclaim the name “Samaritan.” But in Jesus’ day, such a phrase and a person was considered a devil. Jesus’ detractors declared viciously, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a devil (Jn. 8:48)?” With this very parable, Jesus turned Samaritans from being reviled into being respected. Jesus changed the course of the name Samaritan with one simple story. Such is the gospel! Jesus can make that which is detested and make it respected.
A rejected Samaritan came to where the injured traveler was. All others had passed him by, but the one who was rejected by everyone came to another who was rejected by everyone.
Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.
The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ (Luke 10:34–35 NLT)
The Samaritan came to the half-dead traveler and had compassion on him. The phrase in the original language meant “to be moved in the bowels, the heart, the guts of a person; to be moved with great emotion, affection, and pity.” The Samaritan was brokenhearted for this lifeless man. He bound up his wounds and applied oil and wine to them.
Olive oil and wine had antiseptic and healing benefits for wounds and abrasions. His treatment did not stop at this point. The Samaritan brought him out of an awful circumstance and took him to a much better one. The Samaritan took the man to an inn and took care of him. When he departed from the inn, he left money with the innkeeper to care for the man and pledged to compensate him when he returned to the inn.
What the weary, bruised, and wounded traveler could not do for himself, the Samaritan took care of. Others could not and would not help him. The traveler could not help himself. But the Samaritan came to where he was and brought hope, healing, and recovery. The Samaritan brought him to the Inn and paid the price and then some. He came to where He was, but He didn’t leave him how he found him.
He Came to Where I Was
This Samaritan came where the beaten man was located. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came from the portals of Glory to a depraved earth to meet our need and to heal our sin-sick souls. Jesus arrived to seek fallen man and save him. Unable to save ourselves, Jesus came to accomplish what we could not.
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).
The Samaritan was despised by the Jewish people. The name “Samaritan” was a name given in ridicule to the mixed people who immigrated to Samaria after the deportation of the Israelites to Babylon. This name was never repeated by a Jew except in scorn and hatred. When Christ was on earth, He was hated and despised by men. The Jewish people utterly rejected Him in spite of the proof that He offered that He was the true Messiah.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not (Isaiah 53:3).
He came unto his own, and his own received him not (John 1:11).
Like the Samaritans, Jesus too has a name that has been reviled. Multitudes would rather the name of Jesus not be mentioned either in prayer, or in sermons because it might be offensive. However, the name of Jesus is the only name that can bring salvation. That name may be abhorred by others, but it is sweet healing and salvation to those who believe in His Name (John 1:12)!
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12)
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).
The Samaritan got involved and had compassion for the fallen man. Our Lord was a man who permeated with compassion. When He was here on earth, He repeatedly demonstrated His love. Jesus was neither intimidated nor afraid to touch the people who needed Him most. His loving-kindness moved him towards the broken.
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd (Matthew 9:36).
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick (Matthew 14:14).
The message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of Christ’s love for this world. It was His love that put Him and kept Him on the cross at Calvary.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
Jesus was not a Samaritan. However, he was both God and man. He was not half god and half man. Rather, Jesus was the God-Man, who came to earth to bind up the broken from the bloody way of sin. Satan and sin had only come to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus came that we might have life, and have life more abundantly (John 10:10). As lost sinners we were without hope and without the ability to save ourselves. The Law and religion only revealed our brokenness, unable to heal the wounds of sin.
But Jesus Christ came to where we were!
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago (Ephesians 2:1–10 NLT).
Jesus Christ, traveled the bloody way to mend the broken, and to heal sin-damaged souls. Humanity was stripped of integrity and left for the vultures. God did not stand aloof, nor did He pass us by. Instead He came to where we were! He became what He wasn’t so we could become what we weren’t. The sinless took on sin that we might be clothed in righteousness (2. Cor. 5:21). He brought us to the Inn and paid the debt of sin we could never repay. He was rejected so we could be accepted. He was reviled so we could be approved. He was stripped that we could be clothed. He was beaten so we could be healed. He died so we could live. He raised to life so we could have new life.
Mercy comes to where we are, lying on the Bloody Way, beaten and left to die. Grace pours in oil and wine and puts us on His own animal, and takes us to the Inn (the church), where we will be nurtured and reclaim our strength. Mercy comes to where we are, and grace brings salvation.
When I was lost and dying, He came to where I was.