The Good Guy

“But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.” – Luke 10:33, (ESV)

Hello Dear Friend,

In Jesus’s parable of the Good Samaritan, He tells the story of a man who took the dangerous journey from Jerusalem down to Jericho. It was a treacherous journey, so dangerous that the road had been given the nickname “path of blood.” This path was rough and rocky and offered many great spots for robbers to squat in hiding as they waited for an anxious solo traveler to pass by. These bandits would patiently wait to make their threatening encounter with a traveler that often ended by leaving their prey bloody, beaten, and broken and after stripping him of everything he had, the robbers' victim would be left for dead. 

In the parable that Jesus gave, there was a Jewish man who had fallen victim to that very fate. After already being passed by a Priest and a Levite, a third man finally came along. This man was a Samaritan. A Samaritan, half-Jewish and half-Gentile whose lineage traces back to the Assyrian invasion on Israel; needless-to-say, Samaritan’s were not friends with Jews. Despite this fact, the Samaritan was filled with so much compassion for this man that he was willing to endanger his own life by stopping to kneel beside him and tend to his wounds and bandage him up.   

But the Samaritan didn’t stop there. He then lifted the man up and put him on his own animal. I imagine that this must have slowed the Samaritan’s journey down a bit. Remember, travelers on this road wanted to get through this passage as quickly as possible so this was quite the sacrifice for him to choose to walk down this bumpy path. Furthermore, when they had reached the safety of an Inn, the Samaritan offered his own wages to the Innkeeper and instructed him to do (and spend) whatever was necessary to care for the man while promising that he would settle the debt when he returned.  

No Greater Love + Amazing Grace

We often like to place ourselves in the shoes of the Good Samaritan but the reality of it is that you and I are the ones that have been helplessly beaten and broken and left behind. I know, I’ve shocked you! But think about it, instead of inserting ourselves as the “good guy” we should see ourselves as the bloody, helpless man who is unable to save himself. Jesus is really the one who symbolizes the Good Samaritan, He is the ultimate good guy. Jesus’s compassion for us is so grand that He willingly came down from heaven to save us as a great sacrifice to Himself.  

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”  – John 15:13, (ESV)

More than the Good Samaritan, Jesus came to take our place. We are covered in the sins of our own making, passed down to us from generation to generation. Since the fall of Adam and Eve there’s no escape. We are broken, selfish, and dirtier than we’d like anyone to ever know. We are unworthy and we hide in the shadows of darkness. But Jesus came to rescue us! He came to buy our redemption. You and I were bought at a great price, my friend. He took our place and gave Himself up as payment for us so that we could be made clean and seen righteous and holy in the eyes of God. He came to pull us out of darkness, make us whole and to breathe new life into us. 

Recruiting Ambassador's    

“We’re brokenhearted and barely whole. There is little left that we can control. We get so weary getting blood out of stone, but you push on through to the heart of you even though you know; that it’s a long road for the good guys. It’s a long road for a simple man to get a helping hand. When all you got is a single shot you do the best job that you can It’s a long road for a simple man.”  – The Elms, The Good Guys

Jesus didn’t discriminate or pick and choose who to love. From the highest ranks in society to the lowest of the low, His love and His sacrifice was for all mankind. He wasn’t hung on the cross with a disclaimer stating, I’m giving my life for everyone except for my enemies and those who oppose my political or religious views. Jesus Christ calls us to love everyone just as He loves us. In response to Jesus’s great love for us, we are called to love on another.  

Let’s not recoil in fear of dirtying up our clean, safe, comfortable lives. Instead of watching from the distant sidelines let’s follow the example that Christ set before us. Like the apostles let’s go and do likewise. Let’s dare to be boldly authentic, let’s get messy, and live loud for Jesus. No matter if it’s the popular thing to do or not, no matter our differences, the background story, or the situation, let’s share the good news of the unconditional love and ultimate sacrifice of Jesus wherever we go.  

With love,

a Poetic Soul