The Good Samaritan and True Mercy

It's been a while since I've written on this topic, though I had a stretch of about a year where it was continually recurring. No wonder really, it was a recurring subject with Jesus too. Why do you figure Jesus was always finding his way back to parables like 'the Good Samaritan,' and the 'Prodigal Son?' By the way, you should note that the parable of the prodigal son was more about the prodigal son's brother than it was the prodigal son himself, and the parable of the good Samaritan was more about the priest and the Levite than it was about the Samaritan. That in fact was why Jesus came back around to these kinds of illustrations so often, because he saw so much of the spirits of the priest, the Levite, and the prodigal son's brother around him among God's people to whom he came. In both of these parables these men failed to show concern and care for those in need, as well as failing to show gladness for someone being helped, as was the case with the prodigal son's brother. The priest and the Levite were obviously concerned about their positions in ministry, and the prodigal son's brother was concerned about his position in his father's house; but none of them were concerned about the souls around them who were in dire need. This is what Jesus sadly beheld in front of him in Israel in large scale, and that is why he taught on these things repeatedly. In fact that is why I have written so much on the same topic, because unfortunately I see the same thing going on today that Jesus saw in his day. I might add that he still sees it going on too, and he still finds it very saddening as he did when he was here. A lot of folks are concerned about 'ministry' today, and a lot of folks are concerned about their 'positions,' but honestly there are too many believers who are insensitive to the plight of the needy around them.

We should really consider what it was that sent Jesus to this world. Was it to teach and to promote the pursuit of 'ministry'? Well, in a genuine sense the answer to that question is yes. But the problem is that a lot of people are defining ministry and teaching in too technical of a sense, and that is not the way Jesus defined teaching and ministry. Was it to gain some ministerial position that Jesus came from heaven to become a man and dwell among us? I hardly think so, seeing he was doing really well in heaven, having the highest position in existence apart from his Father. The ONLY reason that Jesus came here was because both he and his Father deeply and immensely cared about the dire need that you and I were in. That's it. As the famous verse says, "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" (Jn. 3:16). It's just that simple. We were in trouble and Jesus could do something about it, and he left all that was comfortable and convenient, and glorious, in order to 'minister' to our needs. Now that my friend is what we call 'ministry.' Because he did that he has attained unto quite a worthy ministry and position as the scripture tells us: "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philp. 2:8-11). It's too bad that the priest and Levite in the good Samaritan parable, and the prodigal son's brother didn't know that it works that way. Maybe they would have cared first and allowed God to give them truly meaningful ministries and positions afterward.

So the moral of the story is that we need to be more like Jesus and be more sensitive to someone else's needs than to our own ambitions, and be there for the needs of those around us who are in trouble. And we need to be less like the priest, the Levite, and the prodigal son's brother, whom Jesus showed were too concerned about their own things to tend to real life, real time needs of those around them that were hurting. The apostle Paul was in agreement with this as well: "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others" (Philip. 2:4). Jesus simply wasn't thinking about what his position in 'the ministry' was, not to mention that he IS the ministry.' Neither was he thinking about operating in spiritual things. He only had one thought in mind, and that was the needs and troubles of those around him. That in fact was why he was able to do all that he did, because that is all that he was and is about. The priest and the Levite knew plenty about the scriptures and how to teach, they just didn't really know what the scriptures are really about. The prodigal son's brother knew every technical aspect of what was going on with his father's household, he just didn't understand his father's heart toward his wayward son, and his marvelous redemption. We should really strive to follow the example of Jesus in these things, as the scripture also says, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love" (I Jn. 4:7,8). All I have left to say is that I'm looking forward to the day when I no longer write or preach on this topic, because that will mean I am no longer seeing the need for it around me. God bless.