We like bed time stories. We like news stories and our "shows" on tv." Most of us love a movie... a full 2 hour story!!! A lot of my friends , inducing myself , read fiction just as an escape.
I like stories all the time...I admit I'm currently collecting Christmas, especial children Christmas books because the make me happy. Some times (GASP) I even learn from them.
Learning from stories what a novel concept...everything from fables to fairy tales to parables told by Jesus in the bible.
I don't know about you but I learned a lot about how Jesus wanted me to live by listening to and later reading parables. There are some pretty amazing ones of you ask me....from simple surface readying and understanding to really deep multilevel meaning.
So over the next few days lets explore a couple of my favorite parables.
Luke 10:25-37 (The Message)
Luke 10:25-37
The Message (MSG)
Defining "Neighbor"
25Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. "Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?" 26He answered, "What's written in God's Law? How do you interpret it?"27He said, "That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself."
28"Good answer!" said Jesus. "Do it and you'll live."
29Looking for a loophole, he asked, "And just how would you define 'neighbor'?"
30-32Jesus answered by telling a story. "There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.
33-35"A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I'll pay you on my way back.'
36"What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?"
37"The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded.
Jesus said, "Go and do the same."
A few side notes....first we realize that most "scholars" of the time are booked learned and not life and experienced ,learned. And certainly not to cast judgment (just adding food for thought) but in just sitting around debating books how have they had time to experience the love and grace of the God they claim to behold so true? Is God really boiled down to a bunch of words in and old musky book?? The thoughts and the opinions spoken loudly and judgmentally form a pulpit??Or did Jesus the mystic and philosopher what to give of grains of thought so we could learn and grow?
We also for get a very important part of this story...... the Samaritans were not favored people. The Jews snubbed them, said they were not as good as them....I'm jusre there was some they are not God choosen and are uncleans thrown in there too.
But it was the Samaritan that stopped. The man alomoat at the bottom of the social structure. I'm sure we all understand social structure!!
SO the center I have the priest marked in blue for royalty sort off.....he not only saw the man but walked to the other side of the road to totally avoid him?? Does it say why?? Not really in in o the interpretations we have to day. The next man is a Levitt a supposed religious man sees him and also affords him?? What gives??? What kid of town is this??? Of course the religious med come claim they were going to worship and touching a dying man would make them unclean....first problem with that the temple is up hill (it was always up hill) and it says they were coming down... so they would have time to cleanse again before worshiping . 2nd and way more important. do you really really thing GOD mad those rules that would stop a fellow human or neighbor from helping? Really ??? Would God find that more important? I can see the priest at the alter now..."hey God, Just wanted to make sure you noticed, my hands and robe are clean. It was a close call...this man got all beat up near me and so I walked across the street as to not get sullied. You proud of me God? What...I'm PRETTY sure some one stopped. It's OK. God?? God?? Your proud of me right???
Next on the structure we have sinners and tax collectors and bad men... I marked them out since they are busy making a living or waiting to be in another parable. So after all of these people and countless others of their type walking by, a Samaritan stops right there...doesn't walk by to think about it...doesn't look to see if any one is lucking. Doesn't even seem to take te time to see if the robbers are still there. He imitatively kneels down and starts to help.
I'm going to try and put this in a few words of today.....he helps with his hands.... they had leprosy, we have HIV, Hepatitis and many other blood or skin borne diseases. He didn't shrink wrap himself he didn't call for some one better taught how to help..he helped.
Then he lifted him to his donkey. Yep you know that nice new black cherry red FJ Cruiser....its just like putting him right up in there...sand blood and all. With out pulling his jacket and a blanket all over the seats...(he already put those on the poor man).
He promptly went to the closest inn and gave the inn keeper 2 silver coins and his good name as credit. Credit wait like ummm a credit card??? You mean this man that had never laid eyes on this beaten man before left his CREDIT CARD behind to take care of all bills?? Is he crazy???
Yet Jesus says this is what being a neighbor is all about.
Its easy to help the neighbor lady cross the street. To help neighbor dude put up a new deck.
But is being neighborly and Christlike always suppose to be easy? Maybe it is if we are truly given ourselves.
Who are your neighbors AND what have you done to create a neighborhood with them??
I would love to hear your ideas?
And final thoughts....so you think Jesus saw this event unfold or is it a parable/metaphor to teach us something?
What about the fact that i substituted modern cars and such?? Many of us are taught the bible/ world of God is unchanging so is this parable unrelated to us??
2 comments:
Wow, this brings up so many of my own ideas. First of all, great job!
I do think there are good people in the world today. I don't think good people get enough credit because we hear about the bad news all too often. Also, sometimes it seems like people go out of their way to "do good" just to get attention. That's not what it's about. You do a good deed because that's what you're supposed to do. How many times have you been out in public and people avoid making eye contact with someone in a wheel chair? How difficult is it to smile at that person? To open the door for them? To stop what you're doing and wait for the little old lady or man who is walking slower than a turtle stuck in molasses just so you can hold a door for him or her. It's not difficult but people don't do it. When you do stop to do it, often times the recipient is taken aback because they're shocked that you did something nice. (At least that happens to me a lot). It's not that they're not appreciative and that's why they don't thank you immediately, they just aren't used to it.
I think helping people in a medical way is tricky. Too many people flee the scene of an accident because they "don't want the hassle." There's also another side: you try to help someone and they slap you with a lawsuit saying you did more harm than good. It unfortunately happens all of the time. In times like those, stop what you're doing, call 911 and wait with the person (if it's a safe situation).
I don't think God taught from a stuffy pulpit. I think he is saddened by those that do and who do live by what they preach. He is also saddened by those who teach hate. God DID NOT teach hate. No way, no how.
That's a start of what I'm thinking. Thanks for making me think!
I firmly believe that our biggest heroes will never be known because they are angels unaware. Every day people who don't need to receive praise or compensation for doing something good. They do it because it is the right thing to do. It is those who are the true hands of God.
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