Jump Start # 3980
Luke 10:33-34 “But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.”
There are three parables that usually rank at the top of everyone’s favorites. The sower, the prodigal son, and our good Samaritan, where our verse comes from today. Only Luke shares this story. It’s no where called ‘The Good Samaritan’ in the text, but that’s exactly what the hero of the story was, a good Samaritan. Once again, Jesus is showing the smug Jews that the dreaded Samaritans, whom they hated, often got things more right than they did.
There is no indication in the flow of the story that the injured man asked for help, called out or begged the Samaritan to help him. In fact, the injured man has no words in this story. Did he tell the Samaritan, “Thank you?” We don’t know. Did he offer to repay the Samaritan? We don’t know and that really doesn’t matter.
So many layers to see in this powerful answer to “who is my neighbor.” The obvious conclusion is that mankind is my neighbor. The wellbeing of the world is my work and my business. But, I want to pull some thoughts out of our verse today. There are four immediate actions that the Samaritan took.
First, he poured oil and wine on the open wounds. Second, He made bandages out of what he had. Third, he put the injured man on his donkey and took him to the inn. The next verse tells us that the Samaritan did even more. He left the inn keeper with some coins and the promise to pay more if necessary.
There is a quick lesson that is easily overlooked in all the other lessons tucked in this great story. Notice how quickly the Samaritan acted. He used what he had and he jumped into action. The Samaritan was on a journey as well. He could have been robbed as the injured man was.
The Galatians were told, “while we have opportunity, let us do go to all men, especially those of the household of faith” (6:10). That opportunity often doesn’t come at the best time for us. We are on a journey as well as that Samaritan was. We have places to go. We have things to do. But, the need of the moment stops compassionate hearts. Others things, more important things, rise to the top of the list. What I’m doing can wait.
And, that is the lesson for us:
First, compassion moves our needs and concerns down the list so others can come first. It takes a disciple to do this. Selfish people will never do this. They have to finish everything on their list before they would even think of getting involved with someone else.
Second, compassion does more than say a pray. How easily the Samaritan could have done that. It might even eliminate any guilt he felt. I’ll say a pray, but I’m much too busy right now to get involved. The Samaritan poured oil, used bandages and went into town, maybe even going the opposite direction than what he was traveling, just to help this man. Folks don’t know how much you care until you show it. Some have never shown hospitality to anyone outside of their dearest family and friends. Some have never gone to a funeral for someone in the congregation. Some have never sent a card to encourage someone. Some have never called someone to see how they were doing. “Oh, I love my church,” they’d say. That might be true, but they have a terrible way of showing that.
Third, compassion realizes that the moment doesn’t last. The bleeding and hurting apostle baptized the jailer in Philippi that same hour of the night. He didn’t wait until next week. He didn’t wait until he felt better or his wounds were healed. That same hour of the night. There is an expression that comes from the blacksmith shop. As the blacksmith puts a piece of iron into the red hot fire, the iron becomes glowing hot. Immediately, the blacksmith puts it on the anvil and hammers it to the shape he wants. It then goes into a barrel of water and steam fills the air. Once cooled, that piece of iron can be hammered and hammered and it will not be shaped. It must go into the fire first. From this, we get the expression, “Strike while the iron is hot.” Once the iron has cooled, you have lost your opportunity.
The co-worker who wants to know if he can ask you a Bible question. Strike while the iron is hot.
The family member, over the holidays, who wants to know if Christmas is really Jesus’ birthday. Strike while the iron is hot.
After the funeral, some wonders, is this it? Where do we go after we die? Strike while the iron is hot.
Home from the university, the college student wonders if evolution could be true. Strike while the iron is hot.
The Samaritan didn’t wait a day. He didn’t take care of his business first. He did what he could at the moment. What a lesson for us.
Roger