‘The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
[Luke 10:35]
There is something beautiful about this passage. Something that strikes me as oddly radical. Most of us know this story.
But for those who haven’t. This is the New Dylan Translation of the story:
A man, specifically a Jew, is walking from Jerusalem to Jericho (a total of about 17 miles!). That is in itself a seemingly daunting task, not to mention the weather. On his way, the dude gets attacked, but also beaten, and stripped naked. In a state of complete vulnerability, he lays half dead.
Enter first character, the priest.
My first thoughts. Hey, this guy is a priest, what good timing! The story goes on to tell us that the priest not only acknowledged the man’s situation, but also passed by on the other side. First off, I hate to say it, but that’s what the American church is slowly evolving into. I don’t want to be the type of follower who sees the weak, and runs.
Enter character number two, the Levite. Levites would, in ways, reflect their priests. So it doesn’t surprise me that the Levite passes by as well, without acknowledgement of the weak, and broken.
Both the Levite and the Priest are two types of people who I don’t want to be like. The Priest, uses his leadership to lead others astray, and the Levite, a follower, blindly follows in the path of the Priest. I pray that I be more like character number three.
The Samaritan, is the third and final character. Originally set out on his own adventure, he stops. He leans down, and intricately heals the wound of the vulnerable and hurt man. What a beautiful metaphor! The irony behind this entire story, is that the Samaritan is the lowest of the low, yet able to bring life.
In his shame and brokenness, the Samaritan gracefully reaches out his hand to help the weak. He puts him on his donkey, brings him to an inn, gives the innkeeper two denarii, and offers to reimburse the innkeeper if there are any extra expenses.
There are so many beautiful parts to this story. Here are some great points to keep in mind when it comes to mercy.
Mercy is offered in brokenness. The Samaritan was considered a “heathen dog” in these days. Yet the “heathen dog” is the only one helps the half-dead man.
Mercy meets you where you’re at. “But the Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was,” Mercy comes to you, not the other way around. There is such beauty in this! God chooses to give us mercy, and he did it through a man who, like the Samaritan, was a social outcast. A man of many sorrows, who on his way, stopped by, and healed our wounds.
Mercy is dangerously beautiful and often times hard. The path from Jericho to Jerusalem was often referred to as the “blood ascent” and the “way of blood”. Its paths were stained by the blood of those who were attacked, robbed, and many times, killed. This adventure was a risky one, but worth it.
Sometimes the path to seek out our King is a painfully, dangerous one. But the risk is worth it.
Mercy costs us. For the Samaritan it was two denarii. Equivalent to two days labor! The man gave out his debt. He gave not only with his aid, but also financially. Sometimes showing mercy comes in the giving of our money.
Finally, Mercy is sometimes given when we least expect it. The Jew was probably seeking out going to Jerusalem to visit the Temple. A way of being closer with the Father. In this effort to seek out the Father, he is beaten with nearly an ounce of his life. The Samaritan, probably on route the same course, stops to display the teaching of his God.
I want to be like the man who risks his life seeking the Father, and at the same time, the Samaritan who stops and saves the man’s life.
My prayer is that in every opportunity, I seek out the Father even when it is dangerous, and even if it is inconvenient.
I want God to take over my plans, and consume me so that I am focused on him, even if it is off the path.
This story is a classic example of the mercy of the Son. Mercy that was given to us, freely, honestly, and worth His life. Mercy that was given in the brokenness of the Son, to me, in my state of humility and vulnerability.
Let us acknowledge the two characters; the vulnerable man, and the Samaritan, as qualities of Jesus. Both equally who Jesus was, and yet, distinct.
God is both the beaten man, and the Samaritan. The Lion and the Lamb. A King, yet also a servant.
Beautiful, yet full of humility.
Grace and Peace,
D. C. Reyes
[Luke 10:35]
There is something beautiful about this passage. Something that strikes me as oddly radical. Most of us know this story.
But for those who haven’t. This is the New Dylan Translation of the story:
A man, specifically a Jew, is walking from Jerusalem to Jericho (a total of about 17 miles!). That is in itself a seemingly daunting task, not to mention the weather. On his way, the dude gets attacked, but also beaten, and stripped naked. In a state of complete vulnerability, he lays half dead.
Enter first character, the priest.
My first thoughts. Hey, this guy is a priest, what good timing! The story goes on to tell us that the priest not only acknowledged the man’s situation, but also passed by on the other side. First off, I hate to say it, but that’s what the American church is slowly evolving into. I don’t want to be the type of follower who sees the weak, and runs.
Enter character number two, the Levite. Levites would, in ways, reflect their priests. So it doesn’t surprise me that the Levite passes by as well, without acknowledgement of the weak, and broken.
Both the Levite and the Priest are two types of people who I don’t want to be like. The Priest, uses his leadership to lead others astray, and the Levite, a follower, blindly follows in the path of the Priest. I pray that I be more like character number three.
The Samaritan, is the third and final character. Originally set out on his own adventure, he stops. He leans down, and intricately heals the wound of the vulnerable and hurt man. What a beautiful metaphor! The irony behind this entire story, is that the Samaritan is the lowest of the low, yet able to bring life.
In his shame and brokenness, the Samaritan gracefully reaches out his hand to help the weak. He puts him on his donkey, brings him to an inn, gives the innkeeper two denarii, and offers to reimburse the innkeeper if there are any extra expenses.
There are so many beautiful parts to this story. Here are some great points to keep in mind when it comes to mercy.
Mercy is offered in brokenness. The Samaritan was considered a “heathen dog” in these days. Yet the “heathen dog” is the only one helps the half-dead man.
Mercy meets you where you’re at. “But the Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was,” Mercy comes to you, not the other way around. There is such beauty in this! God chooses to give us mercy, and he did it through a man who, like the Samaritan, was a social outcast. A man of many sorrows, who on his way, stopped by, and healed our wounds.
Mercy is dangerously beautiful and often times hard. The path from Jericho to Jerusalem was often referred to as the “blood ascent” and the “way of blood”. Its paths were stained by the blood of those who were attacked, robbed, and many times, killed. This adventure was a risky one, but worth it.
Sometimes the path to seek out our King is a painfully, dangerous one. But the risk is worth it.
Mercy costs us. For the Samaritan it was two denarii. Equivalent to two days labor! The man gave out his debt. He gave not only with his aid, but also financially. Sometimes showing mercy comes in the giving of our money.
Finally, Mercy is sometimes given when we least expect it. The Jew was probably seeking out going to Jerusalem to visit the Temple. A way of being closer with the Father. In this effort to seek out the Father, he is beaten with nearly an ounce of his life. The Samaritan, probably on route the same course, stops to display the teaching of his God.
I want to be like the man who risks his life seeking the Father, and at the same time, the Samaritan who stops and saves the man’s life.
My prayer is that in every opportunity, I seek out the Father even when it is dangerous, and even if it is inconvenient.
I want God to take over my plans, and consume me so that I am focused on him, even if it is off the path.
This story is a classic example of the mercy of the Son. Mercy that was given to us, freely, honestly, and worth His life. Mercy that was given in the brokenness of the Son, to me, in my state of humility and vulnerability.
Let us acknowledge the two characters; the vulnerable man, and the Samaritan, as qualities of Jesus. Both equally who Jesus was, and yet, distinct.
God is both the beaten man, and the Samaritan. The Lion and the Lamb. A King, yet also a servant.
Beautiful, yet full of humility.
Grace and Peace,
D. C. Reyes