the good samaritan

was jus thinking when i was half asleep and this came to mind... well something triggered it. someone i know told me... he couldn't visit a friend's grandfather who was very sick because he had assignments to do... to me that was reasonable enough... well, it's his friend's grandafather after all, not his and he did have actual work to do.... and my train of thoughts jus went back to sunday's sermon on the Good Samaritan....

why was this good samaritan such a important figure that he is now used as a figure of speech? pastor ashley unravel the parable in a way i never really thought about, very logical.... yet was as if how come i didn't think bout that at all... anyway, this is what i remember anyway....

Jesus was having a conversation with a teacher of the Law.... and the teacher asked Him, " Who is my neighbour?"

Jesus being Himself began telling him this story....

Luke 10: 25 - 37

25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'^[c]; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'^[d]"

28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins^[e] 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.'

36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

the teacher of the law being a Jew.... was waiting for Jesus to tell him that only Jews ( not only that, upstanding Jews) were his neighbours... it was the custom last time not to consort with people of deemed "unclean" or less than up to the jewish standards...

Pastor Ashley also explained... the priest.... if he touched an unclean person would have to be unclean for quite a few days and he wonn't be able to do his duties... he prob thought... i'd better not touch dat man, he might be dead... He knew the right thing to do but he chose not to do it... that's sad.... i might be in the same shoes one day and i certainly hope i would be the good samaritan rather than the people who passed the wounded man by....

what was great bout the good samaritan.... he came prepared to help... he had oil, bandages, wine.... he was prepared.... he knew that dat passway was dangerous and people get robbed and wounded.... and he came with the preparation to help.... he brought supplies and his donkey too... at 1st i thought it was a bit cheating, he had the heart to help the others didn't, that's wat gave him the advantage when it came to the choice of whether to help or not.... but then away.... people can still make the choice spot on.... 1 conclusion, make up my mind that i would help if the situation arise before anything happens.... come prepared....

another thing..... he went the extra mile... he didn't just badanged the man up and said... okay, i have done my part... good day! take care... he brought the man to the inn on his donkey and paid the inn keeper to take care of the man... dat is... wow.... he really went all the way...

i need inspiration God... well this parable is it... but real life please God...