Who is the Samaritan in Your Life? Mari Ikeda
A. Someone with whom you have conflict
1. A deep-rooted hostility (9:51-53)
9: 51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.
2. Jesus did not fight back (9:54-56)
54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them ?" 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village.
B. Your neighbor (10:25-37)
10: 25 On 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?” 27 He 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'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied."Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said:"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 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.’ 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
1. Putting aside our biases and prejudices
2. What being "a neighbor" means in practice
Summary
Samaritans and Jews were historically very hostile toward one another. Even when we have difficulty moving past our conflicts with others, God does not share our prejudices toward them. He loves the people with whom we are in conflict, and what he desires is that we become neighbors rather than enemies. Let's rely on God's love to show us areas in which we are prejudiced or lacking in understanding. It is easy to be friendly with people who are easy to get along with, but it's important for us to learn to be a neighbor to those who are difficult to love and to put our love into action.
For Discussion
1) Are you in conflict with someone, as the Jews and Samaritans were?
2) What, specifically, does it mean to be someone's neighbor?