Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church

9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248

(480) 895-8766

Luke 10:25-37 NRSV

²⁵Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” ²⁷He answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁸And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

²⁹But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ³⁰Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ³²So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. ³⁴He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ ³⁶Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” ³⁷He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

A. Introduction

1. No Watch, No Son-in-Law!

a. Sam and Charlie were riding on a bus. A man in his twenties came up and asked Sam, “What time is it?” Sam turned away and would not answer. The young man moved on. Charlie wondering what was going on asked his friend, “Why were you so discourteous to the fellow asking you the time?” Sam answered, “If I had given him the time of day, next he would want to know where I am going. Then we might talk about interests. If we did that, he might invite himself to my house for dinner. He would then meet my lovely unmarried daughter. If he did, they would fall in love. And I don’t want my daughter marrying a man who can’t afford a watch.”

b. If you don’t want to be bothered, or if you don’t want to lend your fellow human being a hand, then any excuse will do. That is one response to others. However, as followers of Jesus we know that we are called to care for others.

2. Today’s Scripture: Luke 10:25-37, “The Good Samaritan Story”

a. This week our Scripture lesson is the very familiar Good Samaritan story: A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. Thieves attacked him. They stripped and beat him. They stole all his possessions and left him for dead. Soon a priest came along. He saw the battered man, but did not stop. Then a Levite came along and he too quickly passed by on the other side. Then a Samaritan came along. Many of the Jews of that day disliked Samaritans and considered them “half-breeds”, traitors, apostates and inferior humans. But it was the Samaritan who stopped and rendered first aid. It was the Samaritan who placed the beaten Jewish man on his own animal. And it was the Samaritan who took the man to an Inn and paid for his care.

b. Jesus told this story in response to a religious lawyer’s question: “And who is my neighbor.” (Luke 10:29b NRSV) Jesus told the parable to remind us that believers care about others, and show compassion to people. Jesus, also, told the story to shame those who know God into realizing that we live by a higher standard than the world. So what is the believer’s response to others that Jesus suggests?

B. Common Courtesy

1. Ann Landers

a. Advice columnist Ann Landers once wrote: “Be kind to people. The world needs kindness so much. You never know what sort of battles other people are fighting. Often just a soft word or a warm compliment can be immensely supportive. You can do a great deal of good by just being considerate, by extending a little friendship, going out of your way to do just one nice thing, or saying one good word.”

b. Being civil to others is the least we can do. Every major religion, philosophy, and secular course on citizenship teaches and calls us to treat others with courtesy and respect. Even non-believers are called to this standard.

2. Girl’s Prayer

a. A little girl was asked if she would like to give the prayer at Sunday School. She prayed: “Dear God, make all the bad people good, and make all the good people nice. Amen.”

b. At the very least God and society call human beings to express to each other common courtesy, and to treat each other with dignity.

3. Eskimos and Thank You

a. I read recently that there is no word for “thank you” in the Eskimo language. In their stark northern environment, helping others is viewed as a duty. People are simply expected to be courteous.

b. Though some forget it, even in our culture you are expected to be courteous to each other. And that includes saying, “thank you” for kindness you have received.

C. Christian Compassion!

1. Today’s Scripture: Luke 10:25-37,

“Identifying with the Samaritan and the man in the ditch”

a. Common courtesy, human decency, and simple civility are things that civilized societies expect of everyone. Jesus calls believers to a higher response. Jesus calls us to be like that Good Samaritan. He calls each of us to be “The one who showed him mercy.” (Luke 10:37a NRSV) Jesus calls us to use our resources and time, and sometimes sacrificially to help others. Jesus calls us to reach out even if it is not convenient, and even when it might be risky or unpopular and to show love to others.

b. Jesus, also, calls us to identify with the Jewish man who was assaulted. You and I know what it is to lay broken and bleeding in a ditch of sin and doubt. You and I know what it is like for Jesus to reach down and save us. We know the ultimate Good Samaritan. He is God in Jesus. He has ministered to our needs. He has blessed us with abundant joy. And He gave His life on the cross to save us from our sins. And in response to that amazing grace, you and I long to love others as God has loved us.

2. The Boy with Leukemia and Jack Stephens

a. Some years back Jack Stephens was a young businessman in Atlanta, Georgia. One day he got a call from a friend who was the director of a local Boy’s Club. The friend asked Jack to pick up a young boy and his mother and take them to the hospital. The boy has leukemia Jack was told, and probably had only a few days to live. Since the boy’s home was only a few blocks away from his home, Jack agreed to the request. At eight that morning he stopped at the house, and the mother and child got into the front seat. The child was so weak that he was lying down, his head on his mother’s lamp, his little feet resting on Jack’s right leg. Jack started the engine and before he put the car into gear he glanced down at the child. The boy was staring at him, and their eyes met. The boy asked, “Are you God?” Jack hesitated a moment and then softly answered, “No, son. Why do you ask?” The boy replied, “Mother said God would come soon and take me away with Him.” The words nearly broke Jack’s heart.

b. Six days later that child did go to be with God. But a radical change took place in Jack Stephen’s life. Burned into his heart and mind forever was the image of that young boy lying with his head in his mother’s lap, his helpless eyes, and his question, “Are you God?” Jack felt compelled to do more than he had been doing. Jack wanted to share Jesus’ compassion with others. Soon Jack Stephens was the director of the Joseph B. Whitehead Memorial Boy’s Club in Atlanta. Jesus calls us to be more than Mr. Nice Guy. Jesus calls us to share the same love that we have received from Him. Jesus calls us to offer to others the very same grace that He gave to us.

3. The Church Good Samaritan and Archibald Rutledge

a. Archibald Rutledge was away from home on business. On Sunday he found a Church nearby and went to worship there. He said that the singing was contagious, the prayers splendid, and the minister was most impressive. As the congregation left the sanctuary there was a woman sitting on the steps by the railing. She was unkempt, and was softly weeping. Everyone except one woman walked right by her. This one woman stopped, knelt down, and spoke to her. Rutledge hung around and watched. The Church member offered a hanky to the woman. She prayed with her. But mostly she just listened as the woman shared her pain. Clearly this woman sitting on the steps had come to the Church just trying to find someone who would listen, someone who cared, and someone who could reassure her of God’s love.

b. Rutledge concluded that this was just like the Good Samaritan story. Only one person understood God’s message. Only one person understood that Jesus calls us beyond common courtesy to real Christian compassion. Only one person stopped to share God’s grace. Again as Luke 10:37 reminds us, it was the one who showed mercy.

D. Conclusion: Recap

1. Jesus’ love motivates us to reach out to others. We don’t mind being bothered. As believers we try to be courteous, but know that we are called to go beyond common courtesy. We are more than simply “nice guys and gals.”

2. We can be the very hands and feet and voice of Jesus reaching out in love for all people. Our believer’s response to others is Christian compassion, as demonstrated to us by Jesus our Lord and Savior. As He did in His earthly life: “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37b NRSV)

The believer’s response to others:

1. Common Courtesy.

2. Christian compassion!

Luke 10:25-37 NRSV