A Good 21st Century Samaritan
- Jan 29, 2017
- 3 min read
In Luke 10:30-37 (AMP), Yeshua teaches a lawyer a parable who desired to justify his own righteousness as good.
"30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he encountered robbers, who stripped him of his clothes [and belongings], beat him, and went their way [unconcerned], leaving him half dead.
31 Now by coincidence a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 Likewise a Levite also came down to the place and saw him, and passed by on the other side [of the road].
33 But a Samaritan (foreigner), who was traveling, came upon him; and when he saw him, he was deeply moved with compassion [for him],
34 and went to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them [to sooth and disinfect the injuries]; and he put him on his own pack-animal, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
35 On the next day he took out two denarii (two days’ wages) and gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I return.’
36 Which of these three do you think proved himself a neighbor to the man who encountered the robbers?”
37 He answered, “The one who showed compassion and mercy to him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and constantly do the same.”
Jesus points out a powerful lesson to ministry leaders, that I believe is many times overlooked. As the parable reads, the Samaritan, was prepared to minister to the needs (healing) of the wounded man. Many times we want to know how to be prepared but this story breaks down exactly what is needed:
1) The Samaritan walked with bandages - Although it is normal to think that he may need these for the trip, how many of us now in the 21st century walk with spiritual bandages to bind up the wounded. Are we ready with Word of God to soothe those hurting around us? or are we using our salt to pour deeper in the wound? As believers, we should look to the needs of others. Search your heart daily before engaging in your activities and ask the Lord to give you bandages to heal those that are hurt, or wounded, spiritually and emotionally. We will find the Holy Spirit is a true Healer and desires to touch those around us if we are available to the task.
2) The Samaritan walked with wine & oil-wine represents the blood of Christ; oil represents the anointing. The samaritan already had in his mind the only remedy to treat the brokenhearted, wounded, depressed and downtrodden, was the blood of Jesus. We should rest assured in Jesus' spilled blood that healing and deliverance MUST take place because of the power in the blood. The samaritan walked with oil representing the anointing. We, as modern day believers can do nothing outside of the anointing of Jesus Christ. We should not strive to bring healing in our own powers and abilities. Having the anointing with us wherever we go means having heavenly authority and jurisdiction wherever we go. It means instituting God's plan for divine healing where we go.
3) The Samaritan had financial provisions in place to take care of the hurting. We may not feel we are in a place financially to minister, but the Samaritan used what he had. Many times in bringing healing we underestimate the natural resources that God places in our hands. Perhaps we don't have faith enough to believe the Lord can healing with our mites?God can use anything that we place in His hands, ESPECIALLY to fulfill HIS plan of healing.
Let's make sure that when we go forth we are always in position to bring healing to others. Jesus told all of His mission and plan of not only salvation but healing as He opened the scrolls in
Isaiah 61:1-3, NKJV “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor;He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,To proclaim liberty to the captives,And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,And the day of vengeance of our God;To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion,To give them beauty for ashes,The oil of joy for mourning,The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;That they may be called trees of righteousness,The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Notice this is so God can be glorified. This is our first mission.... to glorify God in ALL things.
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