In today’s world, a couple thousand years removed from the Jewish, first-century days of the New Testament, I believe we have lost the shock value of what we call ‘the Good Samaritan parable’.
So I want to re-tell the account, but in a way that would cause as much shock today as it would have for those listening in Jesus’ day. Continue reading
In today’s world, a couple thousand years removed from the Jewish, first-century days of the New Testament, I believe we have lost the shock value of what we call the “Good Samaritan parable.”
So I want to re-tell the account, but in a way that would cause as much shock for the church of today as it would have for those listening in Jesus’s day.
A man was going down from downtown Memphis to midtown, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A faithful church-goer happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a pastor, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Muslim, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 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. The next day he took out $300, about two days’ worth of pay, and gave it to the inn manager. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.”
Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’
The expert in theology replied, “The Muslim who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
The Prodigal Thought 