…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. A priest happened to be
going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other
side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the
other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when
he saw him, he took pity on him.”
Luke 10:30-33
The Jericho Road
If you have ever been to Israel and traveled along the
Jericho Road then you know how lonely, desolate, mountainous and dangerous it
is. Even today, 2000 years after Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan, it
is not a place to be caught alone. Modern-day travelers are still beaten,
robbed and left for dead.
And it was here, 20 centuries ago, that a man chose to do
something out of the ordinary. That is how he became the symbol of compassion
for all of humanity, the Good Samaritan.
We all like to think of ourselves as compassionate - and to
a certain extent we all are. But of course, there is a limit to our compassion.
It’s true. For each of us, there is a point beyond which our compassion will not
go. So, the key question is: where is
that stopping point for you?
The only way to find the answer is to walk along your
Jericho Road, the journey that symbolizes your walk through life.
Keep in mind your daily journey is fraught with danger,
loneliness, challenges … and opportunities. Like that old road through the
dessert, your days are filled with people who have been left for dead in one
way or another. That is why you need to be prepared, because you never know
what you’re going to find.
No, you probably won’t find a man who has been beaten up,
but you may have a friend who won’t explain her bruises, or a man whose child
has run away, or an colleague who cannot face another day alone, or a single
mother who is too exhausted to face her children . . . and on and on and on.
Here is where the limits of your compassion will be tested.
But, there is good news.
Jesus has given you His compassion. That’s right. You
have all the compassion you need for every situation that will be presented to
you. In fact, Jesus is putting you in these situations specifically because He
needs YOU there!
Indeed, it is always best to treat all people as though they
are hurting, because more often than not, they are. Can you imagine if every
person treated everyone they encounter with sensitivity, compassion and grace –
the way Jesus did? That is, in fact, exactly what He commanded us to do. That
is why He told the story of the Good Samaritan.
Remember, God needs you to do what He needs to do.
You are His representative, His hands, His feet, and His servant here on earth.
That is why He has given you His limitless compassion.
There are so many hurting people who need to know they are
worthy of love. And just as God builds into each one of us the need for Him, I
believe He also gives us the need to help one another – especially when times
are tough. At this very moment, people in your home, your workplace, your community
and your world are hurt, damaged and just plain tired.
It is up to you to pick them up off the dusty road where you
find them and give them the care they need, no matter who they are or where
they are from. Because Jesus needs you to do what He needs to do – save His children.
This Week’s Prayer
Lord Jesus, even now I know of so many people who are
hurting. Like myself, they face pain, shame, fear and challenges no one should
face alone. Bring us together, Father. Let us share the face of compassion with
one another. Give us the strength and courage to lift each other up and
encourage everyone we meet. The Jericho Road leads to every home and every
heart on earth. Guide me as I travel its path today, and lead me to those who
need to know Your loving grace. Amen.
