WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:02.439 We're pleased to have a seat. 00:00:02.680 --> 00:00:06.660 And just before we get into this familiar and loved passage, 00:00:06.759 --> 00:00:07.620 why don't we pray together? 00:00:11.140 --> 00:00:13.359 Oh, Father, we would come before you this morning 00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:17.580 and we would want to take to heart those last words that we've sung, 00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:18.500 that we need you. 00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:20.980 Oh, Father, would you forgive us for the times 00:00:20.980 --> 00:00:22.780 where we think we can make it on our own? 00:00:23.480 --> 00:00:24.679 Lord, we need you. 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:28.660 And we thank you that as we come to our Bibles this morning 00:00:28.660 --> 00:00:30.480 that we come to no ordinary book, 00:00:31.559 --> 00:00:34.299 that these words that we read, these are words from your mouth. 00:00:35.119 --> 00:00:38.759 And we know that the words from your mouth are life-giving words. 00:00:39.899 --> 00:00:44.019 They are a lamp for our feet and they are a light for our path. 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:46.579 So this morning, Father, would you come 00:00:46.579 --> 00:00:50.900 and would your words instruct us and would they lead us 00:00:50.900 --> 00:00:54.159 and would they mold us and would they inspire us 00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:56.280 all for the glory of your Son, Jesus Christ. 00:00:56.280 --> 00:00:58.780 And in his name we pray. Amen. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:02.060 Well, to get us thinking this morning, 00:01:02.219 --> 00:01:04.060 I wonder if you'll raise your hand 00:01:04.060 --> 00:01:06.980 if you can remember ever doing the high jump at school. 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:11.400 Can anyone remember what they got at the high jump at school? 00:01:13.420 --> 00:01:14.780 Alistair, you've still got your hand in the air. 00:01:17.740 --> 00:01:19.240 What did you achieve? 00:01:19.340 --> 00:01:20.439 What did you jump? 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:21.780 That should have been the verb there. 00:01:24.180 --> 00:01:25.579 Good. Anyone else? Charles? 00:01:25.579 --> 00:01:26.659 Five feet three. 00:01:26.819 --> 00:01:28.239 Five feet three. That's good. 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:30.939 So the highest I ever got at the high jump was 00:01:30.939 --> 00:01:32.659 one metre thirty-five. 00:01:32.739 --> 00:01:34.280 Actually, that was what I thought was quite good. 00:01:34.759 --> 00:01:37.939 That calculates to just over four feet. 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:40.379 Well, I was reading about a man this week. 00:01:40.739 --> 00:01:41.500 I'll get his name right. 00:01:41.560 --> 00:01:44.560 He's a Cuban guy called Javier Sotomayor. 00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:50.859 And in 1993, he became the only person living ever 00:01:50.859 --> 00:01:54.659 to clear eight feet in the high jump. 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:57.400 Now, if you're trying to picture eight feet in your head, 00:01:57.459 --> 00:01:59.659 it's pretty much me raising my hand in the air 00:01:59.659 --> 00:02:00.560 and a little bit more. 00:02:01.700 --> 00:02:03.359 Or if you really want to know what eight feet is, 00:02:03.400 --> 00:02:05.239 I put it on the pole at the back of the church. 00:02:05.319 --> 00:02:06.799 That is eight feet. 00:02:07.960 --> 00:02:09.639 That is a big jump. 00:02:09.639 --> 00:02:13.959 And that world record has stood since 1993. 00:02:14.279 --> 00:02:17.219 Javier has set the bar for what? 00:02:17.379 --> 00:02:18.119 The high jump. 00:02:19.019 --> 00:02:19.799 What we need to get. 00:02:19.859 --> 00:02:20.479 What you need to get. 00:02:20.559 --> 00:02:21.359 There is the bar. 00:02:22.079 --> 00:02:24.519 Here's what we're going to see this morning in this passage. 00:02:25.219 --> 00:02:29.379 We're going to see Jesus set a very high bar. 00:02:29.379 --> 00:02:35.460 Now, what we're going to see this morning is him set a very high bar. 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:39.259 What we're going to learn this morning is that Jesus both defines 00:02:39.259 --> 00:02:45.000 and he demands that we love our neighbor. 00:02:45.079 --> 00:02:46.819 And what we're going to think about this morning is, 00:02:46.919 --> 00:02:51.300 as his followers, how we are doing at loving our neighbor. 00:02:52.579 --> 00:02:54.819 Now, it's been six weeks since we were in Luke. 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:57.259 So I think it's going to stand us in good stead 00:02:57.259 --> 00:03:00.780 just to spend just a little bit of time getting our bearings again 00:03:00.780 --> 00:03:02.819 as to where we are in this story. 00:03:03.079 --> 00:03:06.739 And we're in the second major section of Luke's gospel. 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:11.039 And you may remember that we transitioned into that new section 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:14.060 back in chapter 9 and verse 51. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:18.899 We're off the back of Peter's confession that Jesus, you are the Christ. 00:03:19.939 --> 00:03:21.500 Off the back of that confession, 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:25.340 Jesus sets his face like flint to go to Jerusalem. 00:03:25.340 --> 00:03:27.640 Not because he fancies a weak city break, 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:32.740 but because he goes there purposefully to lay down his life for his people. 00:03:32.860 --> 00:03:33.699 He goes there to die. 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:39.599 So we're in this journey to Jerusalem bit of Luke's story. 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:42.840 And it's in that context of this journey 00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:49.199 that Luke wants us to consider the big question of this section of his gospel. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:51.679 And that question is, 00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:56.239 what does it mean to follow after this king? 00:03:57.619 --> 00:04:01.099 Quite literally, what does it mean to walk beside him? 00:04:01.519 --> 00:04:04.339 That's the question that he's asking in this part of his gospel. 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:07.139 And can I just say at the outset, 00:04:07.259 --> 00:04:09.379 that's a cracking question to ask. 00:04:10.539 --> 00:04:12.780 It's a great question to ask if you're here this morning 00:04:12.780 --> 00:04:14.039 and you're checking it out. 00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:17.180 That is to say, you're here this morning 00:04:17.180 --> 00:04:18.980 and you wouldn't call yourself a Christian. 00:04:19.099 --> 00:04:19.920 You're thinking to yourself, 00:04:20.060 --> 00:04:22.560 what does this whole Christianity thing mean? 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:24.959 If you're checking it out. 00:04:25.019 --> 00:04:26.920 It's a great question to ask if you're thinking it out. 00:04:28.159 --> 00:04:29.180 Maybe you're here this morning 00:04:29.180 --> 00:04:31.300 and you've been here for the last little while 00:04:31.300 --> 00:04:32.800 as we've journeyed through Luke's gospel. 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:34.879 And you're thinking through 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:37.620 who this man Jesus Christ really is. 00:04:37.620 --> 00:04:40.280 And you're thinking through the claims 00:04:40.280 --> 00:04:42.360 that both he is making 00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:44.980 and the claims that he is making on your life. 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:47.100 If you're thinking it out. 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:49.579 And it's a cracking question to ask if you're living it out. 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:52.819 It's always great to be reminded in our Christian lives 00:04:52.819 --> 00:04:55.399 to come back to God's word constantly 00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:58.259 and to be reminded what it is we are supposed to be doing 00:04:58.259 --> 00:05:02.079 is we follow our great Lord and King and Saviour Jesus Christ. 00:05:02.620 --> 00:05:04.199 It's a great question to ask this morning. 00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:06.600 What does it mean to follow this king? 00:05:07.620 --> 00:05:10.280 And really that is the backdrop to this encounter 00:05:10.280 --> 00:05:12.579 that Jesus has with this lawyer. 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:14.840 And if you want to follow along with me in your Bibles, 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:17.740 Luke 10 verse 25 that Lynn Redford is there, 00:05:18.759 --> 00:05:20.879 we'll see that it's an encounter 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:22.459 that's marked by four questions. 00:05:24.379 --> 00:05:26.259 Now let's just dive straight into it this morning. 00:05:26.340 --> 00:05:28.439 The first question comes at verse 25. 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:30.399 And you'll see it there. 00:05:31.420 --> 00:05:32.300 Luke writes this, 00:05:32.300 --> 00:05:35.459 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, 00:05:35.540 --> 00:05:35.899 saying, 00:05:35.899 --> 00:05:40.739 Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 00:05:41.939 --> 00:05:43.519 Now what kind of question is that? 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:46.399 Well, it's a trying question. 00:05:47.819 --> 00:05:52.000 On the surface, it probably seems like an innocent question, 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:54.479 but if we look at the clues that Luke gives us in the text, 00:05:54.539 --> 00:05:56.219 we begin to get a bit suspect. 00:05:56.859 --> 00:05:58.859 And we're a bit suspect for two reasons. 00:05:59.819 --> 00:06:02.699 Firstly, because of the man behind the question. 00:06:03.179 --> 00:06:04.000 Who is this man? 00:06:04.339 --> 00:06:05.359 Do you see it there in the text? 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:07.460 He's a lawyer. 00:06:09.780 --> 00:06:11.180 Now don't think Jerry Maguire. 00:06:11.400 --> 00:06:13.740 Think kind of lawyer-theologian. 00:06:13.840 --> 00:06:17.639 This guy knows the scripture that's in his hands off by heart. 00:06:18.780 --> 00:06:21.259 And notice another little detail that Luke gives us in the text there. 00:06:21.319 --> 00:06:23.600 He's an expert in the law. 00:06:25.340 --> 00:06:28.860 Now I found that a bit puzzling in my preparation this week. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:29.840 And here's what I was thinking. 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:31.480 He's an expert in the law. 00:06:31.480 --> 00:06:34.020 So he knows his stuff, right? 00:06:35.020 --> 00:06:38.240 So the question is, why is he asking this question? 00:06:39.540 --> 00:06:43.080 I don't believe for a second he doesn't know the answer to that question. 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:47.720 If he's an expert in the law, why is he asking it? 00:06:47.780 --> 00:06:51.360 Well, notice again in the text that Luke tells us the true motives of this man. 00:06:51.840 --> 00:06:52.920 What is the word there? 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:54.319 Test. 00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:54.439 Test. 00:06:55.540 --> 00:06:58.319 This man is out to test Jesus. 00:06:58.459 --> 00:07:00.800 And that's the second reason that we're suspicious of this man. 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:03.519 It's because of the content of his question. 00:07:04.719 --> 00:07:12.019 Now we know it's a flawed question right away because logically you can't do something to inherit something. 00:07:12.019 --> 00:07:19.519 Eternal life, especially in this context, salvation, is a gracious gift from a good God. 00:07:20.439 --> 00:07:22.079 And it's given by him. 00:07:22.839 --> 00:07:26.399 By grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus alone. 00:07:27.620 --> 00:07:31.399 As Sinclair Ferguson writes, faith is by definition non-contributory. 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:32.099 It's not about us. 00:07:32.139 --> 00:07:33.240 It's about Jesus Christ. 00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:41.439 But essentially what this lawyer is asking is, what do I do, what do I need to do to be good enough for God? 00:07:43.160 --> 00:07:45.980 Now let me ask you this morning, have you ever asked that question? 00:07:48.139 --> 00:07:49.759 It's a great question to ask. 00:07:49.980 --> 00:07:51.079 It's a great question to ask. 00:07:51.180 --> 00:07:55.300 What do I need to do to be good enough for God? 00:07:55.340 --> 00:07:57.259 I wonder how you would answer that question. 00:07:59.280 --> 00:08:02.060 Because that's exactly how Jesus responds to the lawyer. 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:04.500 And this is our second question at verse 26. 00:08:04.620 --> 00:08:05.500 What does Jesus say? 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:08.120 What is written in the law? 00:08:09.540 --> 00:08:10.800 Now what kind of question is that? 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:12.199 Well, it's a textbook question. 00:08:13.780 --> 00:08:15.379 How is the lawyer going to answer? 00:08:15.480 --> 00:08:16.780 Well, look what he says. 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:23.579 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind. 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:26.340 And love your neighbor as yourself. 00:08:27.399 --> 00:08:30.100 Now let's give this guy credit where credit is due. 00:08:30.100 --> 00:08:33.420 You have to say he absolutely nails this one, doesn't he? 00:08:34.220 --> 00:08:35.659 He absolutely nails it. 00:08:35.740 --> 00:08:37.100 That is what God requires. 00:08:37.820 --> 00:08:39.320 Congratulations, says Jesus. 00:08:40.060 --> 00:08:46.159 If you fulfilled that completely, then you've got absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to eternal life. 00:08:46.680 --> 00:08:47.980 You've got nothing to worry about. 00:08:47.980 --> 00:08:49.460 You've got nothing to worry about. 00:08:49.460 --> 00:08:49.860 You've got nothing to worry about. 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:49.980 You've got nothing to worry about. 00:08:49.980 --> 00:08:50.159 You've got nothing to worry about. 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:55.840 But see, if we pause just for a minute and we just think about that answer. 00:08:57.240 --> 00:09:09.060 To love God with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your heart and with all your strength. 00:09:09.059 --> 00:09:11.779 The key word there being all. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:17.419 And to love your neighbor as yourself. 00:09:17.539 --> 00:09:20.059 Which when you think about it, I was trying to think about it this week. 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:21.819 That is a very high bar. 00:09:23.219 --> 00:09:24.599 To love your neighbor as yourself. 00:09:24.699 --> 00:09:25.899 And I tell you why it's a high bar. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:26.859 Because I love me. 00:09:26.860 --> 00:09:32.519 You know, the college that I study at on part of my job here. 00:09:32.680 --> 00:09:38.820 They sent an email around the students a few weeks ago saying that there's a new prospectus out for the college. 00:09:39.820 --> 00:09:42.860 So break time comes, the bell goes, and I run down to get that prospectus. 00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:44.720 And guess who I'm looking for? 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:47.800 And I make it. 00:09:48.259 --> 00:09:49.200 Do you know how I make it? 00:09:49.240 --> 00:09:50.700 Because I'm there, back of my head. 00:09:51.659 --> 00:09:53.060 Nobody would know it was me. 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:56.060 But I'm looking for me because I love me. 00:09:56.059 --> 00:10:00.879 And then I get this claim that Jesus makes in my life. 00:10:00.959 --> 00:10:03.519 I'm to love my neighbor as I love myself. 00:10:05.419 --> 00:10:06.659 Let me ask you this morning. 00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:17.059 Have you stopped to consider the full weight of what God both requires and he deserves? 00:10:19.479 --> 00:10:23.319 What do I need to do to inherit eternal life? 00:10:23.319 --> 00:10:25.259 Well, there's the answer to that question. 00:10:26.059 --> 00:10:27.719 And it's big. 00:10:31.559 --> 00:10:34.399 And you see, while everything is right with this lawyer's answer, 00:10:35.559 --> 00:10:39.259 we've got to conclude that everything is wrong with this lawyer's heart. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:44.319 We get the third question here at verse 29. 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:55.640 Now, what kind of question is this? 00:10:57.340 --> 00:10:58.820 Well, it's a twisted question. 00:10:58.820 --> 00:11:03.700 Because if we dig a bit deeper under the surface of this question, 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:06.120 we begin to see what this man is all about. 00:11:07.640 --> 00:11:08.600 Now, he's a lawyer. 00:11:10.400 --> 00:11:11.360 He used to be one. 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:18.520 Even in our day, that carries a certain unfair stigma, doesn't it? 00:11:19.800 --> 00:11:21.780 Do you want to know how many lawyer jokes there are in existence? 00:11:23.060 --> 00:11:23.460 None. 00:11:23.540 --> 00:11:24.420 They're all true stories. 00:11:24.419 --> 00:11:27.839 He's a crafty lawyer. 00:11:28.839 --> 00:11:35.620 And he's all about thinking through words and finding loopholes in the meaning of words. 00:11:35.699 --> 00:11:37.059 This guy is a lawyer to a T. 00:11:37.059 --> 00:11:40.879 So when this man asks Jesus, what does he say? 00:11:41.179 --> 00:11:42.599 Jesus, can you define neighbor? 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:46.799 He's not really asking Jesus to define neighbor. 00:11:47.579 --> 00:11:50.659 He's asking Jesus to define non-neighbor. 00:11:50.659 --> 00:11:55.279 Because Jesus, if you just define for me that word neighbor, 00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:57.939 and you tell me who my real neighbors are, 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:00.199 then I can ring fence that. 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:05.899 And therefore, by default, everyone who falls out with that category, 00:12:06.019 --> 00:12:08.240 I can place them outside that category. 00:12:09.019 --> 00:12:11.679 And therefore, I can class them as being not my neighbor. 00:12:12.439 --> 00:12:18.159 And I can exclude them from the list of people that I have an obligation to love and to serve as myself. 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:22.939 I'm pretty, pretty, pretty pleased, Jesus, as you answer that question. 00:12:23.299 --> 00:12:26.439 Can you make sure that the Samaritans are in this category? 00:12:27.419 --> 00:12:28.439 That's what he's asking. 00:12:31.059 --> 00:12:32.579 This man is a lawyer to a T. 00:12:32.839 --> 00:12:33.699 I'd give him a job. 00:12:34.699 --> 00:12:37.100 This man is out to justify himself. 00:12:38.579 --> 00:12:41.939 Presumably, Luke indicating to his readers, do you see it there, how he's written it? 00:12:42.740 --> 00:12:44.659 That this is how this man lives his life. 00:12:44.659 --> 00:12:50.159 Picking and choosing, dismissing and ignoring. 00:12:50.699 --> 00:12:53.799 And by asking this question, and by asking Jesus to answer it, 00:12:53.860 --> 00:13:01.339 he's hoping that Jesus will tell him that how he's behaving is both justifiable and acceptable in the sight of God. 00:13:04.459 --> 00:13:08.639 It's a twisted question, because it comes from a twisted heart. 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:15.539 Now, the tension at this part of the story is, how is Jesus going to answer this man? 00:13:17.340 --> 00:13:18.939 How is Jesus going to answer this man? 00:13:19.199 --> 00:13:21.460 Is Jesus going to throw the book at him? 00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:26.399 Is Jesus going to publicly humiliate him in front of everyone else? 00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:32.139 What's one of the big themes we've seen as we've journeyed through this gospel of Luke? 00:13:32.139 --> 00:13:33.779 The beauty of Jesus Christ. 00:13:35.699 --> 00:13:37.439 The love of Jesus Christ. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:40.360 The compassion of Jesus Christ. 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:42.659 The grace of Jesus Christ. 00:13:42.779 --> 00:13:44.480 And the wisdom of Jesus Christ. 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:46.159 Does Jesus throw the book at him here? 00:13:47.620 --> 00:13:48.899 And he tells him a story. 00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:52.519 Would you see the grace at which Jesus deals with this man here? 00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:56.580 Jesus, the one who knows this man better than this man knows himself. 00:13:56.580 --> 00:14:05.060 Jesus, the one who is giving life to this man, who is giving him every breath that he's taking at that second. 00:14:07.540 --> 00:14:09.259 Jesus proceeds to tell him a story. 00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:11.740 And it's a famous story. 00:14:11.820 --> 00:14:12.680 We love this story. 00:14:13.060 --> 00:14:17.360 I would say people in our world, regardless of whether they're a Christian or not, love this story. 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:24.399 And it's a story of a man who's traveling on the 17 mile long Jerusalem Jericho Highway. 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:28.060 Before he's set upon by a bunch of cut throats. 00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:31.759 And he's beaten, robbed, stripped and left for dead at the side of the road. 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:32.840 Tension in the story. 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:35.700 Who is going to come to this guy's rescue? 00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:42.519 Okay, if I was writing a film for this, there'd be the I Need a Hero soundtrack in the back. 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:46.180 That's the question we're meant to ask at this point in the story. 00:14:46.179 --> 00:14:47.979 Who is going to come to this man's rescue? 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:50.759 Well, the first man to appear in the scene, do you notice it? 00:14:51.319 --> 00:14:52.519 Is a Jewish priest. 00:14:53.699 --> 00:14:58.879 Now this priest probably is making his way from Jerusalem, where he's carrying out his priestly duties, 00:14:59.019 --> 00:15:01.179 to Jericho, where he most likely lives. 00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:03.579 And he sees this man. 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:05.099 That's the key word for us here. 00:15:05.179 --> 00:15:06.239 He sees this man. 00:15:06.299 --> 00:15:08.179 He doesn't just not see this man. 00:15:08.979 --> 00:15:10.500 He cannot claim ignorance here. 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.779 He sees this man. 00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:14.600 And he sees this man who is stripped. 00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:16.639 And he's almost dead. 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.960 Now why is that significant? 00:15:19.659 --> 00:15:21.840 Well, it means that as the priest looks at this man, 00:15:22.419 --> 00:15:25.740 no way of being able to identify both who he is, 00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:27.960 and whether he's still living or not. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:32.139 So if you're a priest, you come in contact with a dead man. 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:33.340 You touch a dead man. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:35.620 His uncleanness transferred to you. 00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:36.919 You're considered unclean. 00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:41.340 That means a trip back to Jerusalem to make yourself clean again. 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:42.460 That's an inconvenience. 00:15:42.560 --> 00:15:43.259 That's a hassle. 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:45.060 That's a risk not worth taking. 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:49.019 And in addition, who knows whether these cutthroat robbers are still hanging around. 00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:53.460 So the priest looks at this man, weighs that all up in his head, 00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:55.360 and he passes on by. 00:15:57.799 --> 00:15:59.680 And then comes along a Levite, 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:03.740 who you can understand simply as someone akin to an assistant priest. 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:07.700 And so he would have the same concerns as the priest, 00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:09.360 and he too passes on by. 00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:13.379 Big point, implicit point in the story. 00:16:13.460 --> 00:16:16.539 We're meant to understand both these men who knew what God required. 00:16:17.560 --> 00:16:20.340 They saw a fellow human being in need, 00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:21.940 and they chose to do nothing about it. 00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:25.960 So the question still remains in the story. 00:16:26.060 --> 00:16:28.620 Who is going to come to this man's rescue? 00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:33.480 Well, the hero of the story, do you notice that he comes from the most unlikely, 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.659 of places? 00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:38.840 Because the hero in this story, the man who saves the day, 00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:42.000 is in fact a most hated outsider. 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:44.620 Now he's from Samaria. 00:16:45.680 --> 00:16:47.180 Now just to get your geography for a minute, 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:48.100 where is Samaria? 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:50.019 Well, this is how I try and remember it. 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.680 Jesus' day, geography-wise, 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:53.080 you've got Galilee in the north, 00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:54.639 you've got Judea in the south, 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:56.279 and you've got Samaria in the middle, 00:16:56.700 --> 00:16:57.320 called Samaria. 00:16:59.060 --> 00:17:00.259 Samaria, this is where it is. 00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:00.860 He's in the middle. 00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:05.240 Now there's an awful lot of history in there between the Jews and the Samaritans, 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:06.779 which we don't have time to go into. 00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:08.059 But needless to say, 00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:12.860 that Jews in Jesus' day considered Samaritans to be religious sellouts, 00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:16.059 because of their pick-and-mix social and religious practices. 00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:20.980 Don Carson, I think, nails it on the head with his description of it. 00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:21.759 He says, 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:28.079 the Jews looked down on Samaritans as a half-breed people with a half-baked faith. 00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:32.039 So the hero of this story, 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:35.799 do you begin to taste how distasteful this must have been for this guy? 00:17:36.299 --> 00:17:38.920 The hero of this story is one of them. 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:39.980 He's a Samaritan. 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:43.879 And in stark contrast to the two men before him, 00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:45.519 he sees this man, 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:50.700 and he has compassion and concern for this man. 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:53.220 This man who he sees has been stripped, 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:54.099 beaten, 00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:54.980 robbed, 00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:55.940 and left for dead. 00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:56.859 What does he do? 00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:58.660 He stops. 00:18:00.639 --> 00:18:01.700 And he gets down. 00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:05.819 And he inconveniences himself. 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:09.579 And he makes himself vulnerable. 00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:12.839 And he gets his hands dirty. 00:18:14.659 --> 00:18:16.819 And he binds up this man's wounds. 00:18:16.919 --> 00:18:17.819 And he doesn't just do that. 00:18:17.899 --> 00:18:18.720 Do you see the detail? 00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:21.000 He pours oil and wine on them. 00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:25.079 And he trades places with this man. 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:27.199 Presumably, 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:30.179 as he gets down off the donkey and puts this man on his donkey, 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:31.220 as he walks alongside. 00:18:33.379 --> 00:18:34.740 And he pays the price 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:38.139 to the innkeeper 00:18:38.140 --> 00:18:39.860 to ensure that this man gets some needed 00:18:39.860 --> 00:18:41.880 recovery and rest at the inn. 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.980 And I think how we read this story, 00:18:45.060 --> 00:18:46.480 we have to be in little doubt 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:48.480 that this Samaritan has 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:50.560 saved this man's life. 00:18:53.020 --> 00:18:54.040 Legally, in those days, 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:55.620 that you'd be sold as a slave 00:18:55.620 --> 00:18:56.740 if you couldn't pay your debt. 00:18:56.840 --> 00:18:58.620 So this is what the Samaritan is doing here 00:18:58.620 --> 00:18:59.360 with the innkeeper. 00:19:00.060 --> 00:19:01.580 That if this man stays longer 00:19:01.580 --> 00:19:02.840 than these two denarii 00:19:02.840 --> 00:19:04.400 are going to cover him for, 00:19:05.300 --> 00:19:07.360 then the bill doesn't just stop there. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.259 that actually, 00:19:08.379 --> 00:19:09.259 I'll cover the bill. 00:19:10.139 --> 00:19:11.039 I'll cover the bill. 00:19:11.199 --> 00:19:12.259 It's almost equivalent to saying, 00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:13.659 put my card behind the bar 00:19:13.659 --> 00:19:14.699 and I'll cover the tab. 00:19:15.219 --> 00:19:15.939 This is what he's doing. 00:19:18.199 --> 00:19:19.319 This man was helpless. 00:19:20.659 --> 00:19:21.819 And this man was hopeless. 00:19:22.679 --> 00:19:23.599 And this man was facing 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:24.759 a very bleak future. 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:27.359 And through a costly demonstration 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:29.419 of compassion and love, 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:31.099 this Samaritan has acted 00:19:31.099 --> 00:19:32.699 to change this man's life. 00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:36.000 And so the men, 00:19:36.080 --> 00:19:37.960 do you feel the sting in the story? 00:19:38.080 --> 00:19:39.120 The men who are considered 00:19:39.120 --> 00:19:41.039 the super righteous in society, 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:41.940 Jewish society, 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:44.100 have been well and truly shown up 00:19:44.100 --> 00:19:45.819 by this offensive outsider. 00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:47.380 That's who your neighbor is, 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:47.980 Mr. Lawyer. 00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:50.720 That's who your neighbor is. 00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:53.180 Your neighbor is anybody 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:54.840 that you happen to come across. 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:57.620 Any human being made in the image of God, 00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:58.460 that is your neighbor. 00:19:58.460 --> 00:20:01.079 Do you honestly think 00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:03.920 that you can stand in front of 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:05.920 a holy and righteous God now 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:08.640 and justify yourself to him 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:09.660 that you've been a good neighbor? 00:20:14.860 --> 00:20:16.079 But truth be told, 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:17.319 you're asking the wrong question. 00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:20.279 The question isn't, 00:20:20.380 --> 00:20:21.100 who is my neighbor? 00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:25.380 The question you should really be asking is, 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:27.579 how can I be a good neighbor? 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:31.240 You see the lawyer here? 00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:33.700 Do you feel his cheeks getting red 00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:34.220 at this point? 00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:36.059 He's been well and truly sent back 00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:36.640 to law school. 00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:39.819 And so we get the third question 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:42.059 at verse 36. 00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:46.400 Jesus says this, 00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:48.039 which of these three do you think 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:49.079 proved to be a neighbor 00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:51.299 to the man who fell among the robbers? 00:20:53.360 --> 00:20:55.200 Now what kind of question is this? 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:57.700 Well, it's a telling question. 00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:00.220 You have to say, 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:03.759 it's a question with a really easy answer, 00:21:03.840 --> 00:21:04.180 isn't it? 00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:06.200 I mean, I don't know how many, 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:08.160 if there's many students here 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:09.460 with your exams coming up soon. 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:12.079 Is there, let's see some hands. 00:21:13.620 --> 00:21:14.640 So there's quite a few. 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:15.579 I mean, if this one came up 00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:16.600 in your test, your exam, 00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:18.360 you'd be absolutely delighted, 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:18.819 would you not? 00:21:19.620 --> 00:21:21.120 It's a really easy question. 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:23.479 And Jesus makes it really simple for him. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.199 This isn't, 00:21:25.979 --> 00:21:27.399 can you provide me with an essay? 00:21:27.659 --> 00:21:29.379 Can you provide me with a few hundred words 00:21:29.379 --> 00:21:30.500 with a snappy introduction 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:31.719 and a nice little conclusion 00:21:31.719 --> 00:21:32.759 and bring it all home? 00:21:34.199 --> 00:21:35.439 And to make it even easier, 00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.979 it's a multiple choice question. 00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:38.639 And even, even, even easier, 00:21:38.979 --> 00:21:40.679 it's got three answers to it. 00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:42.519 It's either him, 00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.539 it's him, 00:21:43.699 --> 00:21:44.419 or it's him. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:46.879 It is either the priest, 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:48.119 it's the Levite, 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:49.239 or it's the Samaritan. 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:50.599 Who's it going to be, Mr. Lawyer? 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.979 And it's a telling question 00:21:53.979 --> 00:21:55.319 because it tells us two things. 00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.719 Firstly, it tells us 00:21:58.719 --> 00:22:00.279 that this man has got heart issues. 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:02.339 Do you see it 00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:03.859 in the way he answers this question? 00:22:03.959 --> 00:22:05.399 He can't even bring himself 00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:06.839 to credit the Samaritan 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:08.859 with being the good guy in the story. 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:11.699 He can't even do it. 00:22:12.479 --> 00:22:13.979 He loathes the Samaritans. 00:22:14.139 --> 00:22:15.879 He loathes the Samaritans. 00:22:15.939 --> 00:22:16.899 Now, you can imagine this 00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:18.500 playing out in his everyday life. 00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:20.380 Picture him going home. 00:22:21.280 --> 00:22:22.240 Picture him picking up his, 00:22:22.340 --> 00:22:23.240 his children. 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:24.140 Picture them saying, 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.000 Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, 00:22:25.040 --> 00:22:26.340 can we have a good night story 00:22:26.340 --> 00:22:27.320 before we go to bed? 00:22:27.560 --> 00:22:28.960 Can we please have that one 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:30.000 where the good guy 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:31.420 defeats the bad guy? 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:34.200 Now, who do you think 00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:35.440 is the bad guy in that story 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:36.120 every time? 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:40.100 This guy has heart problems. 00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:43.700 Jesus flips this story 00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:45.100 well and truly on its head 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:45.899 and in doing so, 00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:48.219 he draws out this man's prejudice 00:22:48.219 --> 00:22:50.000 to the surface. 00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:52.279 And do you see in passing 00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:53.500 what that's telling us 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:55.119 about life in Jesus' kingdom? 00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:57.939 That there is no place 00:22:57.939 --> 00:22:58.839 for favoritism. 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:01.339 That there is no place 00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:02.439 for subtle racism. 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.619 That there is no place 00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:06.459 for a superiority complex. 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:09.000 That attitudes like that 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:11.000 are not on 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.459 for the people of God. 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:14.720 This is life 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.539 in Jesus' kingdom. 00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:17.960 And the second reason 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:19.100 why it's a telling question, 00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:20.480 I think this is the massive point 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:21.319 from this story, 00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:23.000 is that it tells us 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:23.819 a lot about Jesus. 00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:26.920 For the thing for us 00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:28.819 to get our heads around here, 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:29.860 like we said at the outset, 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.559 if you remember, 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:33.380 is that Jesus defines here 00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:34.559 the very heart 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:35.799 of what it means 00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:37.840 to love one's neighbor. 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.660 He defines it. 00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:42.400 Now how does he define it? 00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:42.580 Well, 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:44.779 who will go to these lengths 00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:46.100 out of love for their neighbor? 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:49.940 Who can possibly 00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:50.840 hit the standard 00:23:50.840 --> 00:23:52.560 that this Samaritan sets here? 00:23:53.820 --> 00:23:55.279 Who will have compassion 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:56.820 and who will stop 00:23:56.820 --> 00:23:58.019 to help those 00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:59.180 who cannot help themselves? 00:24:00.540 --> 00:24:01.720 Who will be the one 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:03.920 who will exchange places 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:05.120 with the outcast? 00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:08.519 Who will be the one 00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:10.000 who will pay the great cost 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:11.139 to save people 00:24:11.139 --> 00:24:13.039 from slavery and death? 00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:16.799 What you see is, 00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:18.859 we see this parable 00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:20.219 in the wider context, 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:21.239 and that's why it's so important 00:24:21.239 --> 00:24:21.879 that we do that 00:24:21.879 --> 00:24:22.579 in Luke's Gospel. 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:24.539 Do you see that Jesus 00:24:24.539 --> 00:24:25.579 is actually on the way 00:24:25.579 --> 00:24:26.379 to Jerusalem 00:24:26.379 --> 00:24:28.539 to be this good Samaritan? 00:24:30.679 --> 00:24:32.539 Jesus had come 00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.939 to have compassion 00:24:33.939 --> 00:24:34.899 on helpless men. 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:37.939 Jesus is the one 00:24:37.939 --> 00:24:38.479 who has come 00:24:38.479 --> 00:24:39.739 to give his life 00:24:39.739 --> 00:24:41.019 to save men from death. 00:24:42.179 --> 00:24:42.919 Jesus is the one 00:24:42.919 --> 00:24:43.439 who has come 00:24:43.439 --> 00:24:44.539 to trade places 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:45.579 with sinful men. 00:24:45.699 --> 00:24:46.359 Jesus is the one 00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:46.719 who has come 00:24:46.719 --> 00:24:47.779 to pay the price 00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:49.659 to set sinful men 00:24:49.659 --> 00:24:50.219 and women free 00:24:50.219 --> 00:24:50.959 from slavery. 00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:53.799 Because the way 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.559 that Luke records 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.799 the story for us here, 00:24:55.859 --> 00:24:57.079 I think quite intentionally, 00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:59.339 leads us to draw 00:24:59.339 --> 00:24:59.959 the inference 00:24:59.959 --> 00:25:01.219 that the great Samaritan 00:25:01.219 --> 00:25:02.179 is Jesus himself. 00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:05.340 Now just pause 00:25:05.340 --> 00:25:06.000 for a minute there, 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:09.060 and let me ask you, 00:25:10.580 --> 00:25:11.700 have you grasped 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:13.240 just how much 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:13.900 Jesus has done 00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:14.640 for you this morning? 00:25:20.080 --> 00:25:21.120 Do you know him 00:25:21.120 --> 00:25:21.519 to be, 00:25:21.560 --> 00:25:22.380 not simply just 00:25:22.380 --> 00:25:23.060 your example, 00:25:23.060 --> 00:25:25.160 but do you know him 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:26.120 to be your savior? 00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:29.619 Because the truth 00:25:29.619 --> 00:25:30.299 of it is 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:32.299 that we all 00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:33.399 like to see ourselves 00:25:33.399 --> 00:25:34.879 as first and foremost 00:25:34.879 --> 00:25:35.819 as the Samaritan 00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:36.559 in this story. 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:38.659 But before we get there, 00:25:38.679 --> 00:25:39.539 and we will get there, 00:25:39.979 --> 00:25:41.339 we have to see ourselves 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:42.299 as the man 00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:43.039 who was left dead 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:43.819 at the side of the road 00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.459 in this story. 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.399 And Tim Keller, 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:48.139 he writes this, 00:25:48.140 --> 00:25:50.160 Jesus did not come 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:50.680 to tell us 00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.820 how to save ourselves, 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:54.360 but to save us 00:25:54.360 --> 00:25:55.080 himself. 00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:57.860 Here is Jesus 00:25:57.860 --> 00:25:58.820 setting the bar. 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:01.259 Here is Jesus 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:01.820 laying down 00:26:01.820 --> 00:26:02.480 the pattern 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.220 of the kingdom. 00:26:04.520 --> 00:26:05.420 Here is Jesus 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.580 setting the standard 00:26:06.580 --> 00:26:08.080 of costly compassion 00:26:08.080 --> 00:26:10.380 and of extravagant grace. 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.540 And here is Jesus 00:26:11.540 --> 00:26:12.759 calling for his followers 00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.440 to behave 00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:14.280 and to act 00:26:14.280 --> 00:26:14.940 like he does, 00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:16.080 like we were singing earlier. 00:26:16.660 --> 00:26:17.740 He is the servant king. 00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:21.440 And that alone, 00:26:21.540 --> 00:26:22.400 as we look at the beauty 00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:23.200 of Jesus Christ, 00:26:23.280 --> 00:26:24.580 that should motivate us 00:26:24.580 --> 00:26:26.020 to follow in the pattern 00:26:26.020 --> 00:26:27.020 that he sets us. 00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.300 But as if we needed 00:26:30.300 --> 00:26:31.460 just a little clincher, 00:26:32.300 --> 00:26:33.020 that was the case. 00:26:33.100 --> 00:26:33.900 Do you see how he 00:26:33.900 --> 00:26:36.480 ends this exchange 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.820 with this man? 00:26:39.040 --> 00:26:40.340 The final words of Jesus 00:26:40.340 --> 00:26:41.180 in this exchange, 00:26:41.300 --> 00:26:41.840 what are they? 00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:42.259 Does he say, 00:26:42.340 --> 00:26:43.000 go away and think 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:43.800 about these things? 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:46.820 No, he says, 00:26:46.819 --> 00:26:48.879 go away and do these things. 00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:50.539 You go 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:52.200 and you do likewise. 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.980 Jesus is not calling him 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.839 to be a philosopher. 00:26:55.919 --> 00:26:57.059 Jesus is calling him 00:26:57.059 --> 00:26:58.279 to be a follower. 00:26:59.919 --> 00:27:01.019 Go and do likewise. 00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:02.019 And so having looked 00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:03.240 at those four questions, 00:27:03.379 --> 00:27:03.939 let me just 00:27:03.939 --> 00:27:05.740 bring it home this morning 00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:06.539 by asking us 00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:07.839 a fifth and a final one. 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:10.519 You know, 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.559 I wonder as a church 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:13.059 and I wonder 00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:13.960 as individuals, 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.960 how are we doing 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:17.339 at doing likewise? 00:27:20.659 --> 00:27:21.599 How are you getting on? 00:27:21.639 --> 00:27:22.480 How are we getting on 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:23.200 at being neighbors 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:25.440 to those around about us? 00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:28.000 Now just pause for a second 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:30.119 and just think about 00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:31.440 those who you rub shoulders 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:32.919 with on a daily basis. 00:27:34.619 --> 00:27:35.579 Picture them in your head. 00:27:35.659 --> 00:27:36.879 Who is it that you rub shoulders 00:27:36.879 --> 00:27:37.559 with every day? 00:27:37.659 --> 00:27:38.240 Who has the Lord 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:39.419 brought into your path? 00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:41.400 Maybe over the last little while. 00:27:43.300 --> 00:27:44.259 Who can you show 00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:46.080 Christ-like compassion to? 00:27:50.380 --> 00:27:51.240 Now let me just put 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:51.860 a little bit of meat 00:27:51.860 --> 00:27:52.519 on that idea. 00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:55.940 What did the Samaritan do? 00:27:57.640 --> 00:27:58.580 Well he saw 00:27:58.580 --> 00:28:02.039 and he had compassion 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:05.420 and he did something about it. 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.960 So here's the first question. 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:09.779 Questions to ask 00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:10.819 as you're thinking that through. 00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:11.480 Who has the Lord 00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:12.319 put in my path 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:14.059 that I can be a Christ-like neighbor to? 00:28:14.340 --> 00:28:15.380 First question to ask, 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.079 who do you see? 00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:19.480 Who do you see? 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:23.059 Who do you share an office with? 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:27.259 Who do you see at lunch? 00:28:29.380 --> 00:28:30.799 Who do you see in your family? 00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:33.799 Who do you see 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:35.100 in your street? 00:28:35.099 --> 00:28:39.159 Who do you see in your community? 00:28:40.159 --> 00:28:42.139 Who do you see on your daily commute 00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:44.119 as maybe you walk to work every day? 00:28:44.939 --> 00:28:45.939 Who do you see? 00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.980 Who's in your life? 00:28:49.379 --> 00:28:49.779 Secondly, 00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:51.419 do you have compassion 00:28:51.419 --> 00:28:52.319 in those that you see? 00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:55.579 How could you show 00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:56.819 that compassion this week? 00:28:56.819 --> 00:29:01.139 To whom could you show 00:29:01.139 --> 00:29:02.279 that compassion this week? 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.159 Who could do 00:29:05.159 --> 00:29:05.839 in your life? 00:29:05.879 --> 00:29:06.639 Who's in your circles? 00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:07.240 Who could do 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:08.039 with being loved? 00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:10.240 Who could do 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:11.379 with being supported? 00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:13.500 Who could do 00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:14.639 with being encouraged? 00:29:16.179 --> 00:29:16.899 Who could do 00:29:16.899 --> 00:29:17.759 with being wrung? 00:29:18.399 --> 00:29:18.980 Who could do 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:19.759 with the text? 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.439 Who could do 00:29:20.439 --> 00:29:21.000 with a hug? 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:21.759 Who could do 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.859 with being asked? 00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:23.720 Who could do 00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:24.759 with being helped? 00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:32.379 who do you see do you have compassion on them and thirdly could you do something about it 00:29:32.379 --> 00:29:39.819 and not just could you do something about it but will you do something about it i think this is 00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:45.099 where this has massively challenged me this week to think about those people who the lord has put 00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:52.839 in my circles everyday circles how can i show this christ-like compassion to my neighbors 00:29:52.839 --> 00:30:01.279 so as we leave this story this morning we've got to see that jesus sets a very high bar 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:09.319 he both demands that high bar and by his life and his death he defines that high bar 00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:13.839 now let me just finish with the words of of john newton 00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:21.359 with a poem about this good samaritan story from luke let me just finish with these words 00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:30.679 how kind the good samaritan to him who fell among the thieves thus jesus pities fallen man 00:30:30.679 --> 00:30:39.799 and heals the wounds the soul receives gently he raised me from the ground pressed me to lean upon 00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:46.619 his arm and to every single gaping wound he poured his own all healing balm 00:30:46.619 --> 00:30:57.139 there through eternal boundless days when nature's wheel no longer rolls oh how i shall love adore and praise 00:30:57.139 --> 00:31:02.559 the one this good samaritan of souls amen let's pray together 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:10.899 father we thank you so much for our time together this morning 00:31:10.900 --> 00:31:19.000 and father as we respond to your words we pray even now just in the silence that you would be 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:21.080 bringing people to our minds 00:31:21.080 --> 00:31:27.040 who we can be christ-like neighbors to 00:31:27.040 --> 00:31:32.180 and father above all else will you bring christ to our minds 00:31:32.180 --> 00:31:39.180 that he isn't just our example but he is our savior and our king 00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:44.920 and so father we ask that by your spirit who is living in us you would help us to 00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:47.700 have our eyes fixed upon him 00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:52.600 father would he be the darling of our souls this week we ask 00:31:52.600 --> 00:32:00.779 so lord would you help us to live and to love your glory this week we ask in jesus name amen 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:02.819 let's go 00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:03.240 let's go 00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:03.779 let's go 00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:05.160 let's go 00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:07.319 let's go 00:32:07.379 --> 00:32:08.680 listen 00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:09.160 seeη 00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:09.819 remember 00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:10.379 ta 00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:13.559 what's good 00:32:13.559 --> 00:32:14.559 so 00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:14.779 to 00:32:14.779 --> 00:32:15.899 to 00:32:15.899 --> 00:32:16.039 the