WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:11.580 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other 00:00:11.580 --> 00:00:15.280 use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:31.240 Good morning, I'm Helen and I'm part of the Christ Church Youth Group. 00:00:31.780 --> 00:00:37.620 Today's scripture reading is from the book of Luke, chapter 10, verses 25 to 37, as printed 00:00:37.620 --> 00:00:38.460 in your liturgy. 00:00:39.120 --> 00:00:41.679 A reading from the gospel according to Luke. 00:00:42.480 --> 00:00:46.000 On one occasion, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. 00:00:46.740 --> 00:00:50.680 Teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:00:50.679 --> 00:00:53.299 What is written in the law, he replied. 00:00:53.719 --> 00:00:54.799 How do you read it? 00:00:55.460 --> 00:01:00.840 He answered, love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:02.759 all your strength and with all your mind. 00:01:03.480 --> 00:01:05.159 And love your neighbor as yourself. 00:01:06.019 --> 00:01:08.280 You've answered correctly, Jesus replied. 00:01:08.900 --> 00:01:10.239 Do this and you will live. 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:12.519 But he wanted to justify himself. 00:01:13.420 --> 00:01:16.280 So he asked Jesus, and who is my neighbor? 00:01:16.280 --> 00:01:23.040 In reply, Jesus said, a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:23.760 by robbers. 00:01:24.219 --> 00:01:28.540 They stripped him of his clothes, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:34.340 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by 00:01:34.340 --> 00:01:35.180 on the other side. 00:01:36.099 --> 00:01:41.359 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 00:01:41.359 --> 00:01:48.039 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was, and when he saw him, he took pity 00:01:48.039 --> 00:01:48.439 on him. 00:01:48.900 --> 00:01:52.459 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:57.780 Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 00:01:58.359 --> 00:02:02.079 The next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 00:02:02.659 --> 00:02:07.939 Look after him, he said, and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you 00:02:07.939 --> 00:02:08.420 may have. 00:02:08.419 --> 00:02:14.019 Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? 00:02:14.679 --> 00:02:18.060 The expert in the law replied, the one who had mercy on him. 00:02:19.119 --> 00:02:20.639 This is the gospel of the Lord. 00:02:21.159 --> 00:02:22.539 Praise to you, O Christ. 00:02:24.299 --> 00:02:25.359 Thank you, Halen. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:27.439 That was a wonderful first time reading from you. 00:02:27.799 --> 00:02:31.099 Look forward to you doing that many more times with us. 00:02:31.459 --> 00:02:32.859 Praise God for our youth ministry. 00:02:33.679 --> 00:02:34.439 Good morning, everyone. 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:37.199 My name is Andrew, and again, I'm one of the pastors here. 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:40.379 And I'm happy to be bringing God's word to you. 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:43.039 Our lead pastor, Jonathan, he's coming back. 00:02:43.099 --> 00:02:44.199 Don't worry, he's coming back. 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:47.239 But today, he's not here, so it's me again. 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:51.439 And just a heads up, it's a little bit longer today because he's not here, so I get to do 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:51.899 what I want. 00:02:53.079 --> 00:02:55.280 And just want to give you that heads up, all right? 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:57.179 Well, let's go to the Lord in prayer first. 00:02:57.180 --> 00:03:06.580 Father, by your word and by your spirit, would what you have to say to us, would it mess us 00:03:06.580 --> 00:03:09.159 up and make us whole at the same time? 00:03:10.120 --> 00:03:16.020 Would these words of Jesus bring deep conviction of sin here at this church, at Christ Church 00:03:16.020 --> 00:03:23.060 East Bay, and would it lead us to radical repentance, changed lives, and most of all, 00:03:23.480 --> 00:03:28.520 holy compassion that makes a difference in the world in the name of Christ? 00:03:28.760 --> 00:03:33.400 And show us, God, not only the depths of our sin through this passage, but the heights 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:38.200 of your grace and compassion toward us in Christ, your Son. 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:38.319 Amen. 00:03:39.419 --> 00:03:47.699 Open our eyes to his beauty and his glory, and how right it is to worship him and follow 00:03:47.699 --> 00:03:54.879 him as the Savior King he is, who gave his life, his whole self, to make us whole. 00:03:55.639 --> 00:03:57.120 We ask this in the name of Jesus. 00:03:57.839 --> 00:03:58.099 Amen. 00:03:59.319 --> 00:03:59.879 Amen. 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:05.079 So, we're opening up a passage in Luke's Gospel that's, you know, it's become so famous and 00:04:05.080 --> 00:04:10.120 formative that the very meaning of the word Samaritan has been redefined in the English-speaking 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:10.700 world, right? 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:14.200 Jesus was that amazing of a storyteller and teacher. 00:04:14.300 --> 00:04:19.180 He literally changed the history and the language of the world so that even when people today 00:04:19.180 --> 00:04:23.980 might know very little about him, as soon as their car breaks down and a stranger comes 00:04:23.980 --> 00:04:28.759 in the rain and helps them fix that tire or drive them to wherever they need to go, what 00:04:28.759 --> 00:04:29.300 do they say? 00:04:29.379 --> 00:04:32.180 They say, wow, what a good Samaritan, right? 00:04:32.180 --> 00:04:35.660 And they say it with honor, right? 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:40.180 It's an honorable compliment because being a good Samaritan is a virtue that's still celebrated 00:04:40.180 --> 00:04:41.959 across all of society. 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:47.840 Even if few of us actually live up to this ideal, no matter what religion you belong to, 00:04:47.939 --> 00:04:52.819 no matter your ethnic culture, no matter your socioeconomic status or what side of the political 00:04:52.819 --> 00:04:57.500 aisle you lean on, we'd all say that the world would be better, right, if there were more 00:04:57.500 --> 00:05:04.720 good Samaritans around, strangers helping strangers in need with compassion and hospitality, generosity, 00:05:05.139 --> 00:05:06.500 care, and sacrifice. 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:12.639 So again, this is a super famous and very familiar, well-loved passage of Scripture, but I also 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:17.920 think that's what makes it challenging for a preacher and also for all of us trying to 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:22.160 take seriously these words of Jesus and hear them with fresh ears. 00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:26.960 This passage has just become so familiar and formative for the Western world that we come 00:05:26.960 --> 00:05:32.840 to it already knowing how the story ends, unable to feel in our bones how shocking and radical 00:05:32.840 --> 00:05:38.920 and foolish it would have sounded to its original hearers, and we come to it just assuming that, 00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:39.920 yeah, we already got the point. 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:45.640 Like, okay, of course, the pastor's going to preach on the Good Samaritan today, and it's 00:05:45.640 --> 00:05:46.100 pretty straightforward. 00:05:46.260 --> 00:05:49.740 Jesus tells a story about a dude who shows up and shows a lot of love toward a stranger, 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:53.840 and then he goes, go and do likewise, got it, right, love my neighbor, already knew that, 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:55.319 thanks for the reminder, okay? 00:05:56.040 --> 00:05:58.740 It's just so familiar, it's not fresh to us. 00:05:59.379 --> 00:06:04.600 And honestly, it probably doesn't inspire us that much toward the high standard of love 00:06:04.600 --> 00:06:10.519 that God calls us to live by, not just as followers of Jesus, but as human beings made 00:06:10.519 --> 00:06:14.040 in his image and called to honor the image of God in one another. 00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:22.460 And even if this passage does hit us with conviction and maybe even guilt and shame, like, even 00:06:22.460 --> 00:06:27.480 if you do take seriously how radically loving this Samaritan was, and you take seriously Jesus' 00:06:27.640 --> 00:06:32.480 command to go and do likewise, because that's what Jesus says we must do to inherit eternal 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:32.939 life. 00:06:33.540 --> 00:06:38.840 Man, even if this passage does convict you, what are we supposed to do with that? 00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:41.439 Who can truly live up to that? 00:06:41.699 --> 00:06:47.599 Who can love so completely, so sacrificially, day in, day out, every day? 00:06:48.339 --> 00:06:51.859 Who can love with this kind of a love? 00:06:52.739 --> 00:06:54.919 Maybe for some of us, we're like, I mean, I'm going to try. 00:06:55.479 --> 00:07:00.139 I'm going to try to love more, but I also feel pretty defeated and crushed by this high 00:07:00.139 --> 00:07:04.679 standard, and I'm 100% sure I'm going to fail over and over and over again. 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:08.539 I'm going to go into my workplace this week with good intentions, but I'm going to lose it. 00:07:08.540 --> 00:07:10.920 I'm going to be short with that annoying colleague, right? 00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:11.920 I'm going to go into my home. 00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:13.480 I'm going to try to serve my spouse. 00:07:13.560 --> 00:07:18.420 I'm going to try to be patient with my children, but I just know I'm not going to be able to 00:07:18.420 --> 00:07:19.060 sustain it. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:22.900 And these thoughts just kind of color how we read this parable, right? 00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:24.100 Like, yeah, I want to do it. 00:07:24.340 --> 00:07:30.840 I want to live wholly and selflessly all day, every day, but man, it also seems kind of impossible. 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:32.920 Who could love like this? 00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:36.340 Seriously, how could I ever consistently love like this? 00:07:36.339 --> 00:07:40.219 Is Jesus really demanding this, or is he just, you know, really, really encouraging 00:07:40.219 --> 00:07:41.639 us to try our hardest? 00:07:43.060 --> 00:07:47.739 Well, in case you thought that the main point today was going to be, go love your neighbor, 00:07:48.299 --> 00:07:48.819 try harder. 00:07:48.899 --> 00:07:49.459 Come on, guys. 00:07:49.479 --> 00:07:50.079 You can do it. 00:07:50.199 --> 00:07:53.000 Love your neighbor more, or else no eternal life. 00:07:53.939 --> 00:07:58.779 In case you thought that that was it, the real point, I think, or the question for us 00:07:58.779 --> 00:08:06.239 this morning is what is it, what is it that will truly transform us into people of radical, 00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:10.019 self-giving, self-sacrificial love? 00:08:10.459 --> 00:08:13.179 The kind of people we all know that we were meant to be. 00:08:13.219 --> 00:08:14.379 The kind of people we all want to be. 00:08:14.459 --> 00:08:15.979 The kind of people we all want our children to be. 00:08:16.859 --> 00:08:19.059 I think we all know deep down eternal life. 00:08:19.579 --> 00:08:22.419 New creation life is a life lived with this kind of love. 00:08:22.459 --> 00:08:24.679 But the question is, how do we live like that? 00:08:24.680 --> 00:08:31.060 How do we live like new creation people, rather than being stuck as fallen creation people, 00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:35.779 unable to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and unable to love our 00:08:35.779 --> 00:08:37.320 neighbors as ourselves? 00:08:37.860 --> 00:08:41.759 Because again, we're all agreed, even if you're not a Christian, even if you don't believe 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:45.539 in God, whatever religion or lack thereof that you identify with, we're all agreed that 00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:50.259 the world would be a better place if there were more good Samaritans, if we all loved as 00:08:50.259 --> 00:08:51.960 we ought, with the fullness of our lives. 00:08:52.019 --> 00:08:53.100 But the question is, how? 00:08:53.100 --> 00:08:53.139 How? 00:08:53.960 --> 00:09:02.460 What's it going to take to produce good Samaritans out of selfish sinners like you and me and 00:09:02.460 --> 00:09:03.200 the rest of our neighbors? 00:09:04.300 --> 00:09:05.720 That's where we open up our text. 00:09:06.279 --> 00:09:07.700 Let's see what verse 25 has to say. 00:09:07.779 --> 00:09:11.139 On one occasion, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:14.100 In the Greek, it's the word entrap, to entrap Jesus. 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:17.160 Teacher, he asked, probably, you know, feigning respect and teachability. 00:09:17.540 --> 00:09:21.639 He says, teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:23.779 So here's a guy who thinks he knows better than Jesus. 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:27.019 He's an expert in the scriptures that Jesus teaches from. 00:09:27.399 --> 00:09:31.480 And so he subjects Rabbi Jesus to a theology exam. 00:09:31.740 --> 00:09:31.860 Okay? 00:09:32.319 --> 00:09:36.139 And the question on the exam is, what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:38.559 Or what must I do to be an heir of eternal life? 00:09:38.580 --> 00:09:42.659 This was a frequent question that the theologians, the Jewish theologians of that day loved to 00:09:42.659 --> 00:09:43.059 discuss. 00:09:43.059 --> 00:09:47.799 And probably also a very weighty question that occupied the minds of many Jewish people, 00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:49.619 this question about eternal life. 00:09:50.339 --> 00:09:54.179 And listen, what we need to understand about eternal life is that, contrary to what many 00:09:54.179 --> 00:09:59.379 of us might understand it to be, it's not some heavenly, disembodied, timeless eternity. 00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:01.699 That's Plato and not the Bible. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:02.139 Okay? 00:10:02.219 --> 00:10:05.819 When people ask Jesus, what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:10:05.859 --> 00:10:10.599 They're not simply asking, how can I escape to that heavenly destination outside of this world 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:13.820 when I die, or how can I live forever and avoid death or hell? 00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:19.100 No, they're asking about how they can enter into the new world of the new age that God 00:10:19.100 --> 00:10:22.360 was going to bring, the age of justice and peace and shalom. 00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:27.420 How can I enter the perfect and imperishable kingdom of God, the new creation where there 00:10:27.420 --> 00:10:29.200 are no tears and no fears? 00:10:29.779 --> 00:10:34.100 Eternal life here is way more than living forever, going to heaven, or avoiding hell. 00:10:34.100 --> 00:10:39.540 It's about belonging to God and his consummate new creation in the age to come. 00:10:39.539 --> 00:10:40.559 That's what they're asking about. 00:10:40.659 --> 00:10:45.559 So this was indeed a weighty and important question that Jesus was going to take seriously, 00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:48.360 even if his questioner had bad intentions. 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:52.519 And what Jesus basically says is, well, you're an expert in the law. 00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:53.659 You know the answer. 00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:57.319 We both submit to the same divinely inspired authoritative scriptures. 00:10:57.759 --> 00:10:59.259 I'm not here teaching anything different. 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:01.019 Verse 26, what is written in the law? 00:11:01.079 --> 00:11:01.500 He replied. 00:11:01.699 --> 00:11:02.579 How do you read it? 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:05.059 And this expert in the law gets the answer right. 00:11:05.559 --> 00:11:08.139 It's the same answer Jesus gives when other people ask him the question. 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:13.299 In verse 27, the law expert answered, love the Lord your God with all your heart and 00:11:13.299 --> 00:11:16.279 with all your soul and with all your strength, with all your mind, the greatest commandment, 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:16.559 right? 00:11:17.059 --> 00:11:20.480 And then the second one that is like it, love your neighbor as yourself. 00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:25.100 And Jesus applauds this man's theologically correct answer. 00:11:25.220 --> 00:11:26.759 Verse 28, you have answered correctly. 00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:28.039 Do this and you will live. 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:29.899 He basically says, yep, you just said it. 00:11:30.059 --> 00:11:30.639 Go do it. 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:31.539 Love. 00:11:32.019 --> 00:11:32.539 Love God. 00:11:32.740 --> 00:11:33.159 Love your neighbor. 00:11:33.299 --> 00:11:33.720 It's agape. 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:38.379 Now, at this point, the law expert is sure that he's at least got the first commandment 00:11:38.379 --> 00:11:38.779 down, right? 00:11:38.800 --> 00:11:41.320 He knows who he's supposed to love the most, Yahweh. 00:11:41.580 --> 00:11:42.879 No other gods before him. 00:11:43.680 --> 00:11:49.460 But as someone who pays close, close attention to the details of the law, he notices in the 00:11:49.460 --> 00:11:55.200 second greatest commandment, this is trickier than the first commandment, because who exactly 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:55.920 is my neighbor? 00:11:55.919 --> 00:12:00.899 That can be interpreted in a lot of ways, my next door neighbors, my regional neighbors, 00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:04.759 my national neighbors, my international neighbors, my extraterrestrial neighbors. 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:08.199 Like how far out does this neighbor love thing go? 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:15.159 He was trying to figure out or at least get Jesus' take on just how many people he was responsible 00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:17.839 for loving as he loved himself. 00:12:18.719 --> 00:12:19.279 And why? 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:23.639 Well, it says because he was seeking to justify himself, seeking to declare himself righteous 00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:29.220 and worthy in the eyes of God and others by identifying God's standard and then meeting 00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:29.759 it himself. 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:34.679 Verse 29 says, but he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, and who is my neighbor? 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:37.120 So he's trying to pinpoint the standard, right? 00:12:37.659 --> 00:12:40.639 He's trying to pinpoint the standard of this love your neighbor as your self-command. 00:12:40.699 --> 00:12:42.600 He's trying to discover what are its limits? 00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:48.120 Who am I actually and reasonably responsible for loving? 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:52.399 Because he knows that this commandment, just on the face of it, that's a tall order if 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:54.039 it's just that, right? 00:12:54.279 --> 00:12:56.600 Loving my neighbor as myself? 00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:59.980 That's near impossible to love anyone as myself. 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:04.259 So surely this can't just mean anyone and everyone, right? 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:10.500 Surely there are limits to who my neighbors are and to who I am responsible to love and 00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:13.139 to care for and to alleviate their needs. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:18.819 This law expert is looking for an interpretation of the law by which he can justify himself. 00:13:18.820 --> 00:13:24.520 And honestly, he's looking for and hoping for a limited interpretation of this law of love 00:13:24.520 --> 00:13:26.840 so that he can say that he meets the standard. 00:13:27.680 --> 00:13:34.260 Like many of us, he's hoping for a low standard so that he can actually meet it with his lifestyle. 00:13:34.420 --> 00:13:38.920 He's hoping that he doesn't have to love as much as this commandment could possibly be 00:13:38.920 --> 00:13:39.400 demanding. 00:13:40.540 --> 00:13:41.820 But Jesus, right? 00:13:41.820 --> 00:13:48.080 But Jesus is not a rabbi with low standards and neither is his God and Father in heaven whom he represents. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:53.240 And so seeing that this law expert is trying to justify himself, seeing him trying to lower 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:58.980 the standard of love and redefine who our neighbors are, and seeing this law expert's confidence 00:13:58.980 --> 00:14:07.000 in his own ability to meet the standard and earn for himself eternal life, Jesus has a story to tell. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:14.100 Not just to answer this man's question, but to reveal the heart of God and the hubris of this 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:15.779 expert in the law. 00:14:16.299 --> 00:14:16.960 Verse 30. 00:14:18.179 --> 00:14:19.500 In reply, Jesus said, 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:24.320 A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers. 00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:28.460 They stripped him of his clothes, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:29.360 So imagine the scene. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:32.820 The Jericho road is known to be steep and dangerous. 00:14:32.820 --> 00:14:37.760 It's a mountainous territory full of crags and caves, twists and turns. 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:42.680 And because it's a perfect hideout for bad actors to hide and strike and then escape with 00:14:42.680 --> 00:14:45.400 great ease, it's known as the way of blood. 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:50.879 It's like the darkest alley in the worst parts of the city, only the nearest streetlight is 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:51.680 miles away. 00:14:52.520 --> 00:14:56.240 And so, of course, a lonely traveler would be an easy target. 00:14:56.440 --> 00:15:00.560 And Jesus' listeners probably heard stories like this all the time of awful things happening 00:15:00.560 --> 00:15:02.640 on this Jericho road. 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:05.560 And so, of course, in this story, something awful does happen. 00:15:05.660 --> 00:15:12.220 A lonely traveler finds himself helpless, stripped, naked, shamefully, violently, beaten, 00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:14.879 bloody, forsaken, half dead, and hopeless. 00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:21.280 He will likely die here unless, one, someone happens to stumble upon him on this treacherous 00:15:21.280 --> 00:15:22.460 road that no one wants to go on. 00:15:22.540 --> 00:15:26.200 And two, that person also decides to show him compassion. 00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:28.300 So, Jesus continues. 00:15:28.300 --> 00:15:30.600 And there are indeed glimmers of hope, actually, in the story. 00:15:30.700 --> 00:15:31.580 Three glimmers of hope. 00:15:32.040 --> 00:15:35.879 And for this Jewish traveler, two of these glimmers of hope are the exact kinds of people 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:39.480 he could have hoped for to help him in his greatest time of need. 00:15:39.540 --> 00:15:40.680 A priest and a Levi. 00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:41.339 Verse 31. 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:43.439 A priest happened to be going down the same road. 00:15:43.979 --> 00:15:46.319 And when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:52.239 So, too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:56.759 These priests, and this priest and this Levite, they were exactly the kinds of people he would 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:57.840 have expected to help him. 00:15:58.340 --> 00:16:02.980 Professional, religious people of the day called to serve God and to serve God's people and 00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:05.379 to show and represent God's love and compassion. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:08.879 And in the Jewish society, priests were actually the public health officials. 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:13.399 If you had an illness, they were the ones you went to for treatment. 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:18.080 The Levites themselves also were responsible for distributing alms to the poor. 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:26.000 And yet, we find here that neither of these two individuals decide to help the helpless man on the road. 00:16:27.400 --> 00:16:34.080 And you know, if this fills you with indignation and disgust because of their lack of compassion 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:40.360 and maybe religious hypocrisy, then Jesus has actually caught you in his trap. 00:16:41.060 --> 00:16:42.780 And you are convicting yourself. 00:16:43.280 --> 00:16:47.560 Because the priest and the Levite, they had just as many rational reasons 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:54.039 to pass by this half-dead man as we do when we pass by all our neighbors. 00:16:54.979 --> 00:16:58.639 Like, how would you really have responded in this situation? 00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:01.259 If you were anxiously taking a shortcut through a dark alley, 00:17:01.339 --> 00:17:07.339 you came across a groaning, bleeding man indicating violent thugs probably around the next corner, 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:09.839 what would you counsel your wife to do? 00:17:09.919 --> 00:17:11.940 What would you counsel your children to do? 00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:15.460 Truly, the wisest thing is to hurry on to safety. 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:18.660 That's the reality for this priest and this Levite. 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:22.620 They've stumbled upon a man with massive needs, massive needs too great for them to handle, 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:26.120 the physical needs of his bloody wounds and his nakedness, 00:17:26.860 --> 00:17:29.539 practical needs for transportation and shelter, 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:31.720 social needs for a companion and caretaker, 00:17:31.840 --> 00:17:34.960 emotional needs from his shame and trauma, financial needs. 00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:35.700 He's penniless. 00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:38.680 He's going to have medical bills, spiritual needs even, 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:41.900 as someone who might soon depart from this life to the next. 00:17:42.840 --> 00:17:44.940 Maybe the priest and the Levites thought to themselves, 00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:46.100 man, I want to help. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:49.740 I have a good heart, but I don't even know where to start. 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:51.960 I don't think I have what it takes, 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:55.120 or it costs me too much, more than I could afford. 00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:58.779 I don't have the finances or the skills or the time or the margin. 00:17:58.779 --> 00:18:02.440 Imagine I've got my own story, my own agenda to tend to, 00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:05.920 and I'm not sure I have time to be a part of this man's story. 00:18:06.839 --> 00:18:09.980 Maybe the priest and the Levite had just gotten off their shifts, right, 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:12.279 at the temple from Jerusalem down to Jericho, 00:18:12.379 --> 00:18:13.839 looking forward to getting back to their families, 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:17.420 just trying to make it home to them without any trouble, 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:19.599 not looking to enter anyone else's mess. 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:23.480 And like, what if they did try to help and this man died? 00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:26.240 Then they would be ceremonially unclean, 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:29.299 and that would have implications for the time they spent with their family 00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:32.339 and also for their jobs and their duties in the temple. 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:35.059 Was it really worth the risk to help this man? 00:18:35.819 --> 00:18:38.160 Shouldn't they preserve themselves for their family's sake 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:39.339 and for the temple's sake? 00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:41.519 And really, what did they have to gain? 00:18:42.180 --> 00:18:44.140 No one else was around to see them be a hero, 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:48.039 and also no one was around to see them neglect this man either. 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:50.880 Might as well just pass by, right? 00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:52.660 Might as well just pass by. 00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:56.980 We must not downplay the exorbitant cost and risk 00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:59.420 of helping this half-dead man 00:18:59.420 --> 00:19:04.279 and how sensible it was for the priest and the Levite to pass him by. 00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:06.960 We do this all the time ourselves. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:09.259 And look, Jesus himself, 00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:11.700 Jesus doesn't even condemn these two men, 00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:12.960 the priest and the Levite. 00:19:13.140 --> 00:19:15.560 He doesn't make them out to be bad guys in the story. 00:19:15.840 --> 00:19:17.019 They're just normal. 00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:19.660 They're you and they're me. 00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:25.080 But the question is, is that all that God wants us to be? 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:28.840 The German theologian Dorothy Soule wrote, 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:31.620 in Jesus' story, there are thieves and victims, 00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:33.600 specters and helpers, 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:37.400 and Jesus intended this story for the people of the spectator 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:39.380 or passerby type. 00:19:40.360 --> 00:19:41.360 And isn't that us? 00:19:42.040 --> 00:19:43.220 The passerby types. 00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:46.120 This story is for us. 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:51.099 It's meant to challenge us to be more than passersby. 00:19:52.239 --> 00:19:54.699 Living like the priest and the Levite might be the normal, 00:19:55.139 --> 00:19:56.039 might be the reasonable, 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:58.739 might be the socially acceptable way to live, 00:19:58.839 --> 00:20:00.339 but Jesus always offers, 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:05.939 he offers us always a higher, better, more beautiful way to live. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:10.439 And this better way starts with how we see people. 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:11.979 How do we see people? 00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:13.899 Look again at verses 30 and 31. 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:15.920 It says the priest and the Levite saw the man, 00:20:16.120 --> 00:20:17.160 but still passed by. 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:19.460 And what Jesus is pointing out here is that, 00:20:19.580 --> 00:20:20.380 sure, they both see him, 00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.560 but do they really see him? 00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:24.680 They don't see him with the compassionate eyes of God, 00:20:25.280 --> 00:20:26.840 and they can't seem to see, 00:20:27.040 --> 00:20:28.500 or maybe they just refuse to see, 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:30.500 the image of God in this man. 00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:32.060 They see him, 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:33.320 and yet they see him as someone 00:20:33.320 --> 00:20:36.120 who they can and maybe even should pass by. 00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:37.680 They see him as not worth their time, 00:20:38.040 --> 00:20:39.300 attention, and assistance. 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:41.440 And this is a word for us. 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.420 It's a point of application. 00:20:42.820 --> 00:20:44.980 Do we see our neighbors? 00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:46.580 Do we see our neighbors? 00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:47.559 Do we see the people around us, 00:20:47.600 --> 00:20:48.740 the people on our paths, 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:50.820 and do we see them with the eyes of God? 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:54.140 Do we see the image of God all around us? 00:20:55.400 --> 00:20:56.259 You know, my dad, 00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:57.680 he's one of the most consistent 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:59.480 and principled men that I know. 00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:00.480 And you know, 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:03.660 he's particularly committed to friendliness, 00:21:04.360 --> 00:21:06.279 deference, and selfless service, all right? 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:07.619 So if you go for a walk with him, 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:08.579 like at Lake Chabot, 00:21:09.220 --> 00:21:11.839 you might try to have a conversation with him, 00:21:11.899 --> 00:21:13.240 but he's always interrupting the conversation, 00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:14.019 looking up at people, 00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:15.259 making eye contact with them, 00:21:15.299 --> 00:21:15.599 and saying, 00:21:15.899 --> 00:21:17.899 hey, good morning, good morning, right? 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:19.879 It's super annoying, actually. 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:22.460 And what's even more annoying is 00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:23.759 I went on a trip with him one time. 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:25.059 We were in Manhattan, all right? 00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:27.059 I had places to go. 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:28.539 I had things I wanted to see. 00:21:28.639 --> 00:21:30.180 I'm zigging and zagging my way 00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:31.119 through the crowd, right? 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.500 Just like everyone else is. 00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:33.720 These people aren't people to me. 00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:35.639 They're obstacles to be navigated, all right? 00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:38.200 But like every few steps, 00:21:38.840 --> 00:21:39.700 oh, excuse me. 00:21:40.020 --> 00:21:40.880 Oh, pardon me. 00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:42.180 Oh, you first. 00:21:42.860 --> 00:21:44.680 Holding the door open for like 30 people 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:45.640 who don't even recognize 00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:47.840 the man is holding the door for them, right? 00:21:48.540 --> 00:21:49.220 That's my dad. 00:21:49.860 --> 00:21:52.320 Super annoying to be his traveling partner. 00:21:53.300 --> 00:21:54.360 But at the same time, 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:57.180 if I reinterpret my dad's actions 00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:58.960 in the best possible light, 00:21:59.060 --> 00:22:00.420 man, what he was really doing 00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:02.180 was trying to be a consistent human being, 00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:04.420 humanizing other human beings, 00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:07.180 acknowledging the dignity and the worth 00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:08.200 and the image of God 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.960 in every stranger he encountered, 00:22:10.120 --> 00:22:11.980 even in New York City, right? 00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:13.460 This place that, yeah, 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:16.960 we might think of as crowded and congested, 00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:18.400 but at the same time, 00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.400 a place that's covered 00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:21.620 with so much image of God 00:22:21.620 --> 00:22:22.860 per square foot, right? 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:25.480 What if we saw the world like that, 00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:28.259 as covered with the image of God, 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:30.340 people and opportunities 00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:32.419 to share the love of God with? 00:22:33.299 --> 00:22:33.879 So again, 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:36.139 do we have eyes to see God's image 00:22:36.139 --> 00:22:37.000 in others? 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.839 Or do we permit ourselves 00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:40.179 to pass by 00:22:40.179 --> 00:22:42.019 by seeing people as less than 00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:43.119 what they're worth 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:44.159 in the eyes of God? 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:45.099 Think of all the people 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:46.119 you pass every day 00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:46.859 on BART, 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:47.639 on your commutes, 00:22:47.699 --> 00:22:48.799 all the people we pass by 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.659 without recognizing 00:22:49.659 --> 00:22:51.000 the image of God in them. 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.439 And then maybe you think 00:22:52.439 --> 00:22:53.139 I'm talking about 00:22:53.139 --> 00:22:53.980 that homeless person 00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:55.220 you drive past every day. 00:22:55.659 --> 00:22:55.959 And yes, 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:56.959 I am talking about them, 00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:57.559 but man, 00:22:57.600 --> 00:22:59.539 I'm thinking some of us 00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:01.620 are passing our spouses by 00:23:01.620 --> 00:23:03.700 and our children 00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:05.559 and our coworkers 00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:08.100 and our fellow church members 00:23:08.100 --> 00:23:09.559 and our next door neighbors. 00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:11.100 Maybe we don't even know their names. 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:13.200 When Jesus said 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.100 to love our neighbors, 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:15.160 he meant more than just 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:16.180 our immediate neighbors, 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:17.740 but certainly not less. 00:23:19.140 --> 00:23:20.220 G.K. Chesterton said, 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:21.559 we make our friends, 00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:22.840 we make our enemies, 00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:24.519 but God makes 00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:25.740 our next door neighbor. 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:28.220 God is constantly 00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:29.799 putting neighbors 00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:30.819 into our path. 00:23:31.120 --> 00:23:31.920 The question is, 00:23:32.620 --> 00:23:33.319 will we see them? 00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:34.980 Do we see them? 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:37.319 Loving starts with seeing them 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:38.019 and seeing them 00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:38.839 with compassion. 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:40.000 And that was the difference 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:41.079 between the priest 00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:41.859 and the Levite 00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:42.599 and the Samaritan. 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:44.000 They all saw 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:45.099 the half-dead man, 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:46.480 but what does verse 33 say? 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:47.640 But a Samaritan, 00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:48.339 as he traveled, 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.599 came where the man was, 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:51.059 and when he saw him, 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:52.400 he took pity. 00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:53.680 In the Greek, 00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.559 you could translate this. 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.259 He was filled 00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:56.919 with compassion for him. 00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:57.859 In the Greek, 00:23:58.139 --> 00:23:59.200 splagitsomai, 00:23:59.599 --> 00:23:59.919 all right? 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:01.539 He saw this man 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:03.599 and his insides churned 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:05.139 and his heart broke 00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:06.419 and his guts ached. 00:24:06.460 --> 00:24:07.099 It's the same word 00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:08.480 that Jesus felt 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.659 when he saw the widow 00:24:09.659 --> 00:24:10.519 who lost her son. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:11.839 It's the same word 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:13.000 that the father felt 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.940 for his prodigal. 00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:15.419 And listen, 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.980 this Samaritan's compassion 00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:18.220 likely shocked 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:19.980 Jesus' original hearers 00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:20.900 because the Jewish 00:24:20.900 --> 00:24:22.319 and the Samaritan people, 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.039 they hated 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:24.480 and terrorized each other. 00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:25.700 To the Jewish folks, 00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:26.799 Samaritans were heretics 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:27.700 and half-breeds 00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.440 who intermingled 00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:29.299 with the pagans. 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:30.339 And to the Samaritans, 00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:31.059 the Jewish people 00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:32.220 were self-righteous 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:33.440 Jewish supremacists 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.180 who looked down 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:35.519 upon the Samaritans. 00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:36.680 And if the tables 00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:37.259 were turned, 00:24:37.620 --> 00:24:38.400 a Jewish person 00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:39.039 coming across 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:40.660 a half-dead Samaritan 00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:41.740 might take the opportunity 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.779 to make him 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:44.620 a fully dead Samaritan. 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.500 And so one would have 00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:47.739 expected the same 00:24:47.739 --> 00:24:48.539 from this Samaritan 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:50.299 toward this half-dead man 00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:51.299 lying in the road. 00:24:52.179 --> 00:24:54.239 But the Samaritan here, 00:24:54.719 --> 00:24:55.919 facing the same risks, 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:57.439 facing the same costs 00:24:57.439 --> 00:24:58.259 as the priest 00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:59.599 and the Levite, 00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:01.159 and yet with even more 00:25:01.159 --> 00:25:02.959 racial and cultural reasons 00:25:02.959 --> 00:25:04.159 to not care, 00:25:05.439 --> 00:25:06.639 the Samaritan shows 00:25:06.639 --> 00:25:08.739 radical, unexpected, 00:25:09.379 --> 00:25:10.939 and undeserved compassion 00:25:10.939 --> 00:25:11.979 instead. 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:14.219 Look at verses 34 and 35. 00:25:14.219 --> 00:25:14.579 It says, 00:25:14.619 --> 00:25:15.379 he went to him. 00:25:15.479 --> 00:25:16.299 He offered friendship 00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:17.319 and advocacy 00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:18.259 to this half-dead 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:18.959 Jewish stranger. 00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:20.399 He risked his own safety, 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:21.619 gave physical protection, 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.859 gave up his schedule, 00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:23.879 canceled his plans. 00:25:23.959 --> 00:25:24.979 He bandaged his wounds, 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.299 pouring on oil and wine, 00:25:26.379 --> 00:25:27.459 becoming dirty and bloody 00:25:27.459 --> 00:25:29.259 by personally administering 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:30.039 medical treatment 00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:30.879 to this person 00:25:30.879 --> 00:25:31.599 who surely would have 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:32.759 considered him as unclean 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.739 just because of his race. 00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:35.159 Then he put the man 00:25:35.159 --> 00:25:36.119 on his own donkey, 00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:37.199 which meant that he probably 00:25:37.199 --> 00:25:37.719 had to walk 00:25:37.719 --> 00:25:38.439 the rest of the way. 00:25:39.399 --> 00:25:40.419 He made his resources 00:25:40.419 --> 00:25:41.199 available. 00:25:41.679 --> 00:25:42.599 He provided transportation 00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:43.500 for this guy 00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.579 and found shelter. 00:25:45.179 --> 00:25:45.839 He brought him 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:46.639 to an inn 00:25:46.639 --> 00:25:47.919 and he took care of him there, 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:48.699 spent a whole night 00:25:48.699 --> 00:25:49.740 nursing this guy 00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:50.960 and then financially, 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:52.879 he took out two denarii 00:25:52.879 --> 00:25:53.699 and gave them 00:25:53.699 --> 00:25:54.399 to the innkeeper. 00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.539 He offered two days 00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:56.639 worth of wages 00:25:56.639 --> 00:25:58.220 for a few weeks' rent, 00:25:58.339 --> 00:25:58.559 right? 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:00.859 He offered open-ended 00:26:00.859 --> 00:26:01.759 generosity 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:02.919 in a situation 00:26:02.919 --> 00:26:04.119 in which the chance 00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:04.539 of extortion 00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:05.379 was high, right, 00:26:05.419 --> 00:26:06.039 from the innkeeper, 00:26:06.179 --> 00:26:06.899 but he still said, 00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:07.860 I will pay you 00:26:07.860 --> 00:26:08.960 for any expense 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.600 he incurs. 00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:10.780 And on top of all this, 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:12.240 he makes a follow-up plan. 00:26:12.320 --> 00:26:13.420 He promises to return 00:26:13.420 --> 00:26:14.720 and reimburse the extra expenses 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:16.120 to come back and visit 00:26:16.120 --> 00:26:17.100 and he takes financial 00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:17.800 responsibility 00:26:17.800 --> 00:26:18.620 for this victim 00:26:18.620 --> 00:26:20.040 without any arrangements 00:26:20.040 --> 00:26:21.080 for repayment. 00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:22.900 Now, 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:25.580 have any of us 00:26:25.580 --> 00:26:27.580 loved anyone, 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:30.540 even our own beloved family 00:26:30.540 --> 00:26:31.300 and friends, 00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:32.360 not even mentioning 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:32.939 our enemies? 00:26:33.399 --> 00:26:34.179 Have any of us 00:26:34.179 --> 00:26:34.899 loved anyone 00:26:34.899 --> 00:26:36.240 in the world 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.759 like this? 00:26:39.219 --> 00:26:40.240 Jesus here 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:40.879 is saying that 00:26:40.879 --> 00:26:43.199 this extravagant, 00:26:43.659 --> 00:26:44.099 radical, 00:26:44.419 --> 00:26:45.500 sacrificial love 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.259 is what God 00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:48.039 not just suggests 00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:50.079 but demands of us 00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:51.159 when he tells us 00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:52.139 to love our neighbors 00:26:52.139 --> 00:26:53.679 as ourselves. 00:26:54.399 --> 00:26:55.419 It's not a suggestion, 00:26:55.699 --> 00:26:56.679 it's the law 00:26:56.679 --> 00:26:57.419 of the Lord. 00:26:58.939 --> 00:26:59.199 You know, 00:26:59.240 --> 00:26:59.719 we often think 00:26:59.719 --> 00:27:00.939 of the Good Samaritan 00:27:00.939 --> 00:27:01.979 parable 00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:02.480 as a lesson 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:03.099 on charity 00:27:03.099 --> 00:27:04.259 and mercy 00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:06.079 but it's actually 00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:06.920 just as much 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:07.640 if not more 00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:08.920 a lesson on justice. 00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:10.940 Biblical justice. 00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:12.000 See, 00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:12.680 in the Bible, 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:13.480 the word for justice 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.319 doesn't simply mean 00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:15.400 punishing those 00:27:15.400 --> 00:27:15.940 who do wrong, 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:17.019 it means treating people 00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:17.740 equitably. 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:18.900 It means honoring 00:27:18.900 --> 00:27:19.880 the image of God 00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:20.640 in other people 00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:21.240 and giving people 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:21.819 what they are due. 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:23.160 Over and over again 00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:24.200 in Moses' law, 00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:25.220 it spoke of 00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:26.259 caring for widows 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:26.819 and orphans 00:27:26.819 --> 00:27:27.319 and immigrants 00:27:27.319 --> 00:27:27.860 and the poor 00:27:27.860 --> 00:27:29.220 not as a ministry 00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:29.779 of mercy 00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:31.319 but as a society's 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:32.179 responsibility 00:27:32.179 --> 00:27:33.399 for upholding 00:27:33.399 --> 00:27:34.259 justice. 00:27:35.399 --> 00:27:35.859 Compassion 00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:36.299 and loving 00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:36.899 our neighbors 00:27:36.899 --> 00:27:37.819 as ourselves 00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.579 isn't just a matter 00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:38.980 of charity 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:39.559 and generosity, 00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.379 it's a matter 00:27:40.379 --> 00:27:41.559 of justice. 00:27:43.419 --> 00:27:44.359 And so let's be real, 00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:46.240 we all fall short, 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:46.919 don't we? 00:27:47.659 --> 00:27:48.759 This is why we confess 00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.200 our failure 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:49.899 to love our neighbors 00:27:49.899 --> 00:27:50.919 here every single week 00:27:50.919 --> 00:27:51.899 in that liturgical moment, 00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:53.419 the confession of sin, 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.480 because none of us, 00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.419 none of us 00:27:55.419 --> 00:27:55.919 has lived up 00:27:55.919 --> 00:27:56.740 to this demand. 00:27:56.939 --> 00:27:57.939 We are neither merciful 00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:58.860 nor just 00:27:58.860 --> 00:27:59.860 in the eyes of God. 00:28:00.360 --> 00:28:01.039 And if we 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:02.160 take Jesus' words 00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:03.039 to this law expert 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:03.480 seriously, 00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:04.240 we know that 00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:05.480 he couldn't justify himself 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:06.519 and neither can we. 00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:07.539 We are guilty, 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.460 guilty, guilty 00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.900 before this law of love 00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:10.860 that God demands. 00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:11.880 Even with respect 00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:12.279 to the people 00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:12.720 in our lives 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.539 that should be easiest 00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:14.220 to love, 00:28:14.340 --> 00:28:15.420 we have all severely 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:16.559 missed the mark. 00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:18.059 And none of us 00:28:18.059 --> 00:28:19.160 has done anywhere close 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.860 to what it takes 00:28:19.860 --> 00:28:21.340 to inherit eternal life 00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:22.600 in God's new creation. 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:22.980 Instead, 00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:23.700 we've lived 00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:24.700 according to the ethic 00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:25.320 of a broken 00:28:25.320 --> 00:28:26.380 and fallen creation 00:28:26.380 --> 00:28:27.040 instead. 00:28:28.120 --> 00:28:28.880 So where does that 00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:29.360 leave us? 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.520 Well, it leaves us 00:28:31.520 --> 00:28:32.920 at the mercy of God. 00:28:33.800 --> 00:28:34.380 It leaves us 00:28:34.380 --> 00:28:35.020 at the mercy of God. 00:28:35.080 --> 00:28:35.280 And see, 00:28:35.340 --> 00:28:36.300 that's what distinguishes 00:28:36.300 --> 00:28:36.280 ! 00:28:36.280 --> 00:28:37.140 Christianity 00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:39.260 from every other religion. 00:28:40.140 --> 00:28:41.300 Christianity isn't unique 00:28:41.300 --> 00:28:42.200 in telling us to love, 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:43.260 to care for the need, 00:28:43.360 --> 00:28:44.300 to be good Samaritans, 00:28:44.340 --> 00:28:44.800 to be kind, 00:28:45.060 --> 00:28:45.300 loving, 00:28:45.580 --> 00:28:45.900 compassionate, 00:28:46.020 --> 00:28:46.460 and hospitable 00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:47.120 to the poor. 00:28:47.320 --> 00:28:48.320 Virtually every religion 00:28:48.320 --> 00:28:49.280 teaches this. 00:28:49.800 --> 00:28:50.580 And it either says, 00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:51.420 oh, just try 00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:52.140 and do your best, 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:52.400 like, 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.560 it's not that big a deal, 00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:54.460 the standard's not that high, 00:28:54.520 --> 00:28:54.900 or it says, 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:56.060 do this or else, right? 00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:57.740 And absolutely crushes us 00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.859 under the weight 00:28:58.859 --> 00:28:59.980 of its guilt 00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:00.759 and shame 00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.460 for our failure 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.460 to love like this. 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:04.259 But what I want to suggest 00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:05.559 is that only Christianity 00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:07.240 offers the motor 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:08.440 that can actually 00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:09.779 sustain and inspire 00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:10.859 the kind of heartfelt, 00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:12.379 radical compassion 00:29:12.379 --> 00:29:13.720 that the law demands. 00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:14.460 And that motor 00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:16.059 isn't guilt and threats, 00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:17.019 we'll never be guilted 00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:17.539 or threatened 00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.659 into loving our neighbors. 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:20.279 It's not hyper-vigilance, 00:29:20.619 --> 00:29:20.879 discipline, 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.519 and hard work. 00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:22.480 We are far too weak 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.679 and wicked to pull that off. 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.259 No, the motor 00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:25.620 that Christianity provides 00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:26.680 for us to love 00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:27.820 as God demands 00:29:27.820 --> 00:29:29.160 is the gospel. 00:29:30.060 --> 00:29:30.820 It's the gospel. 00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:33.160 I want you to notice here 00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:34.640 how Jesus ends his discussion 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:35.539 with the law expert 00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:36.500 in verse 36. 00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:38.340 Which of these three 00:29:38.340 --> 00:29:38.900 do you think 00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:39.700 was a neighbor 00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:40.720 to the man 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.580 who fell into the hands 00:29:41.580 --> 00:29:42.140 of robbers? 00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.700 The expert in the law 00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.240 replied, 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:45.720 the one who had mercy 00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:46.120 on him. 00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.320 Jesus told him, 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:48.740 go and do likewise. 00:29:49.640 --> 00:29:50.240 Now remember, 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:51.200 carefully, 00:29:51.299 --> 00:29:51.740 think carefully, 00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.140 and I remember 00:29:52.140 --> 00:29:52.980 the original question 00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.620 from the expert 00:29:53.620 --> 00:29:54.500 was, 00:29:54.819 --> 00:29:55.539 who is my neighbor? 00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:57.680 Who do I have to love 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.859 and who do I have 00:29:58.859 --> 00:30:00.299 to be responsible for? 00:30:01.099 --> 00:30:01.440 But look, 00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:02.400 Jesus doesn't ask 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:02.980 the same thing. 00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:03.559 He doesn't ask, 00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:05.039 who is the Samaritan's neighbor? 00:30:05.120 --> 00:30:06.059 Who did the Samaritan 00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:06.779 have to care for? 00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:08.400 No, he flips the roles 00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:09.579 and asks, 00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:10.539 who was a neighbor 00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:12.180 to the half-dead man? 00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:14.200 The law expert 00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:14.759 was asking, 00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:16.079 who do I have to help 00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:16.720 in order to have 00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.220 eternal life? 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:18.259 But Jesus asked, 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:19.640 who would you want help 00:30:19.640 --> 00:30:20.700 from in your time 00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:22.540 of life-threatening need? 00:30:22.600 --> 00:30:23.240 He puts him 00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:23.840 in the place 00:30:23.840 --> 00:30:25.100 of the man on the road. 00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:25.340 You see, 00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:25.940 most of us, 00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:26.380 if we were trying 00:30:26.380 --> 00:30:27.060 to make a parable, 00:30:27.320 --> 00:30:27.920 trying to teach people 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:29.580 to love their enemy neighbors, 00:30:29.840 --> 00:30:30.620 their Samaritan neighbors, 00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:31.200 we'd probably say, 00:30:31.280 --> 00:30:32.000 once upon a time, 00:30:32.380 --> 00:30:33.100 a Jewish man 00:30:33.100 --> 00:30:34.040 found a Samaritan 00:30:34.040 --> 00:30:34.900 lying half-dead 00:30:34.900 --> 00:30:35.300 on the road 00:30:35.300 --> 00:30:36.100 and he cared for him. 00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:36.740 Isn't that nice, 00:30:36.820 --> 00:30:37.520 Mr. Law expert? 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:38.440 Go and do likewise. 00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:39.759 The needy Samaritan 00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.460 is your neighbor. 00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:42.060 But honestly, 00:30:42.820 --> 00:30:43.400 that'd just be 00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:44.460 a moralistic story 00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:46.420 that wouldn't have done 00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:47.019 a thing 00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:49.180 to this law expert's 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:50.019 self-righteous heart. 00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:52.100 Jesus knows this. 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:53.259 He knows that 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:54.740 in the law expert's mind, 00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:56.480 he is the hero 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:57.420 in his own story. 00:30:57.860 --> 00:30:58.920 And he's trying to figure out 00:30:58.920 --> 00:30:59.720 how much of a hero 00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:00.460 he needs to be, 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.799 what heroic deed 00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:02.579 he needs to do 00:31:02.579 --> 00:31:03.640 to check the boxes 00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:04.779 for eternal life 00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:05.840 and be his own hero 00:31:05.840 --> 00:31:07.360 to justify himself. 00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:09.120 But by making 00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:10.440 the Samaritan the hero, 00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:11.799 when Jesus makes 00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:12.880 the Samaritan the hero, 00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:14.100 by making the Jewish man 00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:15.279 the one close to death 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:16.179 and in need 00:31:16.179 --> 00:31:16.980 of a neighbor, 00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:19.139 Jesus is pointing us 00:31:19.139 --> 00:31:20.299 to the only thing 00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:21.459 that will actually 00:31:21.459 --> 00:31:23.000 transform selfish sinners 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:23.819 like us 00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:25.459 into self-giving people 00:31:25.459 --> 00:31:26.699 of love like him. 00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:28.639 By making the Samaritan 00:31:28.639 --> 00:31:29.139 the hero, 00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:31.000 Jesus' primary message 00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:31.399 isn't, 00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:32.259 hey guys, 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:33.139 be nice, 00:31:33.439 --> 00:31:34.299 be a good Samaritan, 00:31:34.419 --> 00:31:34.599 okay? 00:31:34.959 --> 00:31:35.240 No. 00:31:35.959 --> 00:31:37.319 By making the Samaritan 00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:37.779 the hero 00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:38.779 and the Jewish person 00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:39.679 the one in need, 00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:41.139 Jesus' message 00:31:41.139 --> 00:31:41.939 to the law expert 00:31:41.939 --> 00:31:42.819 and to us 00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:44.319 is that we are 00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:44.839 the ones 00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:45.500 in need 00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:46.879 of a good Samaritan. 00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:49.119 We have to understand 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:49.659 that first 00:31:49.659 --> 00:31:50.399 if we are ever 00:31:50.399 --> 00:31:50.899 going to be 00:31:50.899 --> 00:31:51.720 good Samaritans 00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.039 ourselves. 00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:53.399 We are the ones 00:31:53.399 --> 00:31:54.919 lying half dead, 00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:55.579 naked, 00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:56.240 helpless, 00:31:56.639 --> 00:31:57.119 penniless, 00:31:57.399 --> 00:31:58.679 completely at the mercy 00:31:58.679 --> 00:31:59.139 of someone 00:31:59.139 --> 00:31:59.859 whose compassion 00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:00.619 we don't deserve 00:32:00.619 --> 00:32:01.019 at all 00:32:01.019 --> 00:32:02.119 and who actually 00:32:02.119 --> 00:32:03.019 has every reason 00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:04.220 to forsake us 00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:05.460 and crush us 00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:06.679 because we all 00:32:06.679 --> 00:32:07.139 like sheep 00:32:07.139 --> 00:32:08.240 have gone astray 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:09.220 down the wrong 00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:09.919 and treacherous road 00:32:09.919 --> 00:32:10.399 of violence 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:10.940 and mayhem 00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:12.259 loving neither God 00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:13.240 nor our neighbors 00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:14.280 but only ourselves 00:32:14.280 --> 00:32:15.280 and things that are 00:32:15.280 --> 00:32:16.840 unworthy of our love. 00:32:17.580 --> 00:32:18.960 But the gospel says 00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:21.000 that in Jesus Christ 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:23.380 God still sent us 00:32:23.380 --> 00:32:24.140 the neighbor 00:32:24.140 --> 00:32:25.040 we needed, 00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:26.460 the ultimate 00:32:26.460 --> 00:32:27.840 good Samaritan. 00:32:29.320 --> 00:32:30.519 God became man. 00:32:31.100 --> 00:32:32.140 He became the neighbor 00:32:32.140 --> 00:32:32.700 who came near 00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:33.620 to our bloody mess 00:32:33.620 --> 00:32:35.340 to pour out his life 00:32:35.340 --> 00:32:36.800 and all his resources 00:32:36.800 --> 00:32:37.720 unto death 00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.440 on a cross 00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:40.019 to pay for our healing 00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:40.799 and our health 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:42.360 to save and resurrect 00:32:42.360 --> 00:32:43.720 his undeserving people 00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:44.600 even when we 00:32:44.600 --> 00:32:45.259 were hostile 00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:46.019 to him. 00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:48.019 And this 00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:49.299 is the gospel. 00:32:50.299 --> 00:32:51.140 This is the gospel. 00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:51.900 This is the motor 00:32:51.900 --> 00:32:53.279 we need to love 00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:54.420 as God 00:32:54.420 --> 00:32:55.660 requires of us. 00:32:56.500 --> 00:32:57.559 We cannot earn 00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:58.759 eternal life 00:32:58.759 --> 00:33:00.660 by loving super hard. 00:33:01.600 --> 00:33:02.140 We cannot. 00:33:02.819 --> 00:33:03.620 It's only when 00:33:03.620 --> 00:33:04.140 we acknowledge 00:33:04.140 --> 00:33:04.680 that Christ 00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:05.339 is the ultimate 00:33:05.339 --> 00:33:06.460 good Samaritan, 00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:07.360 the neighbor 00:33:07.360 --> 00:33:08.259 we always needed. 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:09.500 It's then 00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:10.120 and only then 00:33:10.120 --> 00:33:10.680 that we will ever 00:33:10.680 --> 00:33:11.740 begin to live 00:33:11.740 --> 00:33:12.720 this eternal life 00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:13.779 of self-giving love 00:33:13.779 --> 00:33:15.079 as branches 00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:16.519 growing from the vine 00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:17.559 that he is. 00:33:18.579 --> 00:33:19.160 It's only when 00:33:19.160 --> 00:33:19.600 we acknowledge 00:33:19.600 --> 00:33:20.720 that we have 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:21.960 the ultimate Samaritan 00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:23.019 who loved us 00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:24.440 at his greatest expense 00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:25.880 that we will be able 00:33:25.880 --> 00:33:26.819 to obey 00:33:26.819 --> 00:33:28.279 either of the two 00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:29.240 greatest commandments 00:33:29.240 --> 00:33:30.259 with the help 00:33:30.259 --> 00:33:30.759 of the Holy Spirit. 00:33:30.840 --> 00:33:31.620 We only love God 00:33:31.620 --> 00:33:32.819 because he first loved us. 00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:33.920 We only love our neighbors 00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:35.360 because he first loved us 00:33:35.359 --> 00:33:36.959 as our good Samaritan neighbor 00:33:36.959 --> 00:33:38.719 and he's given us 00:33:38.719 --> 00:33:39.299 his spirit 00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:41.139 to follow in his footsteps. 00:33:41.339 --> 00:33:42.159 Our focus shouldn't be 00:33:42.159 --> 00:33:42.819 who is my neighbor 00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:43.539 that I have to love 00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:44.939 but how can I be a neighbor 00:33:44.939 --> 00:33:46.099 to whomever 00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:47.199 is in my path? 00:33:47.419 --> 00:33:48.299 How can I be like Jesus? 00:33:49.159 --> 00:33:50.359 If you've experienced 00:33:50.359 --> 00:33:51.859 the transformational 00:33:51.859 --> 00:33:53.059 neighbor love 00:33:53.059 --> 00:33:53.539 of Christ 00:33:53.539 --> 00:33:54.119 toward you 00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:55.799 that is the next question 00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:56.219 for you. 00:33:57.039 --> 00:33:57.899 What holy habits 00:33:57.899 --> 00:33:58.519 of generosity 00:33:58.519 --> 00:33:59.479 and service 00:33:59.479 --> 00:34:00.459 will you take up 00:34:00.459 --> 00:34:01.000 in response 00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:01.979 to the good Samaritan 00:34:01.980 --> 00:34:04.339 who generously served you? 00:34:05.240 --> 00:34:05.920 What new 00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:07.460 and uncomfortable paths 00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:09.420 might you intentionally walk 00:34:09.420 --> 00:34:11.579 and come into closer proximity with 00:34:11.579 --> 00:34:14.260 just as Jesus came near to you? 00:34:16.059 --> 00:34:16.840 Would you consider 00:34:16.840 --> 00:34:18.159 fostering a child? 00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:20.139 Supporting a foster family? 00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:20.920 I'd love to talk to you 00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:21.420 about that. 00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:22.740 There's a wonderful organization 00:34:22.740 --> 00:34:23.539 Foster the City 00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:25.719 in this area. 00:34:26.360 --> 00:34:26.940 Did you know that 00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:28.119 even if just half 00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:29.240 of the 700 churches 00:34:29.239 --> 00:34:30.500 in Alameda County 00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:32.399 had one new foster family 00:34:32.399 --> 00:34:33.559 all the rest 00:34:33.559 --> 00:34:34.339 of the foster children 00:34:34.339 --> 00:34:35.199 in Alameda County 00:34:35.199 --> 00:34:36.379 would be taken in? 00:34:37.859 --> 00:34:38.559 There's also 00:34:38.559 --> 00:34:39.479 our Care Portal team 00:34:39.479 --> 00:34:40.279 that collaborates 00:34:40.279 --> 00:34:41.739 with local social workers 00:34:41.739 --> 00:34:42.799 to help families in need 00:34:42.799 --> 00:34:43.619 or families 00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:44.339 that are at risk 00:34:44.339 --> 00:34:44.979 of their kids 00:34:44.979 --> 00:34:45.639 being sent 00:34:45.639 --> 00:34:46.679 into the foster system. 00:34:47.319 --> 00:34:48.519 Join our Care Portal team. 00:34:49.399 --> 00:34:50.159 Or would you 00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:51.439 consider tutoring a child? 00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:52.139 The pandemic 00:34:52.139 --> 00:34:54.399 massively wrecked 00:34:54.399 --> 00:34:55.399 the reading aptitude 00:34:55.399 --> 00:34:56.179 of the children 00:34:56.179 --> 00:34:56.819 of Oakland. 00:34:56.820 --> 00:34:58.580 Harbor House 00:34:58.580 --> 00:34:59.500 and Children Rising 00:34:59.500 --> 00:35:00.700 are wonderful places 00:35:00.700 --> 00:35:01.720 that you might volunteer 00:35:01.720 --> 00:35:03.240 two hours every week 00:35:03.240 --> 00:35:04.559 to help a child 00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:05.180 learn to read 00:35:05.180 --> 00:35:06.300 and build those skills. 00:35:07.580 --> 00:35:08.360 Maybe your next step 00:35:08.360 --> 00:35:09.220 is simply supporting 00:35:09.220 --> 00:35:09.760 your first, 00:35:10.080 --> 00:35:10.420 your second, 00:35:10.559 --> 00:35:10.860 your third, 00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:11.260 your fourth, 00:35:11.320 --> 00:35:12.019 maybe your fifth 00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:13.740 Compassion International Child. 00:35:14.340 --> 00:35:15.539 We're a compassion church. 00:35:16.740 --> 00:35:17.780 Or maybe it's volunteering 00:35:17.780 --> 00:35:18.980 on March 15th 00:35:18.980 --> 00:35:19.820 at Project Peace 00:35:19.820 --> 00:35:21.640 East Bay Day of Service 00:35:21.640 --> 00:35:23.320 or joining Abil 00:35:23.320 --> 00:35:24.300 and Jesus, 00:35:24.539 --> 00:35:24.920 our elders, 00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:25.360 and feeding 00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:26.019 and befriending 00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:26.880 our homeless neighbors 00:35:26.880 --> 00:35:27.519 in their loaves 00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:28.920 and fishes ministry. 00:35:29.120 --> 00:35:29.680 The next one's 00:35:29.680 --> 00:35:30.400 on March 8th. 00:35:30.420 --> 00:35:31.320 This is coming Saturday. 00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:32.440 You'll learn more 00:35:32.440 --> 00:35:33.360 about all of this 00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:34.180 on our website 00:35:34.180 --> 00:35:35.180 under Church Life 00:35:35.180 --> 00:35:36.340 Serve With Us. 00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:38.099 But what's our next step? 00:35:38.860 --> 00:35:40.079 And this is a fitting season. 00:35:40.120 --> 00:35:41.539 What a fitting season, right? 00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:42.539 Ash Wednesday 00:35:42.539 --> 00:35:43.220 is this Wednesday. 00:35:43.320 --> 00:35:43.840 We hope that you'll 00:35:43.840 --> 00:35:44.559 show up to that. 00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:46.000 The beginning of Lent 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:46.900 is upon us. 00:35:47.480 --> 00:35:47.780 And listen, 00:35:47.880 --> 00:35:48.519 it's not merely 00:35:48.519 --> 00:35:49.960 a season for self-denial 00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:51.300 and individualistic 00:35:51.300 --> 00:35:52.539 self-improvement. 00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:54.400 The season of Lent 00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:55.639 is just as much 00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:56.820 a season for service 00:35:56.820 --> 00:35:57.920 and giving. 00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:00.539 So let's do it. 00:36:01.420 --> 00:36:02.000 Jesus said, 00:36:02.320 --> 00:36:03.380 go and do likewise. 00:36:04.400 --> 00:36:04.840 Let's do it, 00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:05.340 Christ Church. 00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:06.539 Let's be truly 00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:07.840 for the city 00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:09.000 as we say every week. 00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:10.559 And let's go 00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:11.519 in the name of Jesus 00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:13.360 to love and serve 00:36:13.360 --> 00:36:14.139 this world. 00:36:14.739 --> 00:36:14.960 Amen? 00:36:15.619 --> 00:36:16.679 Will you pray with me? 00:36:16.679 --> 00:36:20.980 Lord, show us 00:36:20.980 --> 00:36:22.799 in Jesus Christ 00:36:22.799 --> 00:36:24.500 that we have 00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:26.279 not just the good Samaritan, 00:36:27.179 --> 00:36:29.099 but the best one, 00:36:29.719 --> 00:36:31.039 the ultimate one. 00:36:32.179 --> 00:36:33.159 And help us 00:36:33.159 --> 00:36:34.279 to go and do likewise 00:36:34.279 --> 00:36:36.019 out of admiration 00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:36.919 and gratitude 00:36:36.919 --> 00:36:38.379 and compassion 00:36:38.379 --> 00:36:39.980 for this world. 00:36:40.879 --> 00:36:41.739 In your name we pray. 00:36:42.359 --> 00:36:42.619 Amen. 00:36:42.619 --> 00:36:42.739 Amen.