But a CERTAIN Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he (a robbed and beaten man) was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. Luke 10:33-34
Leave it to Brother Luke, a beloved Physician as Paul states in Colossians 4:14, to have penned this well-known story of “The Good Samaritan” in his Gospel of Jesus Christ. This story is the very inspiration and well admired parable noted among secular society to endorse the message for all to have a helping hand when it comes to someone in need.
However when you examine this particular chapter of Luke's Gospel, Luke 10 starts off with Jesus SENDING OUT disciples into cities and places, two by two, where He HIMSELF would go!!! Whatever city or home the SENT disciples came to, they would be bearers and givers of peace; however if their peace was NOT received, they are to leave and take their peace with them! Then in Luke 10:17-20 mentions the disciples who were sent out now returning to Jesus rejoicing because the same miraculous power Jesus displayed was also now being released through those very disciples, upon those who received them. The sick were healed and demons were being casted out of people!
Next Jesus rejoices and prays to The Father thanking Him for imparting such supernatural power and evidence of His Kingdom to those who were but yet babes in their walk with Him! (Lk. 10:21-22) However our dear brother Luke doesn't end the record there, where most claimed believers would think or hope it should end at! But Luke is sure to record the important lesson Jesus taught that captured his own heart and interest when mentioning the parable of the good Samaritan.
But a CERTAIN Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he (a robbed and beaten man) was: and when he saw him, he had COMPASSION on him, and went to him, and BOUND UP HIS WOUNDS, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. Luke 10:33-34
Now Jesus said He came to ESTABLISH one LIVING, BREATHING, POWERFUL entity that would represent Him and that is…HIS CHURCH! (Matt. 16:18) It is NOT the Lutherans, the Baptists, the Anabaptists, the Charismatics, the Pentecostals; but rather it is a people who love God with all their heart, might and soul; allowing Jesus to be the worship, centerpiece, the rock, and cornerstone of the foundation of their life and simply doing all that He has called them to do. A people who daily denies their self-will and picks up their own cross (attitude), as they embark on the path of God’s PERFECT will through the guidance of Jesus Christ!
Don't get me wrong, we NEED the Church, we need to gather together for this is the point of this post; however there is no particular group or denomination God particular fancies; but rather they who daily grow more in the revelation, wisdom and spiritual stature of His word and likeness. Those are they who God seeks to build up and use as His present remnant!
Now why does it matter that Luke recorded this story of this certain Samaritan and none of the other disciples? Also what does Jesus' Church have to do about this story?
I believe that as Luke was a physician (doctor) by occupation and a servant of the Lord by calling, that the act of this Samaritan who was not accredited to being sort of notable career man; performed an act of medical attention in a way that touched the heart of this physician named Luke as He heard this story told from the mouth of The Great Physician Jesus. In all actuality, regardless of the Samaritan’s occupational status, because he was a Samaritan, the Jews automatically looked down at their kind! However Jesus chose to use this good and certain Samaritan in his illustration and for Luke it was if he sat in on a major collegiate medical lecture or seminar, learning what it takes to bring forth the healing and wholeness to one who would be found broken, stripped and in great need of life!
First Luke wrote about the evidence of supernatural manifestations through the hands of sent disciples and then Jesus focused on those who are hurt and attacked literally and in need of the act of abundant kindness!
As I mentioned this certain Samaritan deemed not to be any major person of notoriety; but simply a CERTAIN person who was about to do a CERTAIN act that Jesus used in this CERTAIN story to bring a CERTAIN point across in how His CERTAIN people (The Church) ought to become!
Perhaps the priest and the Levite (who was of the tribe of God's holy priests) had plans or something of great importance, but the fact was that this Samaritan was on route to his destination and this beaten person laying on the streets was on the same path as this Samaritan! So while this Samaritan was on his way to his destination, he decided to administer to this poor bruised up soul. Perhaps both the beaten man and the Samaritan were traveling in the same direction and to the same destination to Jericho. These two men mentioned is sort of like men among a league of runners who are running on the same track, looking to achieve the same goal of winning the race, but one trips and another runner decides that helping his fellow competitor is more important than winning the race for himself sooner than hoped for, hence thinking of his neighbor more so than his own self.
I believe God has called the Church to be the vessel and channel in which heaven’s resources ought to be poured out into the earth today! Hence our daily prayer ought to be unto God “YOUR Kingdom come, YOUR WILL be done IN EARTH…as it is already done in heaven!
Many times we can be busy running our length of the race and fail to forget when the scripture says that when your brother stumbles, pick him up! (Ecc. 4:10)
However make no mistake that the one in pain had no say in the matter and simply had no choice but to yield to the help of this willing stranger.
Some may think the Church is simply just a gathering of dear saints…to sing some songs, hear a good message and go about their business; but having a great high regard for The Church, I believe she is called and destined so much more, seeing that Jesus has spoken so highly of His bride! The Church is called to be God's hands and feet!
Remember Luke 10:1 records as the King James Version puts it that the disciples went to places WHITHER or WHERESOEVER Jesus Himself would come!
There are some who need Jesus to come to their sick bed and bind up their wounds, pour fresh anointing oil and new wine upon their soars! Though God can do it with or without a chosen vessel, He uses those redeemed unto Himself who both fear and love Him and are SENT out in His name!
Natural physicians can do only so much, but God ought to be our first resort that we turn to, not our last! Sometimes it is easy to hide in the shame of our distress and not be transparent for someone else to look, handle and administer to our infirmities; however we all need to be able to receive from a Luke's Ministry!
Now the interesting part in the beginning of the story of the good Samaritan is how he first treated the man who was left to die on the side of the street. The certain Samaritan bound up the man's wounds after pouring both oil and wine upon them. Naturally a little wine has various medicinal purposes to help aid a troubling stomach (1 Tim. 5:23), help numb pain; as well as help quench any activity of harmful bacteria when poured upon the affected area, due to its alcoholic content. However the way the Samaritan address the man's wounds naturally is an example of how we ought to address our identity in Christ literally when the scripture says The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath ANOINTED ME TO preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to BIND UP the brokenhearted, to PROCLAIM LIBERTY to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, THE OIL OF JOY for mourning, THE GARMENT OF PRAISE for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that HE MIGHT BE GLORIFIED. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and THEY SHALL REPAIR the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. (Is. 61:1-4)
This certain Samaritan not only help aid the man's wounds, but he booked the man in an inn (hotel) to recover, gave him new garments and went on his way to do what he had to do; but was sure to take the bill and repay whatever the inn keeper would spend that the recovering man needed!
This truly is a demonstration of above and beyond Christianity…RADICAL Christianity at its prime!
Jesus never said the purpose of His coming was only to give us a lot in heaven after we die; but He said He came to give us life AND life abundant! That means He came to give us new life “NOW” and not "THEN", but also a sort of life that goes above and beyond our needs that He may be glorified!
Everything about New Testament living implies God given qualities and giftings that operate at the capacity of going beyond our natural abilities and into His supernatural power! And so it was this approach in the story of a CERTAIN good Samaritan that tugged of the heart of a CERTAIN good disciple named Luke!
This revelation and command Jesus issued to a young lawyer after telling the story compelled His disciple and this physician Luke to carry out through his life and ministry. We see this later on when Luke would be used to help administer to a man named Paul who was also mightily used of God, claiming to not come in eloquent speech but rather in the demonstration of the Spirit and power! (1 Cor. 2:4)
This very Paul who God used to heal the sick, raise the dead, shake a poisonous snake off himself and the list continues, receives also the ministry of Luke to tend to his own wounds from the whipping post or bruises from the stones thrown at him!!! The fact that Paul address Luke as the beloved Physician in the Greek means “My or favorite Physician”. (Acts 16:33, Acts 28, Col. 4:14, 2 Tim. 4:11, Ph.10-13)
It is like when Jesus, the great miracle worker hung on Calvary’s cross, being mocked by the world that said “Look how he can save the lives of others, but not save Himself!” Such blasphemy and scrutiny our Lord underwent, however He was about one thing and that was to BUILD HIS CHURCH, a people who would become His spiritual anatomy and bring forth the POWER of God throughout all the world at once! Again God works through His church and I believe Paul knew that and took to his advantage of calling upon Brother Luke to minister as Christ's hands through one of his vessels! He understood that as the church, WE NEED ONE ANOTHER!
So I encourage you my fellow reader, you may be at a place embarrassed or vulnerable to take on a Luke's ministry by confessing your situation and need of help to a fellow brother or sister in Christ. However I encourage you in what James said when he asked, “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:14-16
Be Blessed
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