Tis no joke

“25 And behold, a certain legal expert stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do so that I will inherit eternal life?”
29… “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10)

A priest, a Levite and a Samaritan walk into a bar.  Or if you prefer, a pastor, a deacon and a taxi driver.  The pastor orders a drink, the deacon orders a drink, they find a table by themselves, comment on the sad state of the man passed out drunk and the sad commentary he is on society as a whole, “hell in a handbasket,” they mutter and start watching the game on tv.  The taxi driver pays the tab of the man passed out drunk on the floor from his own pocket; finds the man’s address from his license and his keys; picks him up; carries him to his cab; takes him home, for which he collects no fare; carries the man up to his apartment; puts him to bed; goes and cleans out the vomit from the back seat of his cab and shirt and continues on with his night.

“36 Which of these three do you suppose became a neighbor of the man…?”

Became…the taxi driver, our Samaritan, was not a neighbor of the man by geography, brotherhood or affinity, if stereotypes are based on empirical data, there’s even a good chance they aren’t neighbors by religion.  He became a neighbor through compassion.  Compassion on a man who could do nothing for him!  Compassion on a total stranger.  “Love your neighbor” is a dual commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself and make all men in need your neighbor through love.”

Just one chapter ago Jesus had an agenda: rest and retreat time for him and his posse.  He made an effort to pull his boys back from the mission field to spend some quality bonding time and to hear of their time afield.  But when he came to the shoreline, the crowds had rushed ahead of him and were waiting.  He could have started singing Styx to Pete, “I’m sailing…awaaaaaay”.  He could have “passed through their midst” as he did on other occasions but he stops.  Heck, he could have hopped out of the boat and booked it across the lake on foot if he wanted but he doesn’t.  Why?

“34 And getting out of the boat he saw the large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd,” (Mark 6)  Compassion.  Mercy.  They are the mark of Christ as they are the mark of His Father, ““Yahweh, Yahweh, God, who is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding with loyal love and faithfulness,” (Ex 34).  This is how God describes Himself and He cannot lie.  This should be the mark of his followers.

“44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven, because he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not the tax collectors also do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing that is remarkable? Do not the Gentiles also do the same?” (Matt 5)

“32 “And if you love those who love you, what kind of credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what kind of credit is that to you? Even the sinners do the same! 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive back, what kind of credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, so that they may get back an equal amount! 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend expecting back nothing, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful!” (Luke 6)

“42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he will never lose his reward.” (Matt 10)

“34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world! 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me as a guest, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you cared for me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you as a guest, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ 40 And the king will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.’” (Matt 25)

“34 “A new commandment I give to you: that you love one another—just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another.” (John 13)

“Become kind toward one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as also God in Christ has forgiven you.” (Eph 4)

“12 Therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and dearly loved, put on affection, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, 13 putting up with one another and forgiving one another. If anyone should have a complaint against anyone, just as also the Lord forgave you, thus also you do the same. 14 And to all these things add love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And the peace of Christ must rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God, 17 and everything whatever you do in word or in deed, giving thanks for all things in the name of the Lord Jesus to God the Father through him.” (Col 3)

Nuff said.