Background
Jesus often teaches life-changing, life-sustaining principles using simple stories that people could relate to culturally. Storytelling is a great way to hang on to such important principles. Can you recall any story that teaches excellent lessons that someone once told you, maybe your parents, teachers, uncles, and aunties? Tell us one of such stories. Mention any of the parables of Jesus you can recall. What makes the story meaningful and recallable to you? Today we are looking at one such story titled the good Samaritan. Let us read the text, Luke 10:25-37.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 On one occasion, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this, and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”
30 In reply, Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
The Issues
1. Let us list all the characters involved in this passage and this story?
2. State the questions that the lawyer asked Jesus, and what was the answer Jesus said in response?
3. What is the practical way of living Verse 27 in today’s Covid 19 world?
4. Who is our covid 19/ social media world neighbour today?
5. In the story, identify the four characters?
6. Of the four, which two do you relate with the most?
7. Jesus said, do likewise. How can we build a community of mercy in today’s world?
Conclusion
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Kindness to another human being is excellent power to the bestower. How can we be kind and our kindness is not abused? Go and be kind this week.