Starting on Monday 7th April, the readings for days 46 to 50 are:
Luke 10:25-37
Luke 12:13-21
Luke 14:1-24
Luke 15
Luke 18:1-14
What do you find most disturbing, challenging, encouraging or incredible about what Jesus is saying through these parables?
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I have come to find the parable of the good samaritan particularly challanging. I meet many people who carry out acts of service to others without expecting any reward. Very often these people are of different faiths or no faith at all. and I don't know why they do it. They will say that they saw a need and decided to do something about it. But at human level there is a cost to themselves for which they ar not expecting to get anything back.
The Samaritan did not consider if he would get anything back, he just saw a need and did something about it. The public face of the Christian Church does not on the whole is not seen to be carrying out this aspect of Christs teaching.
I led a small group on this parable a few weeks ago and much of this parable is challenging. The Jews hated,HATED, the Samaritans.We never learn upon reovery if the injured man was greatful or continued to hate samaritans,whether he ever found out who had saved him. For Jesus these details are not important its that the Samaritan showed compassion for his racial enemy when those who should have helped did not.
In our group we dicussed a further twist in this tale which I still find confusing. Traditionally we learn from this parable that we should care for others no matter who they are and no matter if they praise us. That would be the answer to the Expert of the Laws question "Who is my neighbour?". Yet for that to be true you'd expect it to be the Jewish guy rescuing the beaten up Samaritan and showing him compassion. "Who is my neighbour?" "Why everyone, including those you dislike". Jesus doesn't tell it that way. The Samaritan is the hero, the Jewish guy is the recipient of compassion. What lesson do we learn from this? Is it that we should be greatful that the socially outcast are our neighbours and are willing to aid us? Or something deeper? What do people think?
The parable of the Good Samaritan is, for me, one of the most powerful Jesus ever told. It really smacks in the face of prejudice toward individuals based on race. I remember hearing someone speak on this many moons ago and it become even more powerful when you consider the characters involved and it's intended audience.
Here's a Jew in desperate need of help. First the priest bowls along, you can almot hear the crowds thinking "yep, this man's the neighbour" but no, he passes by. Then the Levite, another religious 'champion' but he again passes by. Then, as James points out, it's the 'hated' individual that not only lends a hand but goes above and beyond who is highlighted as the true neighbour.
Cool. I like Jesus' style :D
For me, today looks at the rich fool. Need to consider the next few verses when looking at this 'cos of the 'therefore', however, seems a stark reminder that ultimately, regardless of status, tomorrow could be our last. Best make good use of what we've been given now. Reminds me of James 4:13-16.
I also remember one of Del's sermons where he points out that it was God who would have given him the 'ground that produced a good crop' but the man's response to his 'problem' is riddled with 'I' & 'my'. No thought given to God's provision....
"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God"
Whoa!
"But while he was still a long way off,his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to him threw his arms around him and kissed him".
After being challenged and doing a bit of soul searching having followed this weeks readings I was massively encouraged by this verse.
"But while he was still a long way off..." As a description of Gods love i'm floored by those words.How many of us are still a long way off from Gods ideal for are lives?
Also check out the love for the older son/pharisees. I've heard many a sermon point out that in being angry with his father the older brother would have been seen as just as wrongful as the younger. That both asking for the inheritance and challenging the father were huge insults.Yet the father here responds by saying "My son...you are always with me and everything I have is yours" He doesn't banish the son for challenging him he embraces him also.Again Jesus shows love, even love under the fire of criticism.
One thing that is great about the parabpes is that people remmember them. the average person has a dim knowledge of the teaching of Christ, but ask him about the Good Samaritan and not only will he know the story but understand its moral message if not its spiritual one.
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