The story of the Good Samaritan, Part 1 (Luke 10:25-37)

Today’s story was told by Jesus himself, and I will read much of it directly from the Bible. Jesus was teaching and answering questions one day when a lawyer asked him, “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus helped the man answer his own question by asking him what was written in the law. The lawyer answered that we are to love God with all our heart and soul and strength and mind; and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus told him he had given the right answer, but the man then asked, “And who is my neighbor?” That’s when Jesus told the following story, and we only have time for part of it today. “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.” This is the really sad part of the story. Was God pleased by what the robbers had done? Absolutely not, God hates stealing and violence and unless they repented, these wicked men would never make it to heaven. What about the two men that just passed by? Was God pleased with them? No, if they really loved God and people, as God commands, they would have tried to do something to help the poor man. I remember telling this story to a group of boys and girls one time, and we decided to act it out. I played the part of the man walking down the road, and some of the kids played the part of the thieves that beat me up. Want to hear more? Come back tomorrow for the rest of the story.