The Real Question
Have you ever been speaking to someone and they ask a question, but you know that’s not the real question?
This past Sunday at church, we had a guest speaker, a professor at the Bethlehem Bible College in Palestine. His sermon was entitled, “Go and do likewise.” It was compelling, and I have been unable to stop thinking about it since.
The Truth
What struck me the most about the sermon, which touched on the parable of the Good Samaritan, was the idea that the question the religious leader asked Jesus was not the real question. The truth, the intent, behind asking, “Who is my neighbor?” was much darker.
The real question wasn’t “Who do I have to care for?” It wasn’t even “Who am I allowed to exclude?”
It was actually a search for justification. The real question was “Who am I allowed to hate.”
Context
He spoke about the context of the text. He spoke about a current political context that was literally killing his own family. Through it all, he spoke about the truth of God’s love for us. I thought about things I have justified in my own life. This person did this or that to me – I’m justified in cutting them off.
Here was a man who was preaching about the love of Jesus, whose family lived in Gaza, who did not belong to either side, and who was suffering and dying because of where they happened to live. Even in this circumstance, this man was saying that there was no justification for hate.
I’ve cut people off for less. Much less.
The Good Samaritan
Yet, that is exactly what the parable of The Good Samaritan warns against. It is not the allegiances we have, the people who belong to our group, the ones who can repay us for our efforts, that we should love. We are commanded to love our neighbor, and our neighbor is everyone.
The speaker explained the historical context of the story. The man that The Good Samaritan rescued could have been from any group. In fact, he could have been a sworn enemy. He was stripped naked, he had nothing to offer, and was beaten to unconsciousness. He couldn’t even utter thanks. The Good Samaritan risks his own life and safety to rescue this stranger. He cares for his wounds, pays for his recovery, and is even willing to go into debt to restore him.
The Good Samaritan was Jesus.
Jesus saves us, heals us, and paid a price we are unable to pay to be restored.
Wow.
Jesus didn’t say, I will love you, save you, heal you, and protect you, IF you love me back.
Jesus didn’t say, I will love you, save you, heal you, and protect you, IF you say thank you.
Jesus didn’t say, I will love you, save you, heal you, and protect you, IF you follow me.
Jesus didn’t say, I will love you, save you, heal you, and protect you, IF you believe what I believe.
Jesus didn’t say, I will love you, save you, heal you, and protect you, IF you look like me.
Jesus didn’t say, I will love you, save you, heal you, and protect you, IF you are a part of my group.
Nope.
Jesus went ahead and loved us – died for us, knowing that some would never appreciate, acknowledge, or care about His sacrifice at all.
The Real Questions
So the real questions are:
How can we show Christ’s love to the world today?
If they’ll know we are Christians by our love, what have we done to show that love today?