I mentioned in the book that the love the Good Samaritan showed to the injured man was second only to the love the Lord Jesus Christ showed to us. I wanted to share some more similarities between the two here.
To begin, this man was a Samaritan on a path from Jerusalem to Jericho. This was no where close to Samaria. He was on a mission away from his home. Jesus left heaven, with its painlessness, the praise of the heavenly hosts, the perfection, and the lack of any pain and suffering. He went far away to walk the road from Jerusalem to Calvary.
The Samaritan was in an area where he was not appreciated. The Jews in that time and place despised them, called them worse than dogs, and would disparage or humiliate them if presented with the opportunity. Jesus, who had always received the worship and adoration of angels and heavenly hosts, came to earth to be “despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3) He was eventually mocked, humiliated, and crucified by those he came to save.
The Samaritan assisted the injured man without being asked. Jesus came to “seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) He does not wait for you to come looking for him and begging for help. He is actively seeking those who need him.
The Samaritan did not charge the injured man a thing. He used his wine, his oil, his dressings, his beast, his time, and his money to care for the injured man. He never asked to be reimbursed or compensated for one bit of it. Jesus came, and for much of his ministry seemed broke or close to it, despite leaving behind all the riches and gold of heaven. He spent time here. He bore my burdens when he carried the cross and took upon him the weight of all the sins of the world that ever had been or ever would be committed. He now offers us his joy, his peace, the Holy Spirit of promise, and the opportunity to be joint heirs with him and share his riches for eternity. He offers it all freely. In fact, he refuses to allow you to try to compensate him for any part of salvation with any type of works. “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
The Samaritan did not force a relationship on the man in exchange for his help. Jesus does not force any to have a relationship with him, although he is delighted if you choose to. “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)
Jesus left heaven to come to earth for you (John 1), traveling further than the Samaritan ever could. He came to a place where he suffered, was despised and mistreated, and was punished more than any other ever was. (Isaiah 52:14) He is the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,” who bore our burdens, paid the cost, and brought to us healing before we even knew we were sick and injured. (Revelation 13:8) He now offers salvation to us freely. Revelation (22:16-17) But he does not force the relationship upon us. It is a free choice to accept or reject. You can choose to accept Christ and his healing, or you can reject him and continue in your own ways, experiencing the ultimate separation and pain in eternity. What will you choose today?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.