Unlikely Angels: Luke 10:25-37 - Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

Clockwise, from top left, ending in center: M384_15 by PAN Photo; subway sleep by Will Smyth; KLDE1716_S by Konrad Lembcke; New York Street Scenes by Steven Pisano; metroblues by Renaud LEON; Joey on the Subway by Anne Barber; Subway People by Stanislav Lvovsky; From Ccs Subway by Eloy Briceno Photography; New York Street Scenes by Steven Pisano

²⁵Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” ²⁷He answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁸And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
  ²⁹But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ³⁰Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ³²So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. ³⁴He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ ³⁶Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” ³⁷He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Picture this: you’re boarding a subway.  It’s crowded, and there are only a few empty seats.  So of all these people pictured: who would you NOT want to share a seat with?

Once you make your choice, I want you to visualize that person as the Good Samaritan. 

Because, from the perspective of the people hearing Jesus’ parable— the only good Samaritan was a dead Samaritan…  Yet this Samaritan does what no one would expect— including the lawyer who’s questioning Jesus…

He asks, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus answers by asking: “what is written in the law?”

The lawyer replies “You shall 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 neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus tells the lawyer that he’s answered rightly— and if he does this, he shall live.  But when Jesus speaks the parable of the Good Samaritan— we all see how impossible it is to meet God’s standard.

A man falls into the hands of robbers, who strip him, beat him, and leave him for dead.  A priest and a Levite, who see the man lying in the road, keep right on going.  Levites and priests were the Jewish clergy; Levites served the priests.   If they were to have touched this bloodied man, especially if he were dead or about to die, they would become unclean.  They would be required under the Law to return to Jerusalem and undergo purification rites before they could return to their duties.  Not only that, they would’ve been in danger of ending up robbed, stripped, and beaten like the victim.  It was in their best interests to ignore the victim, which is exactly what they did.

On the other hand, it was not in the victim’s best interests to be aided by a Samaritan.  To devout Jews, Samaritans were regarded as the lowest form of human life.  But it is one of these who sees the victim and is moved with pity. 

He risks his own safety by staying on the road.  He gives time and money to bandage the victim’s wounds and put him up at an inn.  He even offers to pay any additional expenses the innkeeper may incur. 

We mustn’t assume the Good Samaritan was wealthy.  He may have given everything he had. 

This is what the one must do to inherit eternal life, all the time.  If the lawyer is being truly honest with himself and with Jesus, he knows that this is a standard he cannot attain. 

Jesus has created the perfect guilt trip for him, and for all of us.

You and I are sinners.  We’re the robbers, beating up neighbors and leaving them for dead.  At the same time, we end up robbed and beaten because we all reap what we sow.

Death robs and destroys you, too.  As it destroys the body, it destroys the heart and soul— with sickness, grief, poverty, and despair.  Even if none of these things have ever happened to you, you’re not invulnerable to them. 

In the end, you and I are the person in the ditch.

Jesus is the Good Samaritan— the Savior who comes, right on time, to deliver us from death into life. 

Only trouble is, Jesus is not the Savior any of us would want…

Wouldn’t you prefer a Savior who would never have permitted us to end up robbed and beaten to begin with?  Wouldn’t you prefer a Jesus who simply rewards good behavior and punishes the bad— and, if applicable, congratulates you for being so good?  Wouldn’t you prefer a Savior who gives you what you want, when you want it?

But Jesus comes to us in the ugliness of the cross— and in the ugliness of our own brokenness.  You and I must own up to the fact that there is no hope for us, in this life or the next, apart from Jesus Christ.  That’s why you’re here today: to receive him— through the promise of this parable, and through the Body and Blood broken and shed for you. 

As Jesus holds you in his love, you are not the same person you were before.  Jesus’ love pulls you away from self-interest and leads you over into the world of God’s people who are bloodied and broken, and who desperately need a neighbor just like you.  It is Jesus love and grace that will enable you to give, sometimes everything you have— and not end up empty because of it— but filled with amazing grace like never before.  As you do this, the face of Jesus will be in the faces of the people for whom you’d least expect!

It is Jesus and his great love that makes us angels to one other.

So think back to people who’ve been Good Samaritans to you; who’ve lavishly aided you in your times of need.  Perhaps these were sisters and brothers in Christ.  Perhaps these persons didn’t even know Christ.  Perhaps these were people you would have avoided at all costs is given the chance.  But all were as angels for you.  So thank God for them.

Then come and receive the Body and Blood of the One who gave his all for you; who raises you up out of sin and death, and makes you new again.

With joy, and hope, and thanksgiving— go and do likewise.