Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] August 28, 2022 “Least Expected” Luke 10: 25-37 – Common English Bible “A legal expert stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to gain eternal life?” 26 Jesus replied, “What is written in the Law? How do you interpret it?” 27 He responded, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”[a] 28 Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” 29 But the legal expert wanted to prove that he was right, so he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. He encountered thieves, who stripped him naked, beat him up, and left him near death. 31 Now it just so happened that a priest was also going down the same road. When he saw the injured man, he crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way. 32 Likewise, a Levite came by that spot, saw the injured man, and crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way. 33 A Samaritan, who was on a journey, came to where the man was. But when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. 34 The Samaritan went to him and bandaged his wounds, tending them with oil and wine. Then he placed the wounded man on his own donkey, took him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day, he took two full days’ worth of wages and gave them to the innkeeper. He said, ‘Take care of him, and when I return, I will pay you back for any additional costs.’ 36 What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves?” 37 Then the legal expert said, “The one who demonstrated mercy toward him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (NOTE: This service is focused on kids and teens returning to school. Earlier we blessed their backpacks.) This is such a great story and has such a great ending – go and do the same. Show compassion. Have mercy. One way to look at this story is to ask: Who do you identify with in the parable? Which character in the story is you? Are you the legal expert asking Jesus how to get into heaven? Are you one of the thieves or bullies who beat up the traveler? Are you the priest or the Levite who passed by on the other side? Are you the Samaritan who responds with compassion? How about the guy in the ditch? What if you and I were that guy. The people Jesus told this story to, they were the guy in the ditch. They knew what it felt like to that guy. Or at least, the fear of what it would be like. Imagine walking to school and there’s this one block where the bullies always stand and harass kids, ready to pounce, especially on someone who’s alone. Especially someone as nerdy and shy as I was growing up. What would you do? A block away I’d start getting nervous, my heart would start pumping. I’d get red in the face. I’d better start planning a strategy. Should I take a longer way to school? But I’m running late. Should I try to run past them as fast as I can? But I look funny when I run so I’d probably just draw more attention. Should I get some friends and go together? But today I’m alone. The people who heard Jesus tell this story understood travelling through that dangerous area between Jerusalem and Jericho. It was full of robbers and thieves who beat up travelers and stole from them – think of them as road pirates. They’d beat you up and leave you for half dead. And the people listening to Jesus could all relate to questions like, when you’re out on that road alone, who will defend me? Who will help me? Who will pick me up when I get knocked down? Who will do those things when you’re all alone? The point Jesus is making is that it won’t be the people you expect. Jesus used the characters of the priest and Levite to make his point. They’re not bad people, but they are the people you’d expect to help you. Well, in this situation, imagine you’re lying on the ground, hurt, bleeding, and embarrassed, and then, thank God, here comes a teacher. The teacher will help me. But he just walks by. And then the principal. Yes, here comes my help! But she just walks by. None of your friends are around. You’re all alone. And then you see one of the bullies coming toward you. Oh no. I think to myself, just leave me alone. Go away. But imagine. He kneels down to brush off the dust. He extends his arm to help you get up. He helps you limp to the nurse’s office. He leaves you there and goes off to class but promises to come back and check on you later and help you get home. He even offers to walk to school with you the next day so the bullies will leave you alone – at risk to his own safety. Wow! That’s a lot! Right? I wouldn’t expect all that. He’s the absolute last person you would expect to help you. And that’s exactly the point Jesus is making. I would expect the teacher and the principal to stop and help, not the bully. Jesus likes to turn things upside down. What’s he saying? Don’t make assumptions about people. Don’t judge. The people who heard Jesus tell this story didn’t like Samaritans. Didn’t trust Samaritans. Had nothing good to say about Samaritans. Wouldn’t want to hear anyone else say anything good about Samaritans because there’s nothing good to say about a Samaritan. And who is the hero of the story? A Samaritan. Jesus likes to turn things upside down. Like who’s your neighbor? The people you don’t want as your neighbors. And love them as much as you love yourself. Don’t judge. Don’t make assumptions about people. And yet I do it all the time. If I were stranded along the road, I’d expect a guy driving a Prius with a bumper sticker – Save the Earth – to stop. I’d except a woman with a bumper sticker – Free Love – driving a VW bus to stop. I wouldn’t expect, nor maybe even want, the woman with a bumper sticker – go back where you came from – to help. In Jesus’ story, that’s exactly who stops. Jesus told the legal expert concerned about getting into heaven, be like the Samaritan – be like one of “those people.” The person you least expected had compassion. Go and do the same. Help anyone, friend or enemy, who is hurt. Do that instead of worrying about heaven. And if you do that, you will make it like heaven on earth.
1 Comment
Larry Ricketts
8/28/2022 09:00:47 am
David,
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