Parables
“The Good Samaritan”
This parable has a problem.
Before you even begin to read it.
While on the one hand it is one of the most popular stories Jesus told, on the other it has possibly become of the least powerful ones.
A bold statement – I know – but honestly, the moment you realised this morning’s sermon was on this parable; did you lean forward in anticipation or lean back to drop off to sleep?
The first problem we have is the title.
Your bible will undoubtedly have it in bold above the passage of scripture.
So before even reading it you are influenced. You begin knowing you will read about a “good guy”; a hero.
The power has already been lost!!
A better title, a more accurate title would be “The Merciful Villain”.
That was one of the main ways Jesus used to make His point. The hero of the story is a person normally perceived as a villain.
This unexpected, if not unacceptable, twist is essential to the story’s message.
This villain provides the answer to the question “Who is my neighbour?”
The next problem, or maybe mistake, is that the parable is read but without the dialogue between Jesus and the lawyer before and after.
The whole story is surrounded by a crucial discussion about the love of God and eternal life.
We must get that.
Without it the story is just reduced to doing something good.
Just an encouragement to reach out to someone in need.
The parable of the merciful villain is about how the love of God is earthed.
How our love of God is expressed.
The lawyer was making a profession of faith and devotion to God.
He was testing Jesus with his questions.
So Jesus tells him a story to test his claims concerning his love of God.
When the lawyer asks “Who is my neighbour?”, the bible says it was because he was wanted to justify himself.
It is speculative but he probably expected that the answer would be “friends and family” to which he would be able to answer with confidence, “These things I have done” and then walk away feeling very justified and righteous.
Not so.
In the telling of the parable of the merciful villain Jesus collapses and redefines the lawyer’s questions.
The question “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” is transformed by Jesus to “What must I become?”
As one commentator puts it:
“One cannot define one’s neighbour; one can only be a neighbour”.
The question “Who is my neighbour?” is transformed to “Who isn’t my neighbour?”
And it becomes a statement; not a question. It becomes a rhetorical question.
Distinguishing features of the man on the road were absent – he was half-dead (mute); stripped (clothes not obvious).
He could have been anyone. But any signs of nationality, class, religious persuasion were removed.
He could have been anyone.
“Who isn’t my neighbour?”
As mentioned – this is a story about the love of God and a challenge to what difference does that make to the way we live.
This is a story which presents us with two questions:
“What must I become?”
“Who isn’t my neighbour?”
Today – this parable has profound relevance for us.
We may read this parable and “cast” ourselves in it.
I suggest that we “cast” ourselves as the “villain”. The Samaritan.
The one who is not expected to help.
Why do I suggest that?
Because there is a feature of our lives which is “villainous”.
Let me tell you three stories to illustrate what it is about our lives today which make us “villainous”.
In 1970, Princeton University (US) conducted an experiment with their seminary students.
They split the class in two (40 students) and told one half that they were to give a speech on occupations that theology students could go into upon graduation.
For the other 20 students, they were to speak on the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
On the day the two halves of the classes were given instructions.
They were told that space was tight and that they needed to give their presentations elsewhere on the campus.
Each of the two classes, were in turn split into two.
To one group they were told "It'll be a few minutes before they're ready for you, but you might as well head on over. If you have to wait over there, it shouldn't be long."
To the other group they were told "Oh, you're late. They were expecting you a few minutes ago. We'd better get moving. The assistant should be waiting for you so you'd better hurry. It shouldn't take but just a minute."
Because the university is situated in an urban setting (like Auckland University) the students needed to pass through an alley.
A man had been “planted.” It was winter and especially cold.
The actual description from the experiment reads:
“The victim was sitting slumped in a doorway, head down, eyes closed, not moving. As the subject went by, the victim coughed twice and groaned, keeping his head down. If the subject stopped and asked if something was wrong or offered to help, the victim, startled and somewhat groggy, said, "Oh, thank you [cough] . . . . No, it's all right. [Pause] I've got this respiratory condition [cough] .... The doctor's given me these pills to take, and I just took one.... If I just sit and rest for a few minutes I'll be O.K.... Thanks very much for stopping though [smiles weakly]." If the subject persisted, insisting on taking the victim inside the building, the victim allowed him to do so and thanked him.”
The findings of the survey were (again quoted from the study):
• A person not in a hurry may stop and offer help to a person in distress.
• A person in a hurry is likely to keep going. Ironically, he is likely to keep going even if he is hurrying to speak on the parable of the Good Samaritan, thus inadvertently confirming the point of the parable. (Indeed, on several occasions, a seminary student going to give his talk on the parable of the Good Samaritan literally stepped over the victim as he hurried on his way!)
• While the degree of hurry a person was in had an effect on whether they would stop – whether they were speaking on the Good Samaritan or careers for ministers did not.
• Thinking about the Good Samaritan did not increase helping behavior, but being in a hurry decreased it.
• “Ethics becomes a luxury as the speed of our daily lives increases”.
• It was observed that the students did not recognise that the person was really in distress. Later they thought he might have needed assistance. The key was – being in a hurry blinded them to the magnitude of the need.
Part of that is that being in a hurry meant they were rushing to someone else and “Conflict, rather than callousness, can explain their failure to stop”.
What makes us “villainous” today?
Busyness!
At the end of last year, I was working in my study on a Friday afternoon.
It was 4.10pm and I had to get to the bank by closing time at 4.30pm.
I left the office and had to go via home.
4.16pm
I arrived home. Almost collided with Ruth driving out of the driveway. 1st time ever!
4.19pm.
I drove towards town and got through one set of lights and sat at the traffic lights in Pka (GSR).
But they were red.
4.24pm by the time it turned green.
There was a carpark right outside Subway. I was going to do it.
Out of the car, across the road. I had five minutes left. Easy!
Then I saw him.
Walking towards me!
I had worked with him and his family pastorally. This is the first contact since he had broken off contact.
Maybe he won’t see me?
If I talk with him I’ll miss the bank!
It was the most intensely agonising moment. I couldn’t believe the pressure!!
Maybe I could just say a “Hi” and raise my eyebrows.
I stopped. I asked him how things were. “Fine” he said. “Really. How are things?” I asked.
And we talked.
…and I still made it to the bank!
My reflection was that busyness was so powerful that I was more than prepared to “pass by on the other side” rather than help this dying man.
This week Ruth was in the supermarket and there was a woman being served in the queue Ruth was in.
But there seemed a problem and it was taking a lot longer than seemed normal.
Ruth exchanged glances with the woman in front of – the person was next to be served.
Ruth was looking as if to say – it’s taking a while. What’s the problem?
The woman who was next to be served looked back at Ruth with what she described later as a concerned look.
Eventually the person in question was dealt with and walked off. The checkout operater explained the dealy.
The person has alzheimers or something.
The delay was she could not purchase all the items she had.
So the woman who was next in line said to the checkout operator – put the items on my bill and run after her!
Extraordinary! She had been delayed. Probably inconvenienced and that was her response!
Busyness didn’t come in the way for her.
What does this parable teach us?
The Samaritan essentially did one thing the other two didn’t.
He stayed.
What does this parable teach us?
Compassion and mercy.
And what will be one of the most powerful forces at work in your life to suppress that?
What will be one of the most powerful forces which will war against your profession and expression of the love of God in your life?
Busyness.
“What must I become?” Compassionate and merciful.
“Who isn’t my neighbour?” No-one.
On that day when the lawyer confronted Jesus – he stood before not just God incarnate; but the Samaritan incarnate.
One Who stays.
One Who extends deep compassion and mercy.
This morning you might have some things to put right.
This morning as we take communion may you encounter not simply the true “Good Samaritan” but the “Good Shepherd’.
May you know His compassion and mercy that you may extend it to others.
May your busyness be stilled.
Presented By: Rev. Geoff New