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Writer's pictureSarah Raad

Enemy

“Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37).

The Good Samaritan (Vincent Van Gogh)

The other day I was watching a film with my husband, and in the film, we saw a scene of terrible poverty, and my husband remarked that it is one thing to see poverty on the television, and quite another to stand up next to it, touch it and smell it and look it in the eye.


And I have been thinking about that as I think about my neighbours and my friends… You see, I read the parable of the Good Samaritan the other day and it reminded me of my neighbour.


In Christ’s time Samaritans and Jews were enemies. And so, that parable about the Good Samaritan is about so much more than helping one’s neighbour… It is about helping one’s ENEMY!


And I have been thinking about that as I go about my day. After all, it is easy enough to me nice to people who are nice to me, and quite another thing to be nice to people who are openly hostile towards me…


“Jesus said, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed mercy on him.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” (Luke 10:25-37).

Christ used that parable of the Good Samaritan to give an order – a directive to work… “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37). He did not say – try your best, or give it a shot, or just be a bit like that. He said, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37). And GOD HIMSELF said that clearly and without excuse…

And I have been thinking about that… because that directive of Christ means that EVERYONE is my neighbour and that means that I must be kind to EVERYONE – even if they are my enemy and they hate and despise me!


And knowing that everyone is my neighbour, I must be sure to plan ahead. After all, the Good Samaritan planned ahead, otherwise how could he possible spare TWO denari – which was the equivalent of two days’ work – if he was not prepared?


And then – leaving the man at the inn, the Good Samaritan proved that he was a trustworthy man. He was certainly trustworthy enough that the innkeeper knew that the Good Samaritan was a man of his word and would repay any debt when he was next in the area and so was able to continue to look after the fallen man.


And this is important too, because the Good Samaritan left before the man awoke, which means that he left without being rewarded or even thanked for his help after acting with compassion for none other than his enemy…


And that causes me to pray for the GRACE to be able to “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37). For I can see that shall require a great deal of GRACE for me to be able to do that!


For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.

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