An Oft Missed Fact

As the parables of Jesus go, the one about the Good Samaritan is certainly one of the more well known ones.  Even the folks who are unacquainted with Biblical stuff have some idea about what is being talked about when the title, "Good Samaritan" is hung on someone.  The parable is spoken to a member of the Jewish upper crust who wants to make sure he is seen as good in the eyes of Jesus as he is in his own eyes.  Of course, the parable tells us of a robbed and beaten man who is passed by a couple of guys who would have been expected to help.  But, the one who finally stops to help is a Samaritan at whom the lawyer looked down his aristocratic nose with a great deal of disdain.

 

What has always proven to be an interesting fact is the one about whom Jesus said, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers..." (Luke 10:30)  There is absolutely nothing said to identify the man left for dead.  Nothing is said about religion, economic status, or birth.  But, those who heard the parable jumped to the assumption the man in distress was a Jew.  Who else could he be?  It is this assumption which made the Samaritan's kindness such a surprise.  It is the unexpected element of the parable.  Actually, the man left for dead could have been a Samaritan, or he could have been a Jew, or maybe, even an Egyptian.

 

When Jesus identified the sufferer in need of someone's help, he simply used the identifying title, "man."  The one left for dead was just another human being who was mostly like anyone who saw him there on the road.  Such are the ones we are called to offer care.  Who or what does not matter.  It never has.  It never will.  It is the human suffering which beckons us.  It is in seeing the need that we hear the call.  If it is not that way for us, then we can choose the name "priest" or "levite."  Either one will fit us.