Compassion

Breaking News Jerusalem.
 
Just into the studio news desk: a man was robbed by thieves on the road to Jericho early this morning. Three fellow travelers saw the brutally beaten, stripped-naked man bleeding to death on the roadside. Eye-witnesses report that after two religious leaders ignored him, a Samaritan stopped to assist, caring for the man’s needs from his personal resources.
 
Who was this man who some are calling the “good” Samaritan? Onlookers were overheard asking “Why would he put his life in danger, stopping to care for a total stranger.” Tune in to the 6 o’clock evening news for more details about this unusual, fascinating story.
 
This fictitious news bulletin is a teaching found in the Bible. Jesus shared the story of the Good Samaritan to teach you and me about neighbors and compassion.
 
The scenario is set-up in Luke 10:25-29. A lawyer, familiar with Jewish religious customs and commandments, stood up to test Jesus. A work-your-way-to-heaven kind of guy, he inquired of the Lord what he must do to inherit eternal life.
 
Jesus turned the tables on the lawyer by asking him how do you read the Law?  How would you answer sir? (Verse 26). The legalistic lawyer fired back “love God with all your being and love your neighbor as yourself” (Verse 27) (Deuteronomy 6:5).
 
Good job Mr. Lawyer! Jesus commended him for answering correctly. Then Jesus exhorted him “Do this, and you will live.” (Verse 28). But that did not set well with the lawyer. Come on Jesus, is that all I must do? Are you sure that is enough? And who is my neighbor? (Verse 29).
 

• In verses 30-37, Jesus answered who our neighbor is, and how we should treat them as their neighbor.  

           
Seeing the distressed man, a priest and a Levite passed by on the other side of the road, abandoning the dying man in a ditch. Shame, shame on the “holy” men. 
 
A man from Samaria, who was racially ostracized by the Jewish people, stopped to render aid.
 
“But a certain Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him, and when he saw him, he felt compassion.” Luke 10:33
 
The Samaritan did four things
 
First, the Good Samaritan CAME upon the man. The Samaritan was traveling. Following his itinerary. Doing his thing, minding his own business. Then life happened. Right in front of him. A hurting man crossed his path.
 
·      Our life journey will cross paths with hurting people.
 
Second, the Good Samaritan SAW the man. His eyes were not blind to the hurting man’s dilemma. He looked toward the man, not away from him. He saw more than a bleeding man…he saw a fellow, helpless human being who needed someone to help him. 
 
·      Unselfish, wide open eyes see needy neighbors who need assistance.
 
Third, the Good Samaritan FELT for the man. Seeing the hurting man, he felt compassion. His heart hurt for his needy neighbor on the roadside. He could not look away like the religious leaders did. His compassionate heart beat with empathy. Mercy prompted him to reach out to the hurting, helpless man   
 
·      Love, mercy and compassion pave the way for helping hurting neighbors.   
 
Fourth, the Good Samaritan CARED for the man. Compassion led to action. He rushed to the man’s side, pouring oil and wine, and bandaging his wounds. He put him on “his own beast”, transporting him to the safety and comfort of a hotel. He arranged for the care of the man, whatever he needed, paying the bill in full upon his return trip.  
 
·      Neighbors in need respond to actual deeds, not mere words of compassion.
 
Way to go Good Samaritan! You got personally involved. You didn’t look the other way or walk by on the other side of the road. You rolled up your sleeves, touching and ministering, from your own resources, to the terrified, vulnerable, mercilessly battered dying man.
 
Your compassionate action was radically gracious, generous, and lifesaving. Without regard to your own safety, you reached out to save a neighbor who could not save himself.
 
Now for the rest of the story. Jesus asked the lawyer in verse 36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robber’s hands?” The lawyer had the right answer once again: “The one who showed mercy” (Verse 37).  Jesus’ response “Go and do the same.”
 
End of story…or was it the beginning for the lawyer. As he walked away, I wonder if he went out and became a Good Samaritan. Don’t really know. But what about you and me who confess to be Christians? Are we willing to “Go and do the same?”
 
OUR NEIGHBOR IS ANYONE IN NEED. You and I prove to be neighbors to hurting people when we reach out with Christ’s compassion to meet their need. 
 
Comments Concerning Compassion
 

• Compassion is Christ’s response to hurting people.
• Compassion flows from people with compassionate hearts.
• Compassion is a heartfelt feeling followed by helpful activity.
• Compassion paves the way for ministry to hurting people.
• A compassionate touch softens life’s hard blows.
• Compassionate ministry stirs hope in hopeless hearts.  
• Often, compassion is caught rather than taught.  
• Compassion cannot be packaged or bought. It is free for all who need it.  
• Christians should be compassionate because Jesus is compassionate.
• If Christians are not compassionate, who in this world will be?

 
My friend, Christian compassion is needed more then ever in our self-centered, cruelly coldhearted, cynical culture.  Multitudes of hurting people (neighbors), left for dead on the roadside of life, cry out for love and compassion from those of us who know the One who “saw the multitudes” and “felt compassion.” (See Matthew 9:36-38).  
 
Needy neighbors will intersect your life and mine.  
 
What will you and I see? How will you and I feel? Most importantly, what will you and I do to help? As Christ’s witnesses and ambassadors, you and I have opportunity every day to show compassion to someone who is hurting.
 
A Word For Your Week: Show Christ-like compassion to a needy neighbor.