With Whom Do You Identify? In the parable of the so-called “Good Samaritan” the following characters are in play on the stage: the man who became a victim, the thieves/robbers, the lawyer, the priest, the Levite, the Samaritan, and the innkeeper. With which one are we expected to identify? With which one are you inclined to identify?
Too many treatments of this parable disconnect it from the original inquiry by the lawyer (the Bible student) who asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Too many treatments fail to take Jesus seriously when he insists that loving God and loving one’s neighbor is the correct answer to the question posed. During one recent sermon, when I surveyed the congregation, half of those present did not believe the lawyer’s reply regarding what the Bible said on the subject of inheriting eternal life and they did not agree with Jesus’ claim that the man’s answer was correct. Basically, people insisted that “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” was a better way to put it. However, do we really believe on the Lord Jesus Christ if we do not believe what he himself said about loving God and others?!
I love this perspective of the parable! It reminds me of my frustration every time I watch a crime drama and the emphasis of the story is always around the police detectives and perpetrators of violence and if the victim has their part it is only in passing and as recipients of violence - rarely is their pain and difficult recovery seen long enough to be felt and empathised with by the viewer.
"And how long it took for him to heal enough to get back to his normal life… and if he even did. And how long the innkeeper had to treat him.
And how did the victim heal emotionally? Was he traumatized every time he got on that road?
And why we tend to neglect the victim – and I know I have neglected the victim." Some excellent questions and insights here. I used to relate more to the Good Samaritan. But lately more so with the victim.
Too many treatments of this parable disconnect it from the original inquiry by the lawyer (the Bible student) who asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Too many treatments fail to take Jesus seriously when he insists that loving God and loving one’s neighbor is the correct answer to the question posed. During one recent sermon, when I surveyed the congregation, half of those present did not believe the lawyer’s reply regarding what the Bible said on the subject of inheriting eternal life and they did not agree with Jesus’ claim that the man’s answer was correct. Basically, people insisted that “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” was a better way to put it. However, do we really believe on the Lord Jesus Christ if we do not believe what he himself said about loving God and others?!
I love this perspective of the parable! It reminds me of my frustration every time I watch a crime drama and the emphasis of the story is always around the police detectives and perpetrators of violence and if the victim has their part it is only in passing and as recipients of violence - rarely is their pain and difficult recovery seen long enough to be felt and empathised with by the viewer.
"And how long it took for him to heal enough to get back to his normal life… and if he even did. And how long the innkeeper had to treat him.
And how did the victim heal emotionally? Was he traumatized every time he got on that road?
And why we tend to neglect the victim – and I know I have neglected the victim." Some excellent questions and insights here. I used to relate more to the Good Samaritan. But lately more so with the victim.