"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion." (Lk.10:33).
Introduction
Life is a journey, literally and metaphorically. This journey, more often than not, is unpredictable. It's full of ups and downs. Hence, when people are not getting their full expectations from life, they retort, "life is unfair." And truly, life can be unfair, to an extent. Consequently, life must be approached in the place of prayers, rather than casually. Life must not be handled with levity. The journey of a man starts from the womb, growing from foetus to an actual living being, (provided the foetus grows to be birthed). Normal pregnancies are delivered in the ninth month. With particular reference to our October submission on Jacob and Esau, (Gen.25), the journeys and travails of the twins started from the womb. And from the womb, the journeys of their lives seemed to have been defined, decided, and settled. It later manifested literally to what it turned out to be.
The challenges in the journey of man was probably uppermost in the mind of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1712-1778, when he wrote, in one of his theses, "Man is born free, but everywhere in chains." Few of the major ways, chains loop around men, in the journey of life, include, but not limited to: the strivings to survive, efforts to making ends meet, aspirations to living up to family and societal expectations, amongst several other struggles. This is the crux of this discourse, from the context of the "unknown" man who journeyed from Jerusalem to Jericho.
Vicissitudes Of Life On The Way To Jericho Vis- a- Vis Our Life's Journeys
Our 'unnamed' man in our text above was leaving Jerusalem. His destination was Jericho. He apparently had a mission to accomplish in Jericho. At the onset of his trip, he apparently did not envisage any eventualities. To him, the road was clear of all unpleasant situations, or so it seemed. His hopes were high of a successful business or family visit trip, as aforetime. He was full of life, with positivity of a happy ending on his trip. This probably was not his first time plying the Jerusalem-Jericho route. He was familiar with the terrain, hence nothing in him suggested an abrupt ending of his journey, on this particular beautiful day.
This is typically an example of our experiences, as humans, and a few of challenges we are prone to, in life. We wake up, full of life, set out on a daily basis to take care of our daily routines, as we travel short or long distance. Hardly do we envisage obstacles / calamities on our way, taking it for granted that the journeys must always be smooth. Yes, no one prays for the unexpected...but it does happen once in a while. Boom, the unexpected happens ! [Have we in anyway experienced such?]. I had experienced such a couple of times..but came out unscathed by the grace of God, such that in one particular instance, a medical doctor was on hand to offer initial assistance and assessment before the official paramedics arrived the scene. Among the varieties of ugly vicissitudes of life in our environment that we are vulnerable to, include what our main character in our submission, fell victim to- thieves. Thieves, in whatever context used, are no friends! No. Thieves are unwanted and uninvited guests in our space. No right thinking person embraces thieves or makes friend with thieves, at least, knowing fully well, who they are.
Thieves In The Text
The concept of 'thief' is subtly and better captured in Jhn. 10:10, "the thief does not come except to steal, and kill, and to destroy." Meaning, the manifesto of thieves is three-fold: steal, kill, and destroy. This, they displayed gallantly in the botched journey of this gentleman between Jerusalem and Jericho. They had a field day on a helpless, defenseless, and innocent man. Having stolen from him, they "stripped him of his clothing." Stripping here represents nakedness. The thieves of this world are out to naked their victims: of their resources, possessions, materials, power, and in some cases intellectual stealing , varying from plagiarism to piracy, and other related forms of intellectual and proprietary stealings and compromises. This consequently exposes such victims to all forms of ridicules, jeering, and leaving them heart broken. People whose works and productions had been pirated suffered the most, especially if the funding that footed the entire production was borrowed...on trust, or collateral. Someone previously known to having nobility is hereby reduced to nothing and a state of horrible humiliation. He's subject to starting all over again after years of hard labour, if possible at all. Except God sends help, it becomes practically impossible to rise and reach the peak again. A notable and famous comedian in my part of the world, was one of such victims. The financial mess he found himself after one of his major productions was pirated, was so devastaing that his life was cut short. He did not only lose a substantial investment, he just could not meet up with the initially agreed terms, conditions, and the demands of repayment, as set forth in the promissory note, by the lending financial institutions that financed the project. And whenever this happens, your guess is as good as mine. No banks joke with the depositors' money in their possession...the collaterals of the borrower(s) go for it when the chips are down.
And with nakedness comes shame. Accompanying shame is ridicule. After Samson was "naked" of his power by Delilah, he became nothing but a mere object of ridicule, "call Samson, that he may perform for us." (Jud.16:25). Delilah, with her "hidden" razor, was the thief on the journey of Samson to destiny fulfilment. Also, seeing oneself naked in a dream is telling you something substantial and tangible is being stolen from the victim's destiny. The journey of life might be hampered for such a person.
"Wounded" : he was wounded on the journey. Friends, wounds and injuries are sustained in the journey of life. Physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds, are a common feature in the journey of life. Such wounds are caused or inflicted by several factors. The major effect of such wounds is to ground their victims. Physical wounds happen as a result of accidents, both domestic and highway. Could be as a result of attack by thieves as we have in our text above. Emotional wounds happen when the most trusted spouse, friends, allies, siblings, work/ business associates, employers, employees, intentionally hurt a party. Recovery may never happen again... Such could lead to perpetual depression. (Note that included in the part of the journey of life are our marriages, businesses, jobs, ministries, et al).
Spiritual wounds are as stated above. This could be triggered as a result of spiritual orchestration. The scripture says, "but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way" (Mt.13:25). The enemy that went his way after sowing the tares, was apparently expecting a result- a never pleasant result on the part of the victim(s). Extreme care should then be taken to be sure we are not our own enemies, if especially as parents, all we are after is to set out to 'sow seed' of discord and bitterness in our families, or use our positions as an avenue to take undue advantage of the helpless or to opress those under us. Of this, the scripture says, "see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In THE DAYS OF HIS SON I WILL BRING THE CALAMITY ON HIS HOUSE." (1Kgs.21:29). Anyone belonging to the house of Ahab, has to pray hard to NOT sustain this spiritual wound, in their lifetime. Ahab was a man, among men of his days, who thrived in this area of sowing wickedness, "...those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same" (Job.4:8).
"Half dead", is no life. Our LORD expects us to live our lives to the fullest, "i have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (Jhn.10:10). This man was left half dead by the thieves. He needed every urgent help and strength, to be back on his feet, else he died!
Irony Of Life
At times when we encounter situations like this, there is a mindset that there are certain groups or a class of people or friends that we can fall back on, that should come to our aid, almost immediately. This could be as a result of our bonding or by reason of close affinity, peer groups, family ties, membership of an organization, or a religious belief/ faith. However, if for whatever reason(s), the much needed aid is not forth coming from any of these quarters, does it put paid to our lives? Not at all. Life must continue any how. At the same time, it has to be said that failure of any of these spheres to extend a helping hand is not necessarily due to lack of resources or means. The simple fact is that "compassion" is missing ! [ It is pertinent at this point, to say prayer of compassion is what ALL believers must pray, consistently]. Compassion goes a long way to overcoming all apparent, visible, and known obstacles and excuses to receiving help and assistance. This is the major factor between the Priest, the Levite on one hand, and the Samaritan, on the other, in our submission, as seen in the paragraph below.
Sidebar:
Thieves, in whatever context used, are no friends! No ! Thieves are unwanted and uninvited guests in our space. No right thinking person embraces thieves or makes friend with thieves, at least, knowing fully well, who they are.
At times when we encounter situations like this, there is a mindset that there are certain groups or a class of people or friends that we can fall back on, that should come to our aid, almost immediately. This could be as a result of our bonding or by reason of close affinity, peer groups, family ties, membership of an organization, or a religious belief/ faith.
Unhelpful Duo: The Priest & The Levite
There are a few people like these men, in the journey of our lives- having the capacity, likelihood, appearance, or form to help, but for whatever reason could not offer the help. Or it could be a result of wrong assumption on our part...
One after the other, they walked pass the helpless man, in spite of their religious leanings. This implies religiosity or professing a particular faith, is not a prerequisite to giving a helping hand to the needy. And religiosity is not synonymous with compassion, anyway. Helping the needy and the helpless, then implies the helper having compassionate heart. On several occasions, Jesus Christ did most of the healing tasks out of compassion,"...and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick." (Mt.14:14). Compassion then, "is a divine spontaneous outburst that moves even the least expected and / or an unknown person to act decisively and favorably in a critical situation, to a fellow person. And with compassion comes a commensurate 'selfless' actions". [OLUSEGUN A EMOSU, NOVEMBER 2024].
The Samaritans
The Jews isolated themselves from the Samaritans due to different religious views, opininons, beliefs, and practices. However, on the road to Jericho, a helpless man receieved an unusual and a rare lifetime help, that was not a trade mark of the isolated Samaritans.
Compassion
This is the heart and crux of this submission. The dictionary meaning of compassion means to "suffer together". It is also the sympathetic pity and concern for the suffering or misfortune of others. It also means the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another's suffering and feel motivated to relieve the suffering. Our man in this submission had suffered so much that the major help he needed to be back on his feet to recover all, was compassion. Compassion is that intangible gesture money cannot buy. Compassion spurs the giver the urge to go over and beyond the needed assistance to the receiver. Compassion is not deployed by reason of blood relation, either. It is given just because God is at work in a particular situation. It is unlimited and unrestricted, in scope and operation. It gives hope to the hopless and succor to the down trodden. Compassion, in the spiritual context, obliterates all guilts, sins, pains, and accusations. It reinstates a person or situation to the original state, as if nothing happened. Like curse, compassion may run through lineages. [OLUSEGUN A EMOSU, NOVEMBER 2024]
Putting all he had suffered behind him, the victim in this passage needed to brace up for life again. Yet, in that helpless state, a man with whom he had no relationship, was readily available, on hand to give all it would take to give a hope and future, yet again. The compassion in this narrative took a similar process to how the sojourner was annihilated by the thieves. The compassionate man engaged in physical first aid : bandaged the wounds, poured oil and wine, as needed, set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. He went the extra mile to pay the cost of the clinic and would still pay more, if any accrued .
By and large, compassion is a major feature in the ministry of our LORD. He, most times, did not just pray for His audience to get healings. Beyond that, He put the spirit of compassion in Him to work, to alleviate the sufferings, and meet the physical needs of the crowd, "now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, i have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And i do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." (Mt.15:32). In healings, the spirit of compassion in Him yet carried out healing and deliverance on His audience. Such healings cut across several agelong and foundational attacks, stubborn diseases, and afflictions; inherited or by birth. Name it: the deaf, lame, dumb, blind, and all the likes, "and when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and when He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick" (Mt.14:14). By compassion, He restored the weary and the scattered, "but when He saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered like sheep having no shephered" (Mt.9:36).
Regardless of the disposition of the audience in His days to Him and the ministry, Jesus Christ did not downplay the importance of compassion in reaching out to them. It was His watchword to connecting with the crowd, even when all odds were against Him. Money was never a consideration, hence, He reached out to both the poor and rich, including Zacchaeus. He was always overwhelmed by the helpless and hopeless conditions of His followers which naturally would trigger His compassionate aura. At that point, He spontaneously would the needful, even in cases where healing was needed. He did both, simultaneously. In other words, Jesus Christ would not perform miracles, be it of healing of any kind of afflictions, diseases, or any related conditions, without extending a hand of generosity to satisfy all immediate need(s) that were lacking in the life of the healed- all simply because He had compassion.
Prayers
LORD, in the journey of my life, i shall NOT be a victim of thieves.
LORD, in the journey of my life, i shall NOT be naked.
LORD, in the journey of my life, i shall NOT be wounded, & where i had sustained injury, let Your soothing balm do the work of permanent healing .
LORD, in the journey of my life, position compassionate people on my way.
LORD, in the journey of my life, let Your compassion accompany me on a daily basis, and let it run in my lineage.
Conclusion
The famous narrative of the "Good Samaritan" is unique on its own for the singular fact that a Samaritan went out of his way to give a helping hand to a man in a helpless situation. This he did using his personal skills and resources, even at the risk of his life considering the fact that the assailants might even be hanging around, to come after whoever came to the injured man's aid. In addition, these (Samaritans) were a people often discriminated against by the Jews. He did not allow the stigma of the discrimination stand between him and the compassion he had to emit to the man that was down.
Above all, he put forth the spirit of COMPASSION in him to do everything needed for a man that he never knew. Without compassion, in this narrative for example, the Samaritan would not blink an eye to offer a helping hand to an unknown fellow. Friends, compassion is real. It is that element that would make the most stingy person to give all, unconditionally, and not requesting or expecting a pay back. Compassion does not check who we are before it goes operational at every given time. Compassion does not discriminate, and neither does it operate by blood relations. In other words, the fact that we are blood related does not guaranty compassion flowing from siblings to siblings, parents to children, children to parents, spouse to spouse, and vice versa. Ask Esau...if compassion was to flow in that direction, staying glued to the verbal contract agreement would not be a prevailing deal between him and his twin brother, Jacob. Hence, compassion is simply God's benevolence to whomever He wishes to bestow it on, using a human agent. Essentially, compassion is a fountain flowing out of God's mercy that we all should desire and aspire to drink from, as we journey on in life. Truthfully, it's a very important and major prayer point. May God find us worthy of His compassion. Amen !
© November 2024
Being A Monthly Scripture Bulletin
From The Desk Of
Olusegun A Emosu (The Blessed, The Chosen, & The Preferred)
The Redeemed Christian Church Of God,
Rehoboth Parish,
2244 Panola Rd, Suite 2 (3 D Complex),
Lithonia GA 30058
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