Biblical References: “Good Samaritan”(Luke 10:25-37)

Theme: HOPE, LOVE AND REDEMPTION

By Pastor Parnell M. Lovelace, Jr.
Center of Praise Ministries Rancho
Cordova, CA

SCRIPTURES:
• 25 “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there comedown a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”

THEME:
1. Hope, Love and Redemption: Beyond the common interpretation of one individual showing compassion for another, there lies a deeper message – a powerful expression of the Father’s love and redemption for all who would seek Him.

The story reflects on what happened to mankind in the original fallen Garden of Eden. The thief – Satan – wanted to strip us of our relationship and communion with the Father. He proceeded to wound the human race and impose affliction to remind us of our fallen state. And just as the thieves in the parable left the traveler half dead, the fall left Adam and Eve half dead – they died spiritually, but were physically still alive.

Today, many men and women within our African American family find themselves also stripped of life, health and family members due to the devastation of HIV. The church must serve as the catalyst that embraces a vision that seeks to provide hope regardless of how ravaging the affliction. We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit and called to proclaim the redemptive message of Jesus Christ around the world.

HIV/AIDS References:
• A 1998 report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more African American and Latino gay men were diagnosed with AIDS than Caucasian gay men. By contrast, this same group represented 31 percent in 1989. This doesn’t include the alarming increase of newly diagnosed cases among women of color.

• Sickness is healed by love. We must display that love to those living with HIV or AIDS. Sitting side-by-side with those carrying HIV can help demystify the dangers of the virus. It can help congregations realize that those infected are not different in other ways and pose no threat, as the disease cannot be spread through casual contact such as talking, dining together, hugging, etc.

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FULL SERMON

HOPE
By Pastor Parnell M. Lovelace, Jr.
Center of Praise Ministries Rancho
Cordova, CA

Luke 10:25-37

This familiar parable found in Luke 10:25-37 is a message of one individual showing compassion for another. However, beyond this common interpretation, there lies a deeper message – a powerful expression of the Father’s love and redemption for all who would seek Him.

The story begins with a lawyer challenging Jesus with this question: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (vs. 25). This question is the foundation of everything in the parable that follows

Jesus responded to the man by posing another question: “What does the law state?” (vs. 26).

The lawyer answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself” (vs. 27). Christ then told the man that if he did this, he would live.

However, the lawyer wanted to justify himself; so he asked Jesus exactly who his “neighbor” might be.

Jesus countered with a story, further illustrating His point: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him and departed, leaving him half dead.” (vs. 30).

This statement reflects what happened to mankind in the original fall in the Garden of Eden. The thief – Satan – wanted to strip us of our relationship and communion with the Father. He proceeded to wound the human race and impose affliction to remind us of our fallen state. And just as the thieves in the parable left the traveler half dead, the fall left Adam and Eve half dead – they died spiritually, but were physically still alive.

Today, many men and women within our African American family find themselves also stripped of life, health and family member s due to the devastation of the HIV virus. In a recent report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was found that more African American and Latino gay men were diagnosed with the disease than Caucasian gay men in 1998. By contrast, this same group represented 31 percent in 1989. This is not including the alarming increase of newly diagnosed cases among women of color. The church must serve as the catalyst that embraces a vision that seeks to provide hope regardless of how ravaging the affliction .

Jesus continued the parable, saying that a priest and a Levite came upon the fallen man, but passed by after looking at him (vs. 3, 32). The priest here represents the written law, and the Levite symbolizes the ceremonial law. Neither one could help the fallen individual, as the law was never designed to redeem man, but only to show him that he is a sinner who needs a redeemer and savior(see Galatians 3:19; Romans 3:19-20; and Romans 5:20). The law is powerless to help at man’s most crucial point of need. The story continues: “A certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him” (vs. 33, 34).

Without doubt, Jesus Christ is our Good Samaritan. He didn’t walk past us in our fallen state. He reached down and bound the wounds inflicted upon us. Then He applied the oil – symbolic of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the redemptive process. He also applied the wine – a symbol of the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is still the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit! When we were born again, the power of the Spirit not only came to affirm our salvation, but also to empower each and every believer for the work of the kingdom (see Acts 1:8).

In the parable we observe the good Samaritan placing the man on his animal. The animal is a type and shadow of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, our Comforter and support. Christ also placed us in His Church (represented in the parable by the inn), where He lefts in the Spirit’s care.

It should also be noted that in the parable, the good Samaritan told the innkeeper that he would be returning (vs. 35). This foreshadows the second coming of our Lord and Savior. Jesus is coming again – hallelujah!

At the conclusion of His story, Jesus asked the lawyer, “which of these three do you think was the neighbor to him that fell among the thieves?” (vs. 36).

The lawyer responded, “The one who showed mercy”. Jesus then instructed the man to go and do the same (vs. 37). As believers were first called to love God with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind. And in loving Him, we are then empowered to care for and love others whom Satan has sought to destroy. We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit and called to proclaim the redemptive message of Jesus Christ around the world – to every town, city and nation!

Regardless of how far an individual has fallen, we serve a Savior who continues to reach to the lost ones along life’s corridors of affliction and hopelessness. He still pours oil and wine and affirms the call of the Church to care for those He places within its care, until He returns.

Be assured that the Father’s desire is for us to fulfill our destiny through the power of the Holy Spirit and to reach out to others just as He has reached toward us.

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