ritten by Sabrina Campos, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Memphis, TN
We’ve read and studied many stories in the Bible about Jesus’ relationship with the teachers of the law. We insert ourselves in the story, most often identifying ourselves with the Pharisees and Sadducees. And often judging them.
I used to judge them a lot when I was a kid. I could not believe the audacity of some of those teachers. Trying to be tricky, always prideful, and arrogant. At the end of every story, I would think to myself: I bet this person never repented from being this way.
It's interesting how God can use the same story a bunch of different times to teach us different lessons over the course of our lives. One of those stories we read time and time again is found in Luke 10:25-37, The Parable of the Good Samaritan:
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
What incredible patience Jesus had!
If I was allowed to answer what I wanted, I probably would have said: “What do you think? Aren’t you the “teacher of the law?” I thought you were supposed to know this already.”
But Jesus not only shows patience, but also love and interest.
In our relationships, we think we have all the answers. And if we ever feel like we are being trapped by a question we either decide to fight or flight. But Jesus, who has all the answers, provides a third option: engage.
He ignites the spark of interest, knowing that the expert in the law would know the answer to this question well. He engages him by making him talk about the subject he loves most in the world: the law!
Jesus sees a human, a flawed, lost soul. He sees past the exterior of a man who might be prideful and arrogant.
And He also affirms:
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
And when the teacher of the law doesn’t understand and tries to justify himself, Jesus doesn’t give up. He gives an example, because He knows sometimes, we need visuals.
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
We’ll never know if the teacher of the law really “went and did likewise.” But we can learn a lot from the way Jesus taught and created an honest relationship with the teacher.
Jesus doesn’t judge the questions; He shows great patience, love, and interest. He sees past the exterior. He engages. He affirms. And ultimately, He understands that sometimes we just don’t understand. And so, He takes us by the hand and shows us examples. Like a big brother showing his younger sibling how to act by being himself a perfect example.
Relationships are hard, because we are always expecting something. We expect others to affirm us and love us, to repent and change. We expect them to be our neighbors.
But Jesus says: “Go and do likewise.” You be the neighbor; the example. You will show patience, love, affirmation, because I did that for you. You will explain things a million times, if necessary, because I do that for you. You will take their hand and walk with them, because I will do that with you ‘til the end of time.
Go and do likewise.