Compassion that restores

We read in the gospel of a certain lawyer who came to Jesus. He inquired, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus replied, ‘What is written in the law? How does it read to you?’ The lawyer replied, ‘You shall love the Lord your God will all your heart, your soul, your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself’. The lawyer understood this. However, he was trying to justify himself. He asked Jesus, ‘Who is my neighbour?’ Luke 10:27-29. 

Jesus began to tell him a parable of the good Samaritan. ‘A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.’ Luke 10:25-30. This parable reminds us of a verse in the book of Isaiah. ‘A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoking flax He will not quench’. Isa 42:3. We could say that this man, beaten and left for dead, was a bruised reed or smoking flax. But who would have compassion on him? Who would come and restore him?

The first person to come along that road was the priest. But as a priest, he was forbidden from touching anything unclean, anything that would defile him. He was caught in a dilemma. He looked at the situation from the basis of right and wrong. However, God wanted to bring him to a greater place, a place of compassion that restores another person. Unfortunately, he reverted to his comfortable, legalistic ways. He saw the man’s distress, but had  no compassion in himself.

Later on, a Levite came down that same road. And the Levite also refused to help the wounded man. Eventually, a ‘Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion’. Luke 10:33-34. With compassion, he came alongside the one in need. This Samaritan was most certainly ‘on a journey’. He wasn’t living by time and chance. He had a pathway to walk and he was most certainly following that path. His journey had taught him, and produced within him, a heart for  compassion. Genuine compassion allows us to show patience, and particularly when it is not convenient for us. The Samaritan went out of his way, and came alongside, where the man was lying. Isn’t that the compassion of Christ? Christ doesn’t just see you. He comes to where you are.

Genuine compassion is able to come right down to meet an individual where they are, and give life to them! He stopped the bleeding, bandaged the wounds, and poured oil and wine. The Samaritan made a way for this man to walk when he couldn’t walk. He took care of him on that day and stayed with him until the next day. Then he left provisions for every other day. Isn’t that marvellous? Compassion meets a person where they are,  bringing restoration and life.

Ray Jackson

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Feature Articles
September 2008

Searching out a man

The new birth

Signs of the times

The national anthem

Overcoming fear & anxiety

Anointed with oil

Compassion that restores

The success formula

Desire to be known

At ease in your youth

The mother of all wars