Boy, the Good Samaritan’s parable packs a punch. We had gleaned some lessons from the settings to the same, now let us fasten our seat belts for flight of spiritual learning from the actual parable.
5.Course
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho…” (Luke 10:30)
No, No, it was not a case of man going from Jericho to Jerusalem but the other way around. Bible students would be aware of the fact that not only geographically, it is a case of going from “top to bottom” (Jerusalem is located on a mountain and Jericho is on a plain) but even in the spiritual sense, it was a case of leaving the secure environs of the “Blessed, Holy” City of Jerusalem (Ps. 87) where the temple is located to go the cursed city of Jericho (Joshua 6:26/1 Kings 16:34). How nice, it would have been for Adam and Eve to have remained in the “Holy city of Obedience” (away from the Forbidden tree) rather stepping off it into the domain of darkness and disobedience!!!
6.Consequence
“When he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.” (Luke 10:30)
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
Where do you find armed robbers? Busy malls or lonesome dark alleys? Where do you find lions? In the Cities or Forests? When we are in the “Cities of obedience”, no roaring lion (read Satan) can attack us, only when we stray into the “forests of disobedience”, we are ripe for trouble. When Adam and Eve stayed away from the Forbidden tree, everything was going well for them, when they strayed by going near it, it was curtains for them!!! It was curtains for one Mr Samson too, when he strayed into the forbidden Gaza away from the secure “holy” environs of his hometown in Israel… (Judges 16:1-4)
Prayer: Father, All Thy Divine instructions are for our own good. Give us the strength and the desire always to remain in the “Cities of obedience”. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Suresh Manoharan
J and SM Ministries
(To access the rest of the “It’s ‘All’ There” mini-series, please click here.)