But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
Luke 10:25-37
Sin causes us to stray - it leads us away from God
A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho...
Sin robs us - it steals all that we were meant to be in Christ and leaves us debtors
...and he fell among robbers...
Sin humiliates us - it strips us of self respect and dignity
...who stripped him...
Sin assaults us - it causes us physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual distress and disease
...and beat him...
Sin abandons us - it empties us of the promises of God and leaves us in hopelessness and despair
...and departed, leaving him half dead.
Christ honors us - He cares for us with extravagant love and compassion
...Then he set him on his own animal
Christ heals us - He binds up our wounds, and heals us with the oil and water of His Holy Spirit
...and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.
Christ saves us - He rescues us from condemnation and death
...(He) came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him...
Christ guides us - He leads us to safety and tends to our needs
...and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
Christ redeems us - He pays all our debts, past, present and future, and promises to return for us
...And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’
Sin is not just something we are inclined to do, it is something that rules over us. Only Christ can set us free from sin. Those of us in Christ owe Him our lives and much more. We are freed by His mercy, but we rejoice because of His grace.
