XXV The Good Samaritan
There was once a lonely man, walking in Palestine on the mountainous road between Jerusalem and Jericho.
He had no one with him, and his heart sank as he recalled the stories of the wild men who lived in the caves, and came out to rob unfortunate travellers who passed that way.
The silence was unbroken, and as he looked from side to side and hurried along, he began to hope that he might reach Jericho without mishap.
The road lay between steep hills and mountains, and there were sharp corners and jutting rocks all along the way, which would hide any number of the robbers who haunted the place.
But all his fears and all his anxious, watchful glances were of no use. Suddenly a band of thieves sprang out of their hiding-place behind him, and in a moment they surrounded him, robbed him of all his property, and, as he evidently resisted them with all his might, they not only robbed him, but cruelly wounded him, and then made off, leaving him by the roadside, half dead.
Sad indeed was his plight, lying there in the glaring sunshine, aching with pain and consumed with thirst. “Would no one come to help him?” he sadly thought.
Yes—he heard footsteps coming down the stony path, and as they drew nearer and nearer, his hope began to revive. Surely some kind man would take pity on him!
And then the steps came close to him, and at last, as he lifted his weary eyes, he saw one of the Jewish priests standing for an instant, arrested by the sad sight, but, when the priest saw him, he passed by on the other side of the road, and went away.
So the lonely man lay there, still suffering and uncared for.
Presently another step was heard, and another man, a Jewish Levite, came along the road, and, catching sight of the wounded man, he came over and looked at him; but he, too, passed by on the other side.
But at length there was a traveller who was making the same journey, and he saw the poor man lying there dying; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. A great pity filled his heart. He could not bear to see him wounded and suffering.
So he quickly went to his side and bound up his wounds, putting on them the only salves he had with him, oil and wine, which would both soothe and heal the sores; and then he lifted him on to his own donkey, and walking by his side and doing everything he could for the poor man, he brought him at length to an Inn, where he made him as comfortable as ever he could, and stayed with him all night.
You can picture to yourself this kind traveller sitting quietly by the suffering stranger, and cheering him with kind words, and bidding him hope for better times, when he should be well again.
At length the morning came, and the traveller was obliged to proceed on his journey. So he called the Master of the Inn and gave him some money, and told him to take care of the stranger, and promised to repay the Innkeeper, when he returned, whatever he had spent in caring for the sick man.
Nov when the Lord Jesus told this story to the lawyer who had been questioning him, He turned to him and asked him, “Which do you think was a neighbour to this man that fell among the thieves?”
So the lawyer answered him, “The one who shewed mercy on him!”
And Jesus said to him words like this, “Then you go and do the same.”
And now, I think, our Lord Jesus, who looks down from heaven at all that is happening here, says to each one of us, as we pass on our journey through this world—“Go thou, and do like that kind Samaritan.”
And perhaps you say to yourself: “How can I? I do not see any wounded men that want help—I am only a boy, and nobody needs my care! I am only a girl, and I have lessons and work to do, and I have not got any neighbours, such as that story speaks of—people who want my help—I am only a little girl!”
Yes, that is natural for you to say to yourself, but just stop for a moment and think.
You have a brother who is a Scout! Is not he always looking out for opportunities to help others? Cannot you be a “Scout” for Jesus our King? Cannot you, whether you are boy or girl, do at least one kindness a day?
That invalid sister drops her ball of wool! Cannot you stop as you are racing out to play, to pick it up, and give her a sweet smile of cheer into the bargain?
That schoolfellow has a headache and cannot get his sums right. Could you not bend over him for a moment or two, and help him find out the mistake, and set him free to come out and play?
Oh, do not say in your heart, “He is nothing to me, I cannot help his troubles!” Do not be like the Priest and the Levite. Cheer up everyone you come across, and if you do this for Jesus your King, believe me, your life will be full of sunshine and joy.
Do one kind deed every day, and you will end in being, in very truth, like the Good Samaritan whom Jesus praised.