The good Samaritan

This parable from Jesus is found in Luke 10:29-37. It was the answer of Jesus to a question from a lawyer who wanted to justify himself. The question was, "who is my neighbor " T
The question it self is very legitimate, because we can understand that God is not just talking about the people who are living next door.
In the light of the fact that daily there are so many urgent needs presented to us, we need to make choices as to whom we apply our aid. All of us have limited recourses and abilities. Other than prayer, we can not attend to the sufferings of the whole world. Therefore it is good to know from God which neighbor we should help.
From this parable we can deduct that our God will place the needed help cases on our pathway.
And it might be even people we do not like much! There was a great dislike between the Jews and the Samaritans! Jesus showed also that being a member of the clergy does make you necessary more spiritual.
Besides answering the question who our neighbor is, the parable also paints a picture of Jesus Himself. He is the good Samaritan. He was also rejected and despised.
The traveler was probably a backslider, because he was traveling in the wrong direction. Not going up to Zion, the city God, but returning to Jericho, the easy place of entry into the Promised Land.
I am assuming here that you have heard that the journey of God's chosen people to the promised land is a picture of our Christian life.
When we are going the wrong way, Our merciful God does many things to prevent us from backsliding and going into perdition. In this case, the highway robbers got to the traveler. The good Samaritan [Jesus]
was the only one who had compassion and took the wounded traveler back to the inn [church]. This after
applying wine [God's Word] and oil [the Holy Spirit]. Before He left, He paid a down payment for the cost and promised to return to pay in full.
Hallelujah! Jesus is coming back and will pay in full for our complete restoration !
Let us praise and worship Him!
Johannes G Weiss