Viral madness has arrived and we should all be asking the question, “what does loving your neighbor look like in this present climate?” We have all probably heard by now about the guy who hoarded over 17,000 bottles of sanitizer in his garage. While some look at the viral outbreak and think, “I can profit from this disaster.” Others go out and buy endless amounts of toilet paper while saying, “I just want to make sure we are ready.” I say, “Yikes, what exactly are you getting ready for?!?” While there is wisdom in having a level of preparedness, I wonder how much of the hoarding is driven by either fear or greed. In the next few weeks I hope to help us to explore what it might look like for us to love our neighbors in the midst of the viral madness.
Jesus and the Lawyer
Luke 10 records for us a different way to respond. This epic exchange between a lawyer and Jesus includes perhaps the most well known parable of Jesus. The lawyer sought to test Jesus and justify himself by asking a few questions. Interestingly, rather than answering the questions, Jesus asked a few questions of his own. And in so doing, we are provided with an amazingly practical picture of what loving our neighbor looks like. On the contrary, we will come to see that the lawyer’s questions were not genuine questions seeking honest answers. This man only wanted to hear what he wanted to hear. Instead, Jesus offered him what he needed to hear. I submit to you that not much has changed and we need to hear the same answer honest answer from Jesus in our day.
The Good Samaritan And Viral Madness
The parable of the good Samaritan is just as relevant as the day it was spoken. Luke 10 is a disaster not unlike the Corona virus that exposes humanity and reveals who or what we trust in. During this season of endless news about quarantines and social distancing I hope to bring to you another perspective. We would do well to gain the perspective of the Savior when disaster strikes our neighbor.
For today, I invite you to slowly read the familiar Scripture about Jesus’ famous exchange with the lawyer. If the Lord wills, I hope to begin to further unpack in the coming days as it relates to us today.
Loving Your Neighbor
Luke 10:25-37 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
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.”
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This sermon (“Peace… how we lost it and how to get it.”) was preached on Sunday March 15, 2020. It is also relevant to current events. You can listen to it by clicking: Here.
Love it!