I've Been Robbed
St. Peter Lutheran Church, Doss, TX
Luke 10:25-37 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered: “‘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, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
The text is the Gospel for the day. Let’s hear it once again paraphrased by Peterson.
“Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?” He answered, ’What’s written in God’s law? How do you interpret it? “ He said, ’that you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence-and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.” “Good answer,” said Jesus. ”Do it and you’ll live.” Looking for a loop hole, he asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?” Jesus answered by telling a story. “There once was a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way, he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man. A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him on to his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning, he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper saying ’Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill-I’ll pay you on my way back.’ What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?” ‘The one who treated him kindly,’ the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, ‘Go and do the same.’
Let’s look at our text one more time with the help of some of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Narrator: A man was driving down the road in an old Cadillac. Another car zoomed up.
Robbed Guy: (Sitting chair) Who are these guys trying to run me off the road? Are they driving a stick shift with a cell phone or what? Oh no, I’ve got nowhere to go but the ditch.
Narrator: Two robbers ran up to car.
Robber 1: This is a stick up. Give me your dough.
Robbed Guy: I don’t even have a buck. I use plastic.
Robber 2: Don’t be smart. Let me look in that wallet.
Robber 1: Yeh, get out of the car.
Robbed guy: (stands up from chair)
Robber1: Here’s the wallet
Robbed guy: Wait a minute.
Robber 2: (pretends to hit victim over the head)
Robbed guy (falls to floor)
Robber 1: Grab the car. Let’s go. (They grab chair and run off to a pew and are seated)
Robbed guy: (lays there, moaning)
Narrator: Now it just so happened that a preacher was going down that same highway. When the saw the fellow, he stepped on the gas and went scooting by. (Walks from in front of pulpit to lectern and stands) (His homiletical mind probably made the following outline:)
Preacher: 1. I do not know this man. 2. I do not wish to get involved in any court proceedings 3. I don’t want to get blood on my new upholstery 4. The man’s lack of proper clothing would embarrass me upon my arrival in town 5.and finally, brethren, a minister must never be late for worship services. (Goes to pew and is seated.)
Narrator: Shortly afterward a lawyer came down the road and when he saw what had happened, she too stepped on the gas. (What her thoughts were we’ll never know, but as she whizzed by, she may have been singing…) (from in front of pulpit to lectern)
Levite: (sings) ”They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love…” (Walks off set to pew and is seated)
Narrator: Then a poor man traveling that way came upon the fellow and what he saw moved him to tears. He stopped and bound up his wounds as best he could, drew some water from his water jug to wipe away the blood and then laid him on the backseat. (All the while his thoughts may have been along this line:)
Samaritan: ”Somebody’s robbed you. Yeah, I know about that; I been robbed too. And they done beat you up bad. I know, I been beat up too. And everybody just go right on by and leave you laying there hurting. Yeah, I know, they pass me by, too.” (puts bandage on head of robbed and helps victim into wheel chair)
Narrator: He drove on into Kerrville and took him to the hospital and said to the nurse, (who stands up, brings over wheelchair)
Samaritan: ’You all take good care of this man I found on the highway. Here’s the only money I have, (Hands her an envelope) but you all keep account of what he owes and if he can’t pay it, I’ll settle up with you when I make a payday.’
Nurse Nods and wheels patient off down center aisle.
Narrator: Now if you had been the man held up by the gangsters, which of these three-the preacher, the lawyer or the poor man – would you consider to have been your neighbor?” The congregation said, “Why of course, the one who treated me kindly.” (in bulletin)
Jesus said, ”Well, then, you get going and start living like that.”
Does this parable show how we care for others? Jesus once said these words: Matthew 25:37-40 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.‘ All of us have been created in God’s image. Jesus too lays alongside the road, robbed, beaten and left for dead. He waits for you and for me. What will you do? Amen
