The way of the parable.

One of Jesus' best known parables is of the Good Samaritan. The concept of the Good Samaritan is well known in our culture. But I would argue, not very clearly. The concept is understood in our culture as a kind selfless person who helps out others simply because others are in need. A "do-gooder" as we say. That actually is not the point of the parable at all and I think Christianity downplays the real meaning of the parable because it makes an anti-exclusivist statement. For many Christians, Christianity is nothing if it is not exclusive.

What was a Samaritan? It was the sworn religious enemy of the Jews... mark that- sworn religious enemy. They had their own temple in Samaria, their own priests, they were a "false religion", and thus, damned by God in the eyes of the Jews. This is no small point. If Jesus had come today within the Christian religion, he might use "Muslim", but even this pales in comparison to how much religious intolerance there was between the Jews and Samaritans in Jesus' day.

Why was this parable told?

Jesus was asked by an expert in the Jewish Religion: "How can I get eternal life?"

Jesus replies: "What does your religion say?"

The expert replies wisely: "Love God with everything you've got, and love your neighbour as yourself."

Jesus responds: "That should do it."

The expert, unsatisfied with the vague answer (that he himself was probably only parroting), had to ask further: "Define 'neighbour' please?"

Instead of laying it out black and white, Jesus says: "Let me tell you a story..."

Jesus tells the story of a man critically injured by robbers and left on the road half-dead. Two of the the most esteemed figures in the Jewish religion separately come upon the man (a priest and a Levite), and ignore his plight. Ouch. Then comes along a Samaritan, (suspense...) and he binds up the man's wounds! Ouch. Pours oil and wine on the wounds to help them heal. Ouch. Puts the man on his own donkey, and walks beside it. Ouch. Takes him to the hotel and pays for the manager to take care of him. Ouch. And tells the manager, "whatever else you spend to care for him, I will pay you back when I return." Ouch! But it is not only "ouch" it is also, "I know what this Samaritan is doing is right".

In the end Jesus asks: "Which of the three shall we define as the 'neighbor' of the injured man?"

The expert replies:

"The... uh... the...the one who showed him mercy"...

You know, usually it is a lot easier to say one word than to say six words. But not always. The expert just could not bring himself to say: the "Samaritan", he just couldn't get the word past his lips. It was just too much, too radical an idea to hear come out of his own mouth. But he did validate the idea as best as he could.

Jesus now wraps it up: "You go and do likewise." This is the driving point of the message: Don't worry about defining "neighbour", go MAKE neighbours for yourself with neighbourly behaviour.

The well timed parable teaches a lesson in a powerful and unforgettable way. It anchors a truth within a real life setting.

I will end with what I consider to be the best film representation of the power and method of parable. This is taken from the old movie "Jesus of Nazareth".