Devotional: Good Samaritans Luke 10:30-37

“And he said, ‘the one who showed mercy toward him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do the same’” (Lk. 10:37, NASB).

I am jogging down the trail that runs alongside the boulevard. Suddenly, I see a car speeding across the street in front of me. The car slams into a tree. I see the smoke coming from underneath the hood of the car. I run to investigate. Inside the car I see a woman slumped over the stirring wheel. I try to open the door on the driver’s side, but it is jammed. I run to the passenger side, and I cannot open this door either. Now, my adrenalin is flowing as I rush back to the driver’s side. I pull forcefully on the door and it opens. The woman does not respond to my voice. I again notice the smoke coming from under the hood of the car. I think, “I better get her out of the car because it may explode if fire comes into contact with the gas line.” In a flash I remember the lecture in class about the Good Samaritan laws. They are different in every state and I don’t know what the law in Ohio says.

I don’t have time to think about legal consequences. I cannot ignore the danger that faces this woman even though I am not legally required to put my own life in danger to help this woman. I reach inside the car. I lift the woman and run with her a safe distance from the car. There are other people that see what is taking place, and they offer their assistance. The police come and interview me. The ambulance comes and takes the woman to the hospital.

Now, I can plainly see with my eyes that this is a young white woman and I am a man of African American descent. At the time none of this matters. The history of slavery does not matter. Having been discriminated against because of my skin color does not matter. Whether or not I might have to deal with legal consequences of my actions do not matter. What matters to me is that I see a human being in danger. It is my responsibility as a Disciple of Jesus Christ to allow that small voice inside of me to control my actions. The voice inside me tells me to do all that I can to help this person.

Days later, I get a phone call. The woman tells me that she is the woman that I helped. She had gotten my name from the police report. She thanked me, and she wanted to send me a small gift as a token of her gratitude. I thanked her for calling me. A few days later I receive in the mail a jogging outfit.

Jesus tells a parable about a man that gives aid to a man that he does not know. He gives first aid and he pays for his care. Jesus mentions no interaction between the man from Samaria and the injured man. Does it really matter?

When we hear the cries of pain and suffering of people that are victimized by racial discrimination and injustices how should we respond. Do we walk on the other side? Do we focus on the cause of the cries or do we ignore the cries. Jesus teaches us that we are to be a neighbor to the injured and suffering. All the other details about the person do not matter.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give us the heart to be a Good Samaritan. Amen.