"Who Is My Neighbour?"

In Luke 10:30-37 we find the narrative of the story, told by Jesus, that is often referred to as that of "the Good Samaritan". A lawyer, with less than noble intent, had asked Jesus, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus in turn asked him what was written in the law, and according to Luke, "And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?" (vv. 27-29, KJV). It was to this question that Jesus related the story.

In our culture when we think of our neighbours, we think of people whose homes are relatively close to ours. Yet in the narrative we find Jesus teaching that our neighbours extend beyond those with whom we share anything materially common. When they saw the injured Jew lying by the side of the road, the immediate reponse of the priest and the Levite, who were fellow Jews, was to "pass by on the other side" (vv.31,32). "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee" (vv.33-35). The beauty of the Samaritan's response is even more profound when we consider that at the time the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans (John 4:9).

"Who is my neighbour?" As another Christmas approaches, and we think of festivities, families, friends, gift exchanges, and other good things, for the Christian the question becomes even more relevant. It is easy to forget those who rely on the food banks, those hard hit by the economic times, children who will go giftless, the familiar face we pass everyday of the one sitting with a cup or hat in hand begging for spare change. From Jesus' perspective, these are also our neighbours. As the Samaritan took care of the injured Jew, Jesus' admonition to the lawyer, and to us, is to "Go, and do thou likewise" (v.37).

Reach out and extend a hand to a neighbour. If you are a parent, it is also a great time to teach your child(ren) to look beyond themselves. On that very first "Christmas", God gave mankind His very best. In your immediate sphere of influence, why not do something tangible for the less fortunate around you?

From my house to yours, a very merry Christmas.

When Fear Overcomes Faith

When Jesus said to Peter "Come", and he immediately jumped over the side of the boat and started walking on water (Matthew 14:25-29), I have often wondered what was going through his mind. Lest we forget, the sea at the time was not calm for the boat he and the other disciples were in was "in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary" (v.24, KJV). Conditions were of such that Peter could not see Jesus clearly, but despite the howling winds, he had no problem hearing His voice, and in his mind, that was good enough for him. Have you ever been there?

If we could have spoken to Peter afterward, I think he would have said he got out of the boat because the safest place to be in a storm is wherever Jesus is. Very few would argue with that. However, let us not not forget that before Peter got to where Jesus was, he almost didn't make it. We are told that "when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me" (vv.29-30). Isn't that like so many of us? Wanting so much to be where Jesus is, but often overtaken by the circumstances around us. Like the boisterous wind, the situations we often face leave us feeling shaken and afraid. Many times we do not feel His presence, neither can we "see" Him, yet it is comforting to know that in the wee hours of the morning, the darkest part of the night, He not only knows where we are, but we can hear His reassuring voice bidding us to "Come" towards Him.

For Peter, and many of us, fear sometimes overtake faith. It is in those moments that our knees buckle and we start to falter. Some people say Peter took his eyes off Jesus but the text doesn't support that. Despite his steadfastness in obeying the voice of his Lord, again like some of us who have tried to do the same, he fell victim to his humanness; he became afraid. That fear interrupted his walk but not his focus, for "beginning to sink, he cried saying, Lord, save me." Who do you call when your walk becomes interrupted by fear and personal failure?

There was no hesitation in Jesus' response to Peter's cry. Matthew tells us, "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him" (v.31a). Yes, He also did rebuke him for his lack of faith, but His immediate response should be comforting to believers everywhere. Despite ourselves and our failures, and regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in, Christ's love for us never wavers. As soon as he began to sink, Peter called out and was saved. Let that be our example for when we feel we can't go much further, for it is when we come to the end of ourselves that we will find Him to be more than enough.

Divine 'Accident'

Intersections. Who really stops to think about them? As drivers we pull up to them, drive through them, wait in them, and perhaps for an unfortunate few, the experience of an accident or two. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines an intersection as, among other things, "a place or area where two or more things ... [meet]." Naturally, good and bad things can happen at, and in, these common meeting areas!

While doing a recent study on the Atonement, it occurred to me that the greatest "accident" to ever take place at an "intersection" happened over two thousand years ago at a place Christians call Calvary. When mankind transgressed the laws of God, His holiness and justice demanded the ultimate punishment for such transgressions. In Ezekiel 18:4 God reiterated, "Behold, all souls are mine ... the soul that sinneth, it shall die" (KJV). In the New Testament Paul declared, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" and "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Jesus, the spotless lamb of God, and the only one qualified to lay down His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45), not only demonstrated the Father's love for mankind (Romans 5:8), but in paying the price for our sins, appeased or satisfied the wrath of God against said sins (Romans 1:18; 3:25).

As Jesus hung on the cross, two great attributes of God were on display; His love intersecting with His justice. Having declared us guilty, which automatically evoked the death sentence, God the Righteous Judge stepped down from throne, "wrapped" Himself in love and came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. He took our sentence upon Himself, and when the work was done, triumphantly declared "It is finished" (John 19:30). In that moment our redemption was complete; by His stripes [bruises, wounds], we were made whole (Isaiah 53:5).

As we ponder this "intersection" and reflect on the Cross standing there, may we never forget what was on display. Love and justice met, and by God's grace we came away victors. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). To Him be all honor, glory, and praise.