Unjust Desserts

“What must I do to get that cool plastic bowling alley set?” I am sure those were not the exact words I used, but it was something similar. It was back in the pre-Adam Walsh days when kids where dropped off in the toy aisles while parents went shopping. It was one of those great trips when Dad would come along and hang out in the toy aisle as well. After touching and moving nearly everything, a beam of light shot through the ceiling and landed on a plastic bowling set. It was red, blue, green, and yellow. The ball that came with it was black--just like a real one! I had to have it as every fiber in my being told me this was the one. The toy I had always dreamed of. To this day I can still hear the “Hallelujah chorus” when I think back to that moment. So I looked up into the face of my father with those “I’m an angel and you know it” eyes and asked, “What do I have to do to get that cool plastic bowling alley set?”

What happened next has come to my mind many times over the years. It was one of those defining moments that make you take a step closer to the mystery of adulthood. It was also one of those moments that brings you closer to your father because you start to realize who he is in the world, not just at home. There was an elderly lady across the dividing aisle near the toiletries. She was taking on the task of manipulating a walker and one of those little baskets with the handles designed for a small shopping adventure. Her trembling hand went out to “squeeze the Charmin” but she did not have the dexterity of Mr. Whipple, and the entire wall of toilet paper tumbled down. My father, without missing a beat, turned to answer my question. He said, “Love your neighbor. Help this woman put the toilet paper back.”

A lawyer challenges Jesus, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 10:25, NLT). This lawyer is well-versed in the Scripture and the Law. He can probably recite the Torah from memory. He is no fool. Maybe the question is honest; maybe it is designed to make Jesus look inept. Whatever the reason for the question, it remains a good question, “what do I have to do to live forever?” The heart of this lawyer is unknown to us, but can you imagine the sneers from the other teachers of the Law who hated Jesus. Finally, someone with the courage to stand up to this false teacher. Someone who will put Jesus in His place, and therefore, put us back into ours rightful place. What a question! How could this lawyer lose? If Jesus answered truly, then everyone hearing would be given the answer to the riddle of the ages. If Jesus floundered and failed to answer, or answered foolishly, then the lawyer would be a hero. He might even get the corner office he has had his eye on.

Jesus, in good rabbinic fashion, turns the tables for a moment. He asks the lawyer, “What does Moses say? How do you read it?” (v. 26, NLT). The lawyer answers, “`you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, `Love your neighbor as yourself'” (v. 27, NLT). Jesus hears the truth in its unashamed nakedness--the lawyer has answered correctly. What simplistic beauty! The lawyer has described life and eternal life in a nutshell.

It is too simple for the lawyer, trained in the ramblings of the mind. To him, it is an answer he learned in Rabbi Basics 101. All the nearby rabbis are listening now, intrigued by this developing argument. Lawyers know better than to accept anything at face value. The law can not be taken for what a kindergartener reads in it, it must be taken apart, dissected, and explored. Each word must be defined. Every jot and tittle must be scrutinized because eternal life is at stake. The lawyer is not going to let Jesus walk away with an answer any thinking person could have given. So the lawyer uses the methods he has been trained to dissect Jesus’ seemingly simple answer.

Leaning in for dramatic effect, the lawyer asks Jesus, “who is my neighbor?” (v. 29, NLT). If eternal life is dependant on love of neighbor, then a definition of neighbor is in order! Is my neighbor the person in the house next door or is my neighbor the whole neighborhood? Maybe my neighbor could be people of my race or country? Tell me who is my neighbor and what it means to love them?

Today we ask the same questions. We are all lawyers of sorts. Each person wants some checklist he or she can use to gain eternal life. We wonder if the social drink or cigarette will block our way to heaven. Perhaps if we make sure we wear the right clothes, say the right words, drive the right car, and give the right amount of money to the church we can make it to heaven. We are constantly striving to answer every question, but the important question, “who is my neighbor, and how do I love them?” Are illegal aliens, homosexuals, homeless on the corner with the “will work for food sign,” or co-worker my neighbor? Who is my neighbor, and how do I love them?

When we drive by the gruff looking gentleman with the tattoos beside the broken down car, do we know who our neighbor is? Do we know who our neighbor is when we pick up our pace at the supermarket because it looks like the pregnant teenage immigrant might ask us for help? It is difficult for us to put our finger on just what constitutes a neighbor. The world is different than 25 years ago. Neighbors where easy to pick out 25 years ago because they looked, talked, and even walked like we do. Now, they look different, walk different, speak different, and truth be told, they even smell different. So Jesus, who is my neighbor? I really like that you agree with the lawyer, but let’s narrow this down but “love your neighbor as yourself” sounds more like a song on Sunny 93.9 FM than a lifestyle or divine guidance.

Jesus is not intimidated. It seems as though He is prepared for the question. Perhaps the answer flows from His being like sweat flows from pores. Whatever the reason, His answer is staggering. Jesus tells the lawyer the story of the “Good Samaritan.” The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was known as the “Way of Blood.” Everyone knew only a fool would travel that road alone, and it is just this kind of fool that begins Jesus’ story. The man who is attacked and left for dead is a neighbor of the lawyer. The lawyer is probably thinking already he would lend a hand, but Jesus does not stop the story. It begins to sound like a bad joke, “there was a priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan,” but this is no joke.

Notice the people on this road are heading away from Jerusalem, not toward it. Anyone with religious duties to perform, like a priest or Levite, would be heading toward Jerusalem, not away from it. If your job is to ritually clean why get out of the habit just because you are off the clock for a little while? After all, it is easier to stay clean than to go through a cleaning ritual to become clean.

It was not uncommon in these days for a trap to be set in a situation like this. Perhaps the Priest and Levite thought caution was the better part of valor. What if this injured man was a thief in waiting? What if the moment they showed interest in him, a band of thieves jumped out and attacked them like they attacked the wounded man? Anyone listening would have respected the keen awareness of these two as being most practical. No one expects them to put themselves into harm’s way for a stranger, even if he is of the same race, color, creed, and religion. Anyone who would expect that is living in a dream world--or a different kingdom.

Then Jesus produces the punch line, but it is not funny at all. Jesus says a Samaritan stops to investigate the problem. Not only does this Samaritan (remember to say that with disgust) stop, he touches the injured man, who might be dead by now. Of course a filthy Samaritan would not mind touching the dead--after what they did in the Temple! But that’s another story for another time. The Samaritan is probably seeing if he has anything valuable the thieves missed. What? He actually shares his own limited supply of first aid and applies it to this man?

The lawyer is now starting to shift his feet a little. This is not how the story is supposed to go but it gets worse. This filthy Samaritan takes the injured man to a hotel where he can recoup and even pays the bill. Not only does he pay the bill, he tells the manager on duty he will cover any bills incurred. The lawyer may be thinking he would rather be left on the side of the road to die than to accept the kindness of a no-good Samaritan.

Jesus ends His story by asking the learned lawyer who knows the way to eternal life, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” (v. 36, NIV). The rabbis listening are angry. They thought the lawyer had Jesus in a corner. They thought they would finally make a mockery of Him. The lawyer can barely believe what has happened. Through a set jaw he is able to coax the words, “The one who had mercy on him.” (v. 27). He can not even bring himself to say “the Samaritan.” Was the lawyer changed, or did he go home bitter? We do not know. All we have is a question turned in on itself with an answer that may not sit well.

Who is my neighbor and how do I love them? Jesus tells this story as if it were easy to internalize. It is told so quickly the point would seem to be obvious. Yet it still is unsettling today. From this story shows us we are called to love people, even those we hate or fear. Love is an action: we can’t stand by while our neighbor suffers. If we are to be a true neighbor, we have to reach out and touch people. We have to embrace them and carry them to help. It may cost me more than time; it may cost me my well-earned money, pride, and comfort.

Where is the loophole? This whole thing was started in order to find the cleanest and straightest road to heaven and we ended up with a call to love all. It might not be the answer we want. Can’t we just send the check in the mail? Isn’t Sunday morning worship enough to serve Christ? We may wonder how to love the people we hate. How do we embrace those we find disgusting?

Let’s think back--the lawyer had the good news all the time. Jesus did not change the rules or pull the proverbial rug out from under the universe. He just breathed Spirit into dead words. The first part of the answer to the question of eternal life was to “love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” (v. 27). Perhaps the latter flows from the former. I can love God because He first loved me. Because He empowers me to love Him, I am enabled to love others. I am doomed if I have to do it alone, this can’t be done alone. God empowers those whom He loves to love Him and others. You are not left on the side of the road. You have been bandaged and taken to a resting place. The price of your lodging has been paid for as long as it takes. Now you know there is no excuse. The lowly Jesus has reached out and embraced you. You may not have wanted His touch, but it is through His touch you live.

I got the big plastic bowling alley but I did not help the elderly woman. I was scared of strangers at the time (I still am a little). I was even more frightened by old ladies with walkers who smelled funny. Instead of helping, I hid around the corner and I watched my father help. In his small way my father showed what a Savior had done for him years ago. I watched him reach out and heal. Driving home with my bowling alley was one of the most painful experiences of my life. I knew I did not deserve it. I had been given a glance at the way of the kingdom, and I knew I did not measure up. Thinking back I realize receiving the gift first is how most kingdom lessons are learned. It is through grace we are enabled to live in the kingdom and we are empowered to love in the face of fear and hatred. No tricks, no slight of hand, no hidden clauses. The secret to eternal life is plain and simple. “‘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.’” (v. 27).