Participants: John Bradshaw
Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW001351
00:01 [Music intro] It has stood
00:08 the test time, God's book, the Bible, still relevant 00:17 in today's complex world. 00:21 It Is Written, sharing hope around the globe. 00:36 I'm John Bradshaw, this is It Is Written. 00:39 Thanks for joining me. 00:40 Wesley Autrey was standing on the platform of a subway 00:43 station in New York. 00:45 With him were his two little daughters, aged 4 and 6. 00:48 Suddenly another man on that platform had a seizure, he 00:52 stumbled, and fell off the platform onto the subway 00:56 tracks. 00:58 And at that moment the lights of an oncoming train appeared 01:01 in the tunnel. 01:03 What was going to happen would be horrific. 01:07 But without hesitation, Wesley jumped down onto the 01:09 subway tracks - with the train approaching - and tried 01:12 to drag the man out of harms way. 01:15 Then he realized the train was approaching too fast and 01:18 there would be no time to get the man off the tracks. 01:21 But realizing there was a drainage trench between the 01:23 tracks, Wesley pushed the man into that gap and threw 01:27 himself on top of him. 01:29 Just seconds later the train rushed right over the top of 01:34 them, barely missing Wesley. 01:36 It was so close that the train left grease marks on 01:41 Wesley's knitted cap. 01:44 When the train came to a halt, Wesley called up to the 01:46 frightened onlookers on the platform. 01:49 "There are two little girls up there. 01:51 Let them know their Daddy is OK." 01:54 Instantly Wesley Autrey became a national hero. 01:57 Everyone was moved by his bravery and for the 01:59 compassion he showed a total stranger. 02:02 There was no logical reason for him to risk his life. 02:06 He had two small daughters up there to think about. 02:09 But a human being was in desperate need, and Wesley - 02:11 moved with compassion - did what he could to save the 02:14 man. 02:15 The press called him "The Subway Superman", the "Harlem 02:19 Hero." 02:21 But the headline in one newspaper described Wesley 02:23 Autrey in biblical terms. 02:26 It read, "Good Samaritan Saves Man on Subway Tracks." 02:32 You know, a couple of thousand years ago, Jesus 02:34 related an incident that was somewhat similar. 02:37 It's the parable of the Good Samaritan. 02:40 It is well known. 02:41 It's likely the basis of this story was a real incident. 02:44 It could be ... 02:44 could be that it was headline news and possibly some of the 02:47 people in the crowd listening to Jesus may have personally 02:50 known the characters in the story. 02:52 That's possible. 02:54 Today we're going to look at that story. 02:56 And we're going to take a close up look. 02:58 As a matter of fact, together we are going to go together 03:00 to Israel. 03:02 The parable of the Good Samaritan is set on the road 03:04 between Jerusalem and Jericho. 03:05 Today, part of that road is known as the Wadi Qelt, and I 03:08 visited that road to see what it was like - not just today, 03:12 but to get an idea of what it must have been like 2000 03:14 years ago when Jesus related that parable. 03:18 Being in that location caused me to reflect upon the story 03:21 of the Good Samaritan. 03:22 One thing you notice about the area is that it's a harsh 03:25 environment. 03:26 Rocky and arid and dry - and hot. 03:32 Jesus, in Luke 10 told a parable regarding a man who 03:36 had had that very experience and he set the parable on 03:40 this road, track, path, trail ... 03:45 whatever word you'd like to use. 03:47 He talked about a man who was walking to Jericho and this 03:50 was the way to Jericho. 03:51 Of course, there is no way at all to know just where this 03:55 happened, but it happened somewhere along this road and 03:57 you can imagine what it was like. 04:00 Here is what Jesus said: "A certain man went down from 04:04 Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves who stripped 04:08 him of his clothing, wounded him and departed him, leaving 04:11 him half dead." 04:13 I can imagine that. 04:15 And if you get left for dead around here, it is not going 04:18 to be a pretty sight. 04:20 You wouldn't have a whole lot of hope. 04:23 And then we read this very interesting passage where 04:25 Jesus pretty well skewers the religious establishment 04:29 because he says ... 04:31 "Now by chance a certain priest came down that road 04:34 and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side." 04:38 Now, as you look at this road, there are wider bits 04:41 and narrower but it's not a freeway The priest, 04:45 who got out of the way who had been wounded 04:48 virtually had to step over him or step around him and 04:51 most likely it wasn't a matter of crossing a wide 04:54 place but maybe his robes, his flowing robes even 04:58 dragged over the poor fellow's half-dead body as he 05:01 went by so it's not like the priest could say "never saw 05:04 him." 05:05 The priest couldn't miss him and actually had to go to 05:09 some effort to avoid the man and then Jesus talks on 05:12 likewise a Levite. 05:15 When he arrived at the place, he came and looked and passed 05:19 by on the other side. 05:20 So, he saw something. 05:21 He said, "Ah, what's that? 05:22 I think I'll go and check it out." 05:24 And he came and he saw this fella and he realized ... 05:31 "Naaaa, not the sort of things I want to bother 05:34 getting my hands dirty with." 05:35 And he too went around the guy. 05:37 Then Jesus says, "There came by someone who was a 05:40 Samaritan." 05:42 One of these lower cast, lower class guys, the kinds 05:46 of people that the Israelites looked at like they were 05:48 dogs, treated like they were less than human, and he came 05:52 by. 05:53 And I want to think with you, now that we are in this 05:55 environment, about what the story really means. 05:58 The Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was, 06:01 and when he saw him, he had compassion. 06:03 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring 06:08 on oil and wine and he set him on his own animal, 06:12 brought him to an Inn and took care of him. 06:16 So this man found the wounded fella, the wounded man, he 06:18 refers to him as a man, we don't know what stripe he 06:20 was. 06:21 He put him on his animal. 06:23 I mean, look at this environment. 06:25 He went to some trouble to do this. 06:27 It wasn't easy. 06:27 He went out of his way and then he said: You know, 06:33 instead of just going to Jericho where I was going, I 06:36 think I'll go and find an Inn. 06:39 He may have taken him to Jericho for all we know, but 06:41 going to an Inn wasn't a matter of just going, driving 06:43 to the next freeway exit and pulling off at the Motel 6 or 06:45 The Hampton Inn and Suites, or whatever the case might 06:47 be. 06:48 He went out of his way and found a place and he said, 06:53 look after this man for me. 06:55 I'll even come back and make sure that I've given you 06:58 enough money, because if it takes more money that I've 07:00 left for you to look after this man, then I will come 07:03 back here and I will settle it Being in this place where 07:08 the story actually happened shines a whole new light on 07:12 the story of The Good Samaritan. 07:15 Here on the Jericho Road, the road where Jesus walked. 07:19 Jesus told the story to make us stop and think about what 07:21 it is to be compassionate. 07:29 [Music] But is there more to the story 07:36 of the Good Samaritan? 07:37 Let's look further in just a moment. 07:46 In Matthew 4:4, the Word of God says, "It is written, 07:49 man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that 07:53 proceeds from the mouth of God. 07:55 Every Word is a one-minute Bible-based daily devotional 07:58 presented by Pastor John Bradshaw and designed 08:02 especially for busy people like you. 08:04 Look for Every Word on selected networks or watch 08:07 it on-line everyday on our website, itiswritten.com. 08:11 Receive a daily spiritual boost. 08:13 Watch Every Word. 08:15 You'll be glad you did. 08:16 Here's a sample: 08:27 In 2 Thessalonians 2:10, the Apostle Paul wrote about 08:31 a certain group of people who he said received not the love 08:35 of the truth that they might be saved. 08:37 Based on what Paul is saying, only those who love 08:40 the truth will receive eternal life. 08:43 He didn't say salvation is for those who know the truth 08:46 only but those who love the truth. 08:49 I'm sure churches are crowded with people who know 08:51 the truth but it is only when Jesus touches your 08:54 heart that that truth starts to make any real difference. 08:57 While you study the Bible and do whatever else you do 08:59 for spiritual growth, keep in mind salvation 09:02 is not only about theory. 09:04 You can be right and still be wrong. 09:07 It is when you love the Savior who you find in the midst 09:10 of the truth of God's word that things really come 09:13 alive. 09:15 I'm John Bradshaw for It Is Written. 09:16 Let's live today by Every Word. 09:20 This is It Is Written. 09:21 I'm John Bradshaw, thank you for joining me today. 09:23 Today, the story of the Good Samaritan. 09:26 Now to get from Jerusalem to Jericho today would take you 09:28 no more than an hour by car, less than an hour. 09:33 It's a distance of not quite 30 miles, and what's 09:36 interesting about that trip is that along the way you 09:39 descend about 3250 feet - 1000 meters or so. 09:44 That's how far down you go. 09:46 Now why did Jesus tell the story of the Good Samaritan 09:49 do you think? 09:50 Was it just because He wanted to share the lesson of 09:52 compassion? 09:54 No doubt that was part of it, but Jesus shared this story 09:57 in answer to a question. 10:00 And the answer the story provided spoke directly to 10:02 the needs of the hearts of His hearers - and it speaks 10:06 to us today. 10:07 A theologian had asked Jesus this question, he said, "What 10:09 shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 10:12 (Luke 10:25). 10:13 So what Jesus said in response - which includes the 10:16 story of the Good Samaritan - is to be understood in the 10:20 context of the subject of SALVATION. 10:23 What is the process of salvation? 10:26 A serious question. 10:27 A wrong answer could have eternal consequences! 10:31 Jesus responded by saying this. 10:33 You read it in Luke 10: "What is written in the law? 10:38 What is your reading of it?" 10:40 (Luke 10:26) When Jesus preached to the multitudes in 10:44 the Sermon on the Mount, he said "You have heard that it 10:47 was said." 10:48 Most of those in His audience that day couldn't read. 10:50 They had to rely on what they have heard which is why Jesus 10:53 said "You have heard." 10:55 But this man was learned, he could read. 10:57 Jesus asked him "What is your reading of the law? 11:02 Now this man knew his Bible. 11:04 He summarized the first four commandments by quoting Moses 11:08 in Deuteronomy 11:13. 11:09 Let's look at that. 11:11 "I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and 11:15 to serve him with all your heart and with all your 11:18 soul." 11:19 For a summary of the last six commandments he referred to 11:22 Lev. 11:23 19:18 "You shall love your neighbor as yourself..." 11:27 His answer came easily. 11:31 This was something the lawyers, the theologians, 11:34 discussed among themselves. 11:36 Jesus said "You have answered rightly; do this and you will 11:40 live." 11:42 But there was another question also hotly discussed 11:44 among the lawyers: "How should one's neighbor be 11:48 defined?" 11:49 So this man snapped back "Who is my neighbor?" 11:53 To answer this question, Jesus told the story of the 11:56 Good Samaritan. 11:57 Looking at everything in context we see that this 12:00 parable isn't simply an appeal from Jesus to be more 12:02 compassionate as important as that is, and it is important. 12:06 The issue, however, is much bigger. 12:09 What is at stake here is the question of how to be saved. 12:12 The parable of the Good Samaritan is part of Jesus' 12:14 answer on how God saves us. 12:16 Now let's make sure we don't miss something important. 12:21 The question asked was, "Lord, What must I do to be 12:24 saved?" 12:25 On the answer to this question hinges our eternal 12:27 destiny. 12:28 And no one can give us a better answer to this 12:32 question than the Savior Himself. 12:34 Therefore, we need to listen carefully. 12:39 The answer our Lord gave is a radical answer. 12:42 Essentially, He said this: "Obeying the law is a vital 12:47 part of the salvation experience." 12:49 Now, we know that salvation is a gift that can't be 12:53 earned. 12:54 Paul said this in Romans 3:20, "By the deeds of the 13:00 law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight. 13:05 That's clear. 13:06 Galatians 3:11 let's read that: "But that no man is 13:10 justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: 13:14 for, the just shall live by faith. 13:18 Again and again the New Testament proclaims that 13:19 salvation is by God's grace through faith. 13:24 (Ephesians 2:8, 9) "For by grace are ye saved through 13:26 faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of 13:29 God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." 13:33 (Ephesians 2:8, 9) The Bible says this in Romans 10: "That 13:37 if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and 13:40 believe in your heart that God has raised him from the 13:42 dead, you will be saved." 13:44 (Romans 10:9). 13:45 So what was Jesus saying when he told his hearers in the 13:48 story of the Good Samaritan? 13:50 Well for one thing, it's much the same as what He told 13:54 the Rich young Ruler. 13:55 If you want to be saved, if you want to live in the right 13:59 relationship with God, it's important that you keep 14:02 God's commandments. 14:03 Now - does saying that make a person a legalist? 14:10 Only if you want to call Jesus a legalist! 14:13 Salvation is definitely a gift from God. 14:15 And Jesus certainly is not suggesting that we begin 14:18 trying to earn salvation with our obedience and good deeds. 14:22 So how do you reconcile this? 14:25 How do you bring these two points together? 14:27 Jesus telling people to obey the commandments if they're 14:30 serious about salvation, and Paul saying that salvation 14:33 comes freely, by grace through faith? 14:39 We want to remember that salvation is a love affair. 14:43 It was initiated by God because, as the Bible says, 14:46 "God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son 14:50 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have 14:54 eternal life." 14:55 (John 3:16) Salvation is the gift of God's love. 15:00 Sin estranged us from God. 15:03 To find His lost sheep Jesus left His Father's house and 15:07 condescended to be clothed with humanity. 15:10 He endured the brambles and thorns of Calvary. 15:12 He shed His blood, He endured the agony of the crucifixion, 15:16 in the darkest hour on the hill of Golgotha he cried 15:19 out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" 15:25 The pain caused by this separation broke His heart 15:28 and caused His death. 15:30 But He found His lost sheep and all heaven rejoiced with 15:34 Him. 15:35 And now there is nothing He wants more than to have us 15:39 with Him forever. 15:41 In His High Priestly Prayer He had one passionate 15:44 request: "Father," Jesus prayed, "I desire that they 15:48 also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am." 15:53 (John 17:24) There is nothing Jesus wants more than to have 15:58 you and me with Him forever. 16:02 But God's offer isn't meaningful in any practical 16:05 way until the sinner responds to it. 16:08 What good will eternal life be to those who don't love 16:12 God? 16:13 People who haven't learned to love God wouldn't even be 16:16 happy in heaven! 16:17 They'd be miserable. 16:20 Because God loved us, we respond to His love by loving 16:25 Him in return. 16:27 The apostle John said "We love him, because he first 16:31 loved us. 16:32 (1 John 4:19) The primary reason why we should desire 16:37 to be saved is because we love Jesus so much, we 16:41 appreciate so greatly the love of God that we want to 16:44 spend eternity with Him. 16:46 And Jesus makes it very clear that our love for Him must be 16:49 supreme. 16:50 Remember what he said? 16:51 Let's read this together. 16:52 Here is what Jesus said: "He that loves father or mother 16:55 more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or 17:00 daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 17:04 And he who does not take his cross, and follow after me, 17:08 is not worthy of me." 17:09 (Matthew 10:37, 38) Such a love for Jesus leads to 17:16 eternal life and this is what Jesus told the lawyer. 17:18 If you love God with all your heart, mind, soul and 17:21 strength, then He will save you. 17:24 And what is it that demonstrates this love? 17:28 Do you want to hear it: This is in 1 John 5: "For this is 17:33 the love of God that we keep His commandments." 17:37 (1 John 5:3) And Jesus said in John 14:15 "If you love 17:43 me, keep my commandments." 17:45 Now notice he was not saying "If you love me then go ahead 17:49 and prove it by keeping my commandments. 17:52 Jesus was saying If you love me, something is going to 17:55 happen in your life. 17:56 It's an inevitability that you will keep my 17:58 commandments. 17:59 Those who were save won't have worked their way to 18:02 heaven. 18:03 But their obedience will have shown that they loved God, 18:05 they loved Jesus with all their hearts. 18:08 Jesus wasn't telling the lawyer that salvation is by 18:10 works. 18:11 He said "You confess that you must love the Lord with all 18:15 your heart if you want to be saved. 18:17 That is the right answer. 18:18 But, your love for God will be revealed by your obedience 18:21 to God's commandments." 18:24 But then Jesus takes it a step further. 18:26 I'll have more in just a moment. 18:31 Planning for your financial future is a vital aspect 18:33 of Christian stewardship. 18:35 For this reason, It Is Written is pleased to offer free 18:38 planned giving and estate services. 18:40 For information on how we can help you, please call 18:42 1.800.992.2219. 18:46 Call today or visit our special website, 18:50 www.hislegacy.com. 19:05 Eyes for India is giving sight to the blind and you 19:09 can be a part of this amazing work that God 19:11 is doing. 19:13 15 million blind people live in India, more than any 19:16 other country in the world. 19:17 And many of the blind in India could see again 19:20 if only they could have simple cataract surgery. 19:24 It Is Written is making that happen. 19:27 Would you support Eyes for India? 19:30 For just $75, you'll be giving the gift of sight to someone 19:34 who desperately wants to see. 19:36 Here is all you need to do: Call 1.800.253.3000 to 19:41 donate and support Eyes for India or you can write to 19:46 It Is Written, Box O, Thousand Oaks, California 91359. 19:52 You'll also find Eyes for India on-line at 19:55 itiswritten.com. 20:00 The concept of loving God is pretty easy to get your arms 20:02 around, isn't it? 20:04 That is, it's obvious God is good. 20:08 He gives us life, He pours out His blessings, we know He 20:11 is good... 20:12 Our problem is usually more often with those who are 20:14 closest to us. 20:17 You'll notice in the parable of the Good Samaritan, the 20:19 lawyer - who was actually a theologian, a doctor of the 20:22 law - asks Jesus a really interesting question. 20:26 Jesus affirmed him when he told Jesus that people ought 20:29 to love God and love their neighbor. 20:31 He got that from the writings of Moses. 20:33 But he said to Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" 20:37 And you'll notice, the passage in Luke 10 says that 20:40 he asked Jesus this because he was "willing to justify 20:44 himself" (Luke 10:29). 20:47 The parable of the Good Samaritan challenged the 20:49 people listening to Jesus. 20:51 Because in the eyes of the Jews, there were no "good" 20:55 Samaritans. 20:56 They were all bad. 20:57 The worst insult a Jew could sling at the one he despised 20:59 was to call him a Samaritan. 21:01 Listen how they maligned Jesus. 21:04 "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have 21:08 a demon." 21:09 (John 8:38) In their eyes no one could be lower than a 21:13 demon possessed Samaritan. 21:15 The woman at the well told Jesus this,"the Jews have no 21:18 dealings with the Samaritans." 21:21 (John 4:9 KJV) The shortest route between Jerusalem and 21:24 Galilee went through Samaria but many Jews were willing to 21:27 almost double the distance by crossing the Jordan and 21:30 travelling up the west bank up to the Sea of Galilee just 21:34 to avoid going through Samaria. 21:36 If just the shadow of a Samaritan fell on a Jew, he'd 21:39 feel morally unclean. 21:42 Yet here's Jesus telling these people that a Samaritan 21:45 was their neighbor. 21:47 In this parable Jesus drives home a powerful lesson home. 21:51 You can talk all you want about loving God, but the 21:54 truth is that your love for God is no stronger than your 21:57 love for your fellow man. 21:59 Your confession that you love God may be impressive, but 22:02 it's meaningless unless you love your neighbor as 22:06 yourself. 22:07 The Bible says this, in 1 John 4:20, 21: "If a man 22:14 says, I love God, and hate his brother, he is a liar: 22:18 for he that does not love his brother whom he has seen, how 22:21 can he love God whom he has not seen? 22:24 And this commandment we have from Him: That he who loves 22:28 God must love his brother also." 22:32 (1 John 4:20, 21) Jesus said in Luke 6:32 (NKJV), "But if 22:36 you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? 22:39 For even sinners love those who love them." 22:43 This is what makes this parable so powerful. 22:45 The Priest and the Levite by their offices, confessed to 22:48 love God. 22:50 They did service for Him. 22:51 Their lives were committed to Him. 22:53 They were recognized by the people as "spiritual". 22:56 But Jesus says their profession was meaningless. 22:58 It was only a show. 23:01 Those who truly love God will reveal their love for God by 23:04 how they treat others. 23:06 The Samaritan might have been despised, but he showed more 23:10 genuine love for God than did the Priest or the Levite. 23:13 Through this parable Jesus is speaking to us. 23:16 He asked Peter, "Do you love Me?" 23:19 He is still addressing this question to you and me. 23:21 We can claim to be Christians, or a good person, 23:24 show up in church, keep a Bible on our bookshelf, but 23:28 the truth is revealed when we find a neighbor next to us on 23:31 the road. 23:32 Whatever we do to one of the least, we do it to Jesus. 23:36 Too many people are Priests and Levites in the way they 23:39 treat others. 23:40 They confess to be saved... 23:41 but their confession is hollow. 23:45 There is no salvation for anybody as long as there is a 23:48 neighbor who needs help while we pass by on the other side, 23:52 unmoved. 23:53 And let's turn that over. 23:56 We shouldn't claim that our neighborly actions give 23:59 evidence that we are truly Christians if our lack of 24:04 obedience to God shows otherwise. 24:07 These are two sides of the same coin. 24:09 Salvation will reveal that you love God because 24:13 obedience to God is being shown, demonstrated in your 24:17 life through obedience to God's Commandments. 24:20 But on the otherwise, if all you have is obedience and no 24:24 love for your fellow human being, that obedience isn't 24:27 really worth two cents. 24:29 They go hand in hand. 24:32 Jesus shared the parable of the Good Samaritan to show us 24:35 this. 24:38 Today, I'd like to make you a very special offer. 24:40 We've talked today about genuine Christianity and I'd 24:43 like to share with you a resource that will help you 24:45 understand what genuine Christianity looks like and 24:48 how you can experience it in your life. 24:50 How you can know God and be close to him and have a 24:53 genuine Christian experience. 24:56 This book is powerful. 24:58 It's called Steps to Christ and I can tell you because 25:02 I've read it over and over again. 25:04 This book will bring into your life the power of God 25:07 and will help you to understand what it means to 25:09 know Jesus truly as your Lord and Saviour, how to have a 25:13 relationship with him that is successful and that will keep 25:17 you moving in the footsteps that Jesus trod. 25:20 Just call 1.800.253.3000. 25:24 Ask for the book Steps to Christ. 25:27 You can call 24 hours a day. 25:29 If the line is busy, just keep trying. 25:32 You can also request this free book by writing to It Is 25:35 Written, Box O, Thousand Oaks, CA 91359, and we will 25:40 mail a copy to your address in North America. 25:44 Now please note. 25:45 This free book is limited to the supply on hand. 25:48 For immediate access, you can download a free electronic 25:52 version of the book Steps to Christ from our website. 25:55 Itiswritten.com. 25:57 It Is Written is a faith-based ministry made 26:00 possible by viewers like you. 26:02 To help the worldwide outreach of It Is Written, 26:04 your tax-deductible gift may be sent to the same address 26:08 or you can give online at itiswritten.com. 26:11 Thank you for your continued support. 26:14 Our toll free number is 1.800.253.3000 and our web 26:19 address is itiswritten.com. 26:25 I'd like to pray with you now. 26:27 Let's pray together. 26:28 Our Father in heaven, we thank you for this wonderful 26:31 parable Jesus shared of the Good Samaritan. 26:34 And how through this simple story Jesus shows us that our 26:39 profession of faith in you is revealed in how we treat 26:42 others. 26:43 Give us grace to be Good Samaritans and at the same 26:47 time as Jesus spoke to that theologian, he made it very 26:51 clear that He calls us to be obedient and faithful and to 26:57 follow the Word of God and the precepts of heaven. 27:01 Lord, I think we can confess we're incapable of that. 27:04 We need you to come into our lives and do in us what we 27:08 cannot do ourselves. 27:10 Thank you that there is a Savior, one who transforms 27:13 and enables us to do what we couldn't do otherwise. 27:16 We thank you today and we pray in Jesus' name, amen. 27:41 Thank you for joining me today. 27:43 I look forward to seeing you again next time. 27:45 Until then, remember - It is written, man shall not live 27:49 by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the 27:53 mouth of God. |
Revised 2015-02-05