Participants: John Bradshaw
Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW001416A
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00:05 [Music intro] It has stood
00:12 the test time, God's book, the Bible, still relevant 00:22 in today's complex world. It Is Written, sharing hope 00:30 around the globe. 00:41 I'm John Bradshaw, this is It Is Written. 00:43 Thanks for joining me. Wesley Autrey was standing on 00:46 the platform of a subway station in New York. 00:49 With him were his two little daughters, aged 4 and 6. 00:53 Suddenly another man on that platform had a seizure, he 00:57 stumbled, and fell off the platform onto the subway 01:01 tracks. And at that moment the lights 01:04 of an oncoming train appeared in the tunnel. 01:07 What was going to happen would be horrific. 01:12 But without hesitation, Wesley jumped down onto the 01:14 subway tracks - with the train approaching - and tried 01:17 to drag the man out of harms way. 01:19 Then he realized the train was approaching too fast and 01:22 there would be no time to get the man off the tracks. 01:25 But realizing there was a drainage trench between the 01:28 tracks, Wesley pushed the man into that gap and threw 01:32 himself on top of him. Just seconds later the train 01:37 rushed right over the top of them, barely missing Wesley. 01:41 It was so close that the train left grease marks on 01:46 Wesley's knitted cap. When the train came to a 01:49 halt, Wesley called up to the frightened onlookers on the 01:52 platform. "There are two little girls 01:54 up there. Let them know their Daddy is 01:57 OK." Instantly Wesley Autrey 02:00 became a national hero. Everyone was moved by his 02:03 bravery and for the compassion he showed a total 02:06 stranger. There was no logical reason 02:09 for him to risk his life. He had two small daughters up 02:12 there to think about. But a human being was in 02:15 desperate need, and Wesley - moved with compassion - did 02:18 what he could to save the man. 02:20 The press called him "The Subway Superman", the "Harlem 02:24 Hero." But the headline in one 02:26 newspaper described Wesley Autrey in biblical terms. 02:31 It read, "Good Samaritan Saves Man on Subway Tracks." 02:37 You know, a couple of thousand years ago, Jesus 02:39 related an incident that was somewhat similar. 02:42 It's the parable of the Good Samaritan. 02:44 It is well known. It's likely the basis of this 02:47 story was a real incident. It could be ... 02:49 could be that it was headline news and possibly some of the 02:52 people in the crowd listening to Jesus may have personally 02:55 known the characters in the story. 02:57 That's possible. Today we're going to look at 02:59 that story. And we're going to take a 03:02 close up look. As a matter of fact, together 03:04 we are going to go together to Israel. 03:07 The parable of the Good Samaritan is set on the road 03:08 between Jerusalem and Jericho. 03:10 Today, part of that road is known as the Wadi Qelt, and I 03:13 visited that road to see what it was like - not just today, 03:16 but to get an idea of what it must have been like 2000 03:19 years ago when Jesus related that parable. 03:23 Being in that location caused me to reflect upon the story 03:25 of the Good Samaritan. One thing you notice about 03:28 the area is that it's a harsh environment. 03:31 Rocky and arid and dry - and hot. 03:36 Jesus, in Luke 10 told a parable regarding a man who 03:41 had had that very experience and he set the parable on 03:45 this road, track, path, trail ... 03:50 whatever word you'd like to use. 03:52 He talked about a man who was walking to Jericho and this 03:55 was the way to Jericho. Of course, there is no way at 03:58 all to know just where this happened, but it happened 04:01 somewhere along this road and you can imagine what it was 04:04 like. Here is what Jesus said: "A 04:07 certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell 04:11 among thieves who stripped him of his clothing, wounded 04:14 him and departed him, leaving him half dead." 04:18 I can imagine that. And if you get left for dead 04:21 around here, it is not going to be a pretty sight. 04:25 You wouldn't have a whole lot of hope. 04:28 And then we read this very interesting passage where 04:30 Jesus pretty well skewers the religious establishment 04:34 because he says ... "Now by chance a certain 04:37 priest came down that road and when he saw him, he 04:41 passed by on the other side." Now, as you look at this 04:44 road, there are wider bits and narrower but it's 04:47 not a freeway The priest, who got out of the way 04:51 who had been wounded virtually had to step over 04:54 him or step around him and most likely it wasn't a 04:58 matter of crossing a wide place but maybe his robes, 05:01 his flowing robes even dragged over the poor 05:04 fellow's half-dead body as he went by so it's not like the 05:07 priest could say "never saw him." 05:10 The priest couldn't miss him and actually had to go to 05:14 some effort to avoid the man and then Jesus talks on 05:17 likewise a Levite. When he arrived at the place, 05:21 he came and looked and passed by on the other side. 05:25 So, he saw something. He said, "Ah, what's that? 05:27 I think I'll go and check it out." 05:29 And he came and he saw this fella and he realized ... 05:36 "Naaaa, not the sort of things I want to bother 05:39 getting my hands dirty with." And he too went around the 05:41 guy. Then Jesus says, "There came 05:43 by someone who was a Samaritan." 05:47 One of these lower cast, lower class guys, the kinds 05:51 of people that the Israelites looked at like they were 05:53 dogs, treated like they were less than human, and he came 05:57 by. And I want to think with you, 05:59 now that we are in this environment, about what the 06:01 story really means. The Samaritan, as he 06:04 journeyed, came where he was, and when he saw him, he had 06:07 compassion. So he went to him and 06:10 bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine and he set 06:15 him on his own animal, brought him to an Inn and 06:19 took care of him. So this man found the wounded 06:22 fella, the wounded man, he refers to him as a man, we 06:24 don't know what stripe he was. 06:26 He put him on his animal. I mean, look at this 06:29 environment. He went to some trouble to do 06:31 this. It wasn't easy. 06:32 He went out of his way and then he said: You know, 06:38 instead of just going to Jericho where I was going, I 06:41 think I'll go and find an Inn. 06:44 He may have taken him to Jericho for all we know, but 06:46 going to an Inn wasn't a matter of just going, driving 06:48 to the next freeway exit and pulling off at the Motel 6 or 06:50 The Hampton Inn and Suites, or whatever the case might 06:52 be. He went out of his way and 06:56 found a place and he said, look after this man for me. 07:00 I'll even come back and make sure that I've given you 07:03 enough money, because if it takes more money that I've 07:05 left for you to look after this man, then I will come 07:08 back here and I will settle it Being in this place where 07:13 the story actually happened shines a whole new light on 07:17 the story of The Good Samaritan. 07:20 Here on the Jericho Road, the road where Jesus walked. 07:24 Jesus told the story to make us stop and think about what 07:26 it is to be compassionate. 07:34 [Music] But is there more to the story 07:41 of the Good Samaritan? Let's look further 07:46 in just a moment. [Music] 07:56 If you are looking for the security of salvation 07:59 let me suggest that you call and request today's 08:01 FREE book, 'STEPS TO CHRIST.' This book will help you 08:05 in your daily walk with Jesus. 08:07 Please call or write us and 'STEPS TO CHRIST' 08:10 will be on its way to you. 08:12 There is no cost and no obligation. 08:15 It's our free gift to you. Just call 1-800-253-3000, and 08:20 ask for the book: 'STEPS TO CHRIST.' 08:23 The operator needs only your name, your address 08:25 in North America and your phone number. 08:27 Lines are open 24 hours daily. They may be busy, so please 08:30 do keep trying. You may also request this free 08:34 book by writing to: It Is Written, P O Box 6, 08:38 Chattanooga, TN. 37401, and we will mail a copy to your 08:42 address in North America. For immediate access, you can 08:46 download a FREE electronic version of the book 08:48 'STEPS TO CHRIST' from our website: 08:50 itiswritten.com. Thank you for your 08:54 correspondence and your continued support. 08:57 Our toll-free number is: 1-800-253-3000. 09:01 And our web address: itiswritten.com 09:10 This is It Is Written. I'm John Bradshaw, thank you 09:12 for joining me today. Today, the story of the Good 09:14 Samaritan. Now to get from Jerusalem to 09:17 Jericho today would take you no more than an hour by car, 09:22 less than an hour. It's a distance of not quite 09:24 30 miles, and what's interesting about that trip 09:27 is that along the way you descend about 3250 feet - 09:32 1000 meters or so. That's how far down you go. 09:36 Now why did Jesus tell the story of the Good Samaritan 09:39 do you think? Was it just because He wanted 09:41 to share the lesson of compassion? 09:44 No doubt that was part of it, but Jesus shared this story 09:47 in answer to a question. And the answer the story 09:51 provided spoke directly to the needs of the hearts of 09:53 His hearers - and it speaks to us today. 09:57 A theologian had asked Jesus this question, he said, "What 09:59 shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 10:02 (Luke 10:25). So what Jesus said in 10:04 response - which includes the story of the Good Samaritan - 10:09 is to be understood in the context of the subject of 10:11 SALVATION. What is the process of 10:15 salvation? A serious question. 10:17 A wrong answer could have eternal consequences! 10:21 Jesus responded by saying this. 10:23 You read it in Luke 10: "What is written in the law? 10:28 What is your reading of it?" (Luke 10:26) When Jesus 10:32 preached to the multitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, he 10:35 said "You have heard that it was said." 10:38 Most of those in His audience that day couldn't read. 10:40 They had to rely on what they have heard which is why Jesus 10:43 said "You have heard." But this man was learned, he 10:46 could read. Jesus asked him "What is your 10:50 reading of the law? Now this man knew his Bible. 10:54 He summarized the first four commandments by quoting Moses 10:57 in Deuteronomy 11:13. Let's look at that. 11:01 "I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and 11:05 to serve him with all your heart and with all your 11:08 soul." For a summary of the last six 11:10 commandments he referred to Lev. 11:13 19:18 "You shall love your neighbor as yourself..." 11:17 His answer came easily. This was something the 11:22 lawyers, the theologians, discussed among themselves. 11:26 Jesus said "You have answered rightly; do this and you will 11:30 live." But there was another 11:32 question also hotly discussed among the lawyers: "How 11:36 should one's neighbor be defined?" 11:39 So this man snapped back "Who is my neighbor?" 11:43 To answer this question, Jesus told the story of the 11:46 Good Samaritan. Looking at everything in 11:48 context we see that this parable isn't simply an 11:51 appeal from Jesus to be more compassionate as important as 11:54 that is, and it is important. The issue, however, is much 11:57 bigger. What is at stake here is the 12:00 question of how to be saved. The parable of the Good 12:03 Samaritan is part of Jesus' answer on how God saves us. 12:06 Now let's make sure we don't miss something important. 12:11 The question asked was, "Lord, What must I do to be 12:14 saved?" On the answer to this 12:16 question hinges our eternal destiny. 12:18 And no one can give us a better answer to this 12:22 question than the Savior Himself. 12:24 Therefore, we need to listen carefully. 12:29 The answer our Lord gave is a radical answer. 12:32 Essentially, He said this: "Obeying the law is a vital 12:37 part of the salvation experience." 12:39 Now, we know that salvation is a gift that can't be 12:43 earned. Paul said this in Romans 12:46 3:20, "By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be 12:52 justified in his sight. That's clear. 12:56 Galatians 3:11 let's read that: "But that no man is 13:00 justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: 13:04 for, the just shall live by faith. 13:08 Again and again the New Testament proclaims that 13:09 salvation is by God's grace through faith. 13:14 (Ephesians 2:8, 9) "For by grace are ye saved through 13:16 faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of 13:19 God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." 13:23 (Ephesians 2:8, 9) The Bible says this in Romans 10: "That 13:27 if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and 13:30 believe in your heart that God has raised him from the 13:32 dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9). 13:35 So what was Jesus saying when he told his hearers in the 13:38 story of the Good Samaritan? Well for one thing, it's much 13:43 the same as what He told the Rich young Ruler. 13:45 If you want to be saved, if you want to live in the right 13:49 relationship with God, it's important that you keep 13:52 God's commandments. Now - does saying that make 13:57 a person a legalist? Only if you want to call 14:01 Jesus a legalist! Salvation is definitely a 14:04 gift from God. And Jesus certainly is not 14:07 suggesting that we begin trying to earn salvation with 14:10 our obedience and good deeds. So how do you reconcile this? 14:15 How do you bring these two points together? 14:17 Jesus telling people to obey the commandments if they're 14:20 serious about salvation, and Paul saying that salvation 14:23 comes freely, by grace through faith? 14:29 We want to remember that salvation is a love affair. 14:33 It was initiated by God because, as the Bible says, 14:36 "God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son 14:40 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have 14:44 eternal life." (John 3:16) Salvation is the 14:49 gift of God's love. Sin estranged us from God. 14:53 To find His lost sheep Jesus left His Father's house and 14:57 condescended to be clothed with humanity. 15:00 He endured the brambles and thorns of Calvary. 15:03 He shed His blood, He endured the agony of the crucifixion, 15:07 in the darkest hour on the hill of Golgotha he cried 15:10 out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" 15:15 The pain caused by this separation broke His heart 15:18 and caused His death. But He found His lost sheep 15:23 and all heaven rejoiced with Him. 15:25 And now there is nothing He wants more than to have us 15:29 with Him forever. In His High Priestly Prayer 15:33 He had one passionate request: "Father," Jesus 15:36 prayed, "I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be 15:42 with Me where I am." (John 17:24) There is nothing 15:47 Jesus wants more than to have you and me with Him forever. 15:52 But God's offer isn't meaningful in any practical 15:55 way until the sinner responds to it. 15:58 What good will eternal life be to those who don't love 16:02 God? People who haven't learned to 16:05 love God wouldn't even be happy in heaven! 16:08 They'd be miserable. Because God loved us, we 16:13 respond to His love by loving Him in return. 16:17 The apostle John said "We love him, because he first 16:21 loved us. (1 John 4:19) The primary 16:26 reason why we should desire to be saved is because we 16:29 love Jesus so much, we appreciate so greatly the 16:33 love of God that we want to spend eternity with Him. 16:36 And Jesus makes it very clear that our love for Him must be 16:39 supreme. Remember what he said? 16:41 Let's read this together. Here is what Jesus said: "He 16:43 that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of 16:48 me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not 16:53 worthy of me. And he who does not take his 16:56 cross, and follow after me, is not worthy of me." 17:00 (Matthew 10:37, 38) Such a love for Jesus leads to 17:06 eternal life and this is what Jesus told the lawyer. 17:08 If you love God with all your heart, mind, soul and 17:11 strength, then He will save you. 17:14 And what is it that demonstrates this love? 17:18 Do you want to hear it: This is in 1 John 5: "For this is 17:23 the love of God that we keep His commandments." 17:28 (1 John 5:3) And Jesus said in John 14:15 "If you love 17:33 me, keep my commandments." Now notice he was not saying 17:38 "If you love me then go ahead and prove it by keeping my 17:41 commandments. Jesus was saying If you love 17:44 me, something is going to happen in your life. 17:46 It's an inevitability that you will keep my 17:49 commandments. Those who were save won't 17:51 have worked their way to heaven. 17:53 But their obedience will have shown that they loved God, 17:55 they loved Jesus with all their hearts. 17:58 Jesus wasn't telling the lawyer that salvation is by 18:01 works. He said "You confess that you 18:04 must love the Lord with all your heart if you want to be 18:06 saved. That is the right answer. 18:08 But, your love for God will be revealed by your obedience 18:11 to God's commandments." But then Jesus takes it a 18:15 step further. I'll have more in just a 18:16 moment. [mysterious music] 18:28 Every Word is a one-minute Bible-based daily devotional 18:32 presented by Pastor John Bradshaw and designed 18:34 especially for busy people like you. 18:37 Receive a daily spiritual boost. Watch Every Word. 18:43 [upbeat music] While you're living your 18:49 Christian life and serving God and reading the Bible 18:52 and going to church - presuming you do those things 18:54 - there's a crucial aspect of the Christian life God doesn't 18:58 want us to neglect. James 1:27 says, 19:01 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the 19:03 Father is this: to visit orphans and widows 19:06 in their trouble." As long as there are needy 19:09 people near by you've got a place to work for God. 19:11 It's genuine Christianity when you're moved by God to help 19:14 people in need - and they're everywhere. 19:17 How can you be a blessing to someone? 19:19 How can you reveal Jesus to someone who might not want a 19:21 Bible study but might really need a loaf of bread 19:23 or a listening ear? Jesus revealed the love of God 19:26 to people in need by being available and ministering 19:29 to them. And He calls us to join Him in 19:32 that work today. I'm John Bradshaw for 19:35 It Is Written. Let's live today by Every Word. 19:42 The concept of loving God is pretty easy to get your arms 19:46 around, isn't it? That is, it's obvious God is 19:50 good. He gives us life, He pours 19:52 out His blessings, we know He is good... 19:55 Our problem is usually more often with those who are 19:58 closest to us. You'll notice in the parable 20:01 of the Good Samaritan, the lawyer - who was actually a 20:04 theologian, a doctor of the law - asks Jesus a really 20:08 interesting question. Jesus affirmed him when he 20:11 told Jesus that people ought to love God and love their 20:14 neighbor. He got that from the writings 20:16 of Moses. But he said to Jesus, "Who is 20:20 my neighbor?" And you'll notice, the 20:22 passage in Luke 10 says that he asked Jesus this because 20:25 he was "willing to justify himself" (Luke 10:29). 20:30 The parable of the Good Samaritan challenged the 20:33 people listening to Jesus. Because in the eyes of the 20:36 Jews, there were no "good" Samaritans. 20:39 They were all bad. The worst insult a Jew could 20:41 sling at the one he despised was to call him a Samaritan. 20:44 Listen how they maligned Jesus. 20:47 "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have 20:51 a demon." (John 8:38) In their eyes no 20:55 one could be lower than a demon possessed Samaritan. 20:58 The woman at the well told Jesus this,"the Jews have no 21:01 dealings with the Samaritans." 21:04 (John 4:9 KJV) The shortest route between Jerusalem and 21:07 Galilee went through Samaria but many Jews were willing to 21:11 almost double the distance by crossing the Jordan and 21:14 travelling up the west bank up to the Sea of Galilee just 21:17 to avoid going through Samaria. 21:19 If just the shadow of a Samaritan fell on a Jew, he'd 21:22 feel morally unclean. Yet here's Jesus telling 21:26 these people that a Samaritan was their neighbor. 21:31 In this parable Jesus drives home a powerful lesson home. 21:34 You can talk all you want about loving God, but the 21:37 truth is that your love for God is no stronger than your 21:41 love for your fellow man. Your confession that you love 21:44 God may be impressive, but it's meaningless unless you 21:48 love your neighbor as yourself. 21:50 The Bible says this, in 1 John 4:20, 21: "If a man 21:57 says, I love God, and hate his brother, he is a liar: 22:01 for he that does not love his brother whom he has seen, how 22:05 can he love God whom he has not seen? 22:08 And this commandment we have from Him: That he who loves 22:12 God must love his brother also." 22:16 (1 John 4:20, 21) Jesus said in Luke 6:32 (NKJV), "But if 22:20 you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? 22:23 For even sinners love those who love them." 22:26 This is what makes this parable so powerful. 22:29 The Priest and the Levite by their offices, confessed to 22:32 love God. They did service for Him. 22:35 Their lives were committed to Him. 22:37 They were recognized by the people as "spiritual". 22:39 But Jesus says their profession was meaningless. 22:42 It was only a show. Those who truly love God will 22:46 reveal their love for God by how they treat others. 22:50 The Samaritan might have been despised, but he showed more 22:53 genuine love for God than did the Priest or the Levite. 22:57 Through this parable Jesus is speaking to us. 23:00 He asked Peter, "Do you love Me?" 23:02 He is still addressing this question to you and me. 23:05 We can claim to be Christians, or a good person, 23:08 show up in church, keep a Bible on our bookshelf, but 23:12 the truth is revealed when we find a neighbor next to us on 23:14 the road. Whatever we do to one of the 23:17 least, we do it to Jesus. Too many people are Priests 23:21 and Levites in the way they treat others. 23:23 They confess to be saved... but their confession is 23:27 hollow. There is no salvation for 23:31 anybody as long as there is a neighbor who needs help while 23:33 we pass by on the other side, unmoved. 23:37 And let's turn that over. We shouldn't claim that our 23:41 neighborly actions give evidence that we are truly 23:45 Christians if our lack of obedience to God shows 23:49 otherwise. These are two sides of the 23:52 same coin. Salvation will reveal that 23:54 you love God because obedience to God is being 23:59 shown, demonstrated in your life through obedience to 24:03 God's Commandments. But on the otherwise, if all 24:06 you have is obedience and no love for your fellow human 24:09 being, that obedience isn't really worth two cents. 24:13 They go hand in hand. Jesus shared the parable of 24:17 the Good Samaritan to show us this. 24:21 Today, I'd like to make you a very special offer. 24:23 We've talked today about genuine Christianity and I'd 24:26 like to share with you a resource that will help you 24:29 understand what genuine Christianity looks like and 24:32 how you can experience it in your life. 24:34 How you can know God and be close to him and have a 24:37 genuine Christian experience. This book is powerful. 24:42 It's called Steps to Christ and I can tell you because 24:46 I've read it over and over again. 24:48 This book will bring into your life the power of God 24:50 and will help you to understand what it means to 24:53 know Jesus truly as your Lord and Saviour, how to have a 24:57 relationship with him that is successful and that will keep 25:01 you moving in the footsteps that Jesus trod. 25:07 If you want to develop a closer relationship with Jesus, 25:10 please call and request today's FREE book, 'STEPS TO CHRIST.' 25:14 This book will help you in your daily walk with Jesus. 25:18 Please call or write us and 'STEPS TO CHRIST' will be 25:23 on its way to you. There is no cost and 25:26 no obligation. It's our free gift to you. 25:29 Just call 1-800-253-3000, and ask for the book: 25:33 'STEPS TO CHRIST.' Lines are open 24 hours daily. 25:37 They may be busy, so please do keep trying. 25:40 You may also request this free book by writing to: 25:44 It Is Written, P O Box 6, Chattanooga, TN. 37401, 25:48 and we will mail a copy to your address in North America. 25:52 For immediate access, you can download a FREE 25:54 electronic version of the book 'STEPS TO CHRIST' 25:57 from our website: itiswritten.com. 26:01 It Is Written is a faith-based ministry and your support makes 26:04 it possible for us to share God's good news with the world. 26:08 Your tax-deductible gift can be sent to the address on your 26:11 screen, or through our website at ItIsWritten.com. 26:15 Thank you for your continued prayerful support. 26:18 Again, our toll-free number is, (800) 253-3000, and 26:23 our web address is, ItIsWritten.com. 26:31 I'd like to pray with you now. 26:33 Let's pray together. Our Father in heaven, we 26:36 thank you for this wonderful parable Jesus shared of the 26:38 Good Samaritan. And how through this simple 26:42 story Jesus shows us that our profession of faith in you is 26:47 revealed in how we treat others. 26:49 Give us grace to be Good Samaritans and at the same 26:53 time as Jesus spoke to that theologian, he made it very 26:57 clear that He calls us to be obedient and faithful and to 27:03 follow the Word of God and the precepts of heaven. 27:07 Lord, I think we can confess we're incapable of that. 27:10 We need you to come into our lives and do in us what we 27:14 cannot do ourselves. Thank you that there is a 27:17 Savior, one who transforms and enables us to do what we 27:21 couldn't do otherwise. We thank you today and we 27:25 pray in Jesus' name, amen. 27:47 Thank you for joining me today. 27:49 I look forward to seeing you again next time. 27:51 Until then, remember - It is written, man shall not live 27:55 by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the 27:59 mouth of God. |
Revised 2016-07-23