Scripture: Luke 10: 30-32

³⁰ Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. ³¹ “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. ³² A Temple assistant^[d] walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

Scripture Commentary: What character do you play in the story?

When you see someone in need, do you ignore them or do you try to help? Most of us have heard the story of the priest, Levite, Samaritan, and victim. We don’t know the victim’s name or where he came from but we know his fate.

We pass by people everyday who are in need. They beg for money or food outside of stores, or they’re just trying to get out of the cold or heat. When you see them, do you cross the street or just walk by? How are we any different from the priest or Levite? We are not!

Think! The person in need could be you or someone you know or a family member. We are truly our brother’s keeper. Are you the Samaritan, who has love in his heart?

This parable teaches us to love our neighbor; love as God loves us. The Jews hated Samaritans. People today hate someone who is a different color skin or who speaks another language. But we are all God’s children and no one is more special than the other. Since God loves us all as we are, why can’t we love one another as God loves us?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Luke 10

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Luke:

Be a Reflection of the Light of Jesus

The Seed Is the Word of God

Scripture: John 1: 1-4

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He existed in the beginning with God. ³ God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.  The Word gave life to everything that was created,^[a] and his life brought light to everyone.

Scripture Commentary: God is the beginning of everything.

Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” There is nothing before God. He is first and everything else follows.

Genesis means origin. It is the starting point. The book of John starts by quoting Genesis in telling us Jesus’s origin. He was before everything because He was. It reveals the Creator, Sustainer, the Judge and Redeemer.

We see God’s love for man, and the entrance of sin. Fellowship with God was taken and Satan rose to take down man, God’s creation. John tells us Jesus is the Word, and the Word was God.

John was an eyewitness, one of the 12 disciples to see the miracles of Christ. He saw Jesus turn water to wine, heal the sick, feed the 5,000 plus with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, restore sight to the blind, and raise Lazarus from the grave. John saw the resurrected Jesus Christ.

The book of John is the new beginning for God’s life for us.

John reveals Christ’s deity for us to see. He tells us Jesus is the Light of the World, the door, the One and Only Lamb of God, the Son of God, the Bread of Life, the resurrection. He is the Good Shepherd, the Truth and the Life. Amen.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

John 1

Genesis 1

Read Other Commentary from the Book of John:

You Are the Branch In Need of a Vine

For God So Loved the World … That Means You!