Preventing the Ditch (Won't You Be My Neighbor - Week 4)

We can never be good enough. We can never earn what we do not deserve. And what the lawyer didn’t understand is what some of us do not understand. The answer to his problem was standing right in front of him.

God loves his creation and he sent Jesus to do what we could not do for ourselves.

Luke 10:29 (NRSV) 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Luke 10:30–37 (NRSV) 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him (literally means, came down upon him) and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them.

Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’

36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

The word Jesus uses in the story is this word,

Σπλάγχνον--splangkh´-non – it literally means “to have the bowels yearn.”

Luke 15:20 (NRSV) 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.

36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

ἔλεος -- el´-eh-os

The Greek term for mercy, eleos, is often used to characterize the action of God’s faithfulness. To be merciful is to be like God; to give because someone has need, not because someone deserves. 

Luke 1:78 (NRSV) 78By the tender(splongnon) mercy (elehos) of our God,

Mercy does not need reasons.

What can we do, out of compassion and mercy, to prevent people from getting in the ditch to begin with?

1. Dream Center

The Dream Center exists to encourage, educate, and empower people in need through the love of Jesus Christ. This is a focused ministry to the poor of our communities. In 2017, 353 people in needing some sort of emergency assistance. 190 of them were considered homeless 176 of those with children.

Opportunities : Teaching classes on a variety of topics, helping out at Opp

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