May it please Almighty God to
bless us together this morning as we meditate in his word. Let us turn to the Gospel of
Luke, the 10th chapter, and we'll read verses 33 and verses 34. But a certain Samaritan, as he
journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion
on him. and went to him, and bound up
his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own
beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. Jesus introduces this parable
by the simple statement, a certain man. Well, that certain man,
of course, can apply in reality to every one of us. Indeed to
the whole Church of God. Men and women and boys and girls. So it would be a great blessing
today if you and I can put our place, ourselves, in the place
of this certain man and come to the conclusion that in reality
it describes us because this parable was given very clearly
to speak to the man who the Pharisee who lawyer rather who wanted
to come and justify himself and he asked that who was his neighbor
and in answer to that question the Lord gave this response but
of course it has really a double meaning the Word of God is a
spiritual book and we should recognise that the Word of God
does speak spiritually to our souls and may it do so today
it also of course has a natural application and we should not
forget that sometimes we tend to forget that side of things
but with reference to that of course the Word of God tells
us that we have an obligation to do good unto all men all men
especially unto the household of faith and I suppose we sometimes
tend to forget that as we see people in need do we pass by
on the other side? do we think I don't want to get
involved with that kind of situation it's too difficult for me and
therefore we pass by on the other side well that's not to be commended
is it? it is for us to involve ourselves
as we need to as we should do and to seek that God will give
us the wisdom and grace to do those things which are right
and will be helpful to the individual who needs that help so we must
never forget that and realize the whole truth of God because
it really sets a Christian apart it really sets a true Christian
apart It means that a true Christian is not selfish. A true Christian
is concerned to do the will of God. A true Christian is concerned
to have compassion on our fellow countrymen, especially those
who are in a lesser condition than we are. And so we should
be thankful that we have instructions in the Word of God to direct
us with regards to these things. This particular parable tells
us that there was this certain man and he was journeying from
Jerusalem down to Jericho. We don't know anything about
him. Of course it wasn't a true individual,
it was a parable, but nonetheless the clear inference is that he
was going in a wrong direction. He was leaving the place of Jerusalem,
a place of worship, And he was going downhill to this place
at Jericho. And on that journey, what happened
to him? He fell among thieves. And they
stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed,
leaving him half dead. Well, that was a sorry state,
wasn't it? A sorry state, a very different
condition, no doubt, from what he expected. He perhaps thought
well this will be an easy journey from Jerusalem down to Jericho
and we might say well perhaps he was full of the thoughts of
the things of the world and enjoying perhaps his thoughts and enjoying
the journey and suddenly all that was changed. There was suddenly
an upset. He perhaps had been aware that
there was a likelihood of thieves on the way but didn't take much
notice about that and so what happened to him he fell among
thieves and they stripped him of his raiment and wounded him
and departed leaving him half dead virtually no life there
lost his belongings and there he was a lonely man lying on
the roadway it would appear or the carriageway or whatever or
the pathway and there he was appeared to be half dead and
we're told that two people came along both religious people and we're told a certain priest
passed that way and when he saw him he passed by on the other
side and then likewise a Levite when he was at the place came
and looked on him and passed by on the other side they weren't
much help were they? so this poor man was still there
in his condition had not been given any help whatsoever and
then we read this Samaritan of course was a stranger who wasn't
somebody who normally looked upon people who were of the Jewish
faith it would appear this man was and in this Samaritan he
came where he was when he saw him he had compassion on him
and went to him and bound up his wounds pouring oil and wine
and set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn and
took care of him really he did everything possible everything
needful and obviously cost him not only money it cost him time
but yet he did that which was right and he stayed with him
all that night and on the morrow when he departed he took out
two pence and gave them to the host and said unto him take care
of him and whatsoever thou spendest more when I come again I will
repay him. Well I'm sure we all understand
that here was a wonderful example before us in the Word of God
in a natural way and we should recognize it and we should understand
it we should take it to heart well so much then for the natural
side and it's important to realise the truth of it and not to pass
over it I want to this morning concentrate really more upon
the other side which is the spiritual side because this is that which
affects our soul naturally it's that which affects our body but
we should always be more concerned about that which affects our
soul and as I said perhaps we have been like all of God's people
do come into this situation where they are like this certain man
that went down from Jerusalem to Jericho we might start by
saying perhaps it's the position where we try to avoid the things
of God we want to leave the things of God we want to go in an opposite
direction bound to Jericho we might have set off all right
it's downhill track wasn't very difficult quite easy walking
wasn't hard and then we were on our journey but our journey
was interrupted and it's a blessing you know if our journey the journey
in the world is interrupted and God brings those interruptions
this man no doubt was not expecting it nonetheless it came to pass
and it's a great mercy if in our lives we find there are situations
which interrupt our life and change our life this man's life
was quite clearly changed because here he was and he was attacked
he was attacked thieves came and they attacked him and they
hurt him they wounded him they stripped him of his clothes and
there he was then in a condition half dead you may say what is
the relevance of that to our spiritual life? well it's like
this it's when the Lord comes and graciously deals with us
we find that we have to perhaps lose much we lose perhaps the
things which were dear to us and we might find we're attacked
and we find that we're half dead that means that we are convicted
of all our sins and that's a very powerful work of the Holy Spirit
to convict us of our sins and to take away all our own self-righteousness
all our own clothes as it were and there we are with nothing
nothing respectable we are left then in that desperate situation
and as we ponder it we realise we brought ourselves into it
and there we are then on this path or road and to all intents
and purposes half dead and that means like it was in this man's
case no ability to get up on his feet to continue to his journey
in any event he didn't have any clothes to put on didn't have
any animal to get on he was just in this half-dead position he'd
been brought there by these thieves and of course that's just what
the devil likes to do today he likes to bring us into a situation
to destroy us if possible well this man was not killed he was
half dead and sometimes in our lives we might feel to be half
dead no the devil is not allowed to kill us off like in the case
of Job Job was a gracious godly man wasn't he? as we thought
upon last week and yet you see God allowed him to lose virtually
everything that he had he was brought down very low and it
was for his good and these things will be for our good when the
Lord convinces us of the position and situation that we've been
going in the wrong direction following the things of time
going downhill farther away from God until the time when as it
were God steps in and he allows Satan to do all that he wants
to do so far but he's not allowed to take our spiritual life so
it was in the case of Job and so it was in the case of this
certain man yes he was left half dead and then of course we read
that nobody wanted to help him nobody wanted to help him they
realised what a bad state he was in and they didn't want to
get involved people often don't want to get involved they don't
want to get involved perhaps spiritually we don't want to
go alongside people perhaps and to help them and perhaps encourage
them and perhaps direct them to the blessed Saviour the Lord
Jesus Christ but of course it involves time of course it is
costly of course it may upset our plans but it's a good thing
when the Lord gives us that grace to help somebody in their time
of need in a spiritual sense and not to turn away from them
and pass them by so therefore there was this poor man in this
situation still left as he was unable to get up unable to change
his position sometimes the way that Lord deals with his people
they are convicted of their sin and there they are destitute
there they are in great need no one seems to understand them
no one seems to want to be involved everybody passes by doesn't change
the position the man was still in need he was still desperately
in need then you see we read the good news and it's wonderful
if in our lives our spiritual lives we have the evidence that
there came to us someone here was Samaritan again not named
a certain Samaritan as he journeyed came where he was came directly
to him didn't pass by didn't go go on the other side he came
where he was when he saw him he had compassion on him that is a wonderful blessing
and that is a wonderful blessing with regards to the people of
God, who may be desperately destitute, burdened with sin, cast down,
apparently no hope, unable to move, and yet, you see, the Lord
knows where we are, and what a blessing it is when the Lord
comes to us, where we are, and has compassion on us. When the
apostle wrote to the Hebrews, He wrote some beautiful words
under the influence of the Holy Spirit. In the fifth chapter,
in the second verse, he tells us, well, let's read the first
verse. For every high priest taken from
among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God,
that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. Who
can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the
way, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity and
by reason hereof he always for the people so also for himself
to offer for sins no man taking dishonor unto himself but he
that is called of God as was Aaron so also Christ glorified
not himself to be made an high priest but he that said unto
him thou my son today have I begotten thee well this Samaritan came
and he had compassion on this certain man it would be a wonderful
blessing for us if we know if we have known or if we will know
today if we will know in the days to come the great blessing
the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ who has compassion on us we perhaps
have been ignorant we've been out of the way the Lord knows
where we are you see we may wander off we will wander down the wrong
road we may be attacked by the devil the Lord knows where we
are the Lord knows the reason that we are attacked He knows
the reason why we are stripped of all our own righteousness
it's this so that He may then the Blessed Lord come to us where
we are the Lord knows where we are He
knows where we live He knows the house we live in He knows
exactly where we are He knows the condition that we're in.
He knows the state that we're in. And what a blessing it is
that it is so. And that He does look upon us
and He has compassion upon us. And in the 86th Psalm, the Psalm
of David, and if you follow the life of David, you will know
that he came into situations where he was in a desperate state. And he starts the 86th Psalm
by telling us, bow down thine ear, O Lord. Hear me, for I am
poor and needy. And it shows to us very clearly
that real religion is a personal experience. O Lord, hear me. And that'll be the cry of our
hearts. Hear me, for I am poor and needy. And we need to come down towards
the end of this psalm, verse 15. But thou, O Lord, art a God
full of compassion, gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous
in mercy and truth. O turn unto me, and have mercy
upon me. Give thy strength unto thy servant,
and save the son of thy handmaid. Surely that is a good description
of this certain man that the Samaritan had come to and I hope
it's a good description of you and me in our life to realise
that this gracious God has looked upon us as David speaks powerfully,
truthfully, thou O Lord art a God full of compassion. You see,
man may have a little compassion. God is a God of full compassion. He knows exactly how we are,
where we are, the condition we've got ourselves into. And then
we can't get ourselves out of it. This certain man, he couldn't,
could he? There he was, half dead, naked. That Samaritan came to him and
helped him. Bless God when this heavenly Samaritan, the Lord
Jesus Christ, comes to us and we prove that this God is full
of compassion and gracious, long-suffering. He's born with us in all our
life, all our evil, all our wickedness, long-suffering and plenteous
in mercy. There's mercy mercy indeed for
to cover every sin what a blessing that is and truth O turn unto
me he needed God to turn unto him this certain man needed a
Samaritan needed somebody like the Samaritan to stop to look
upon him to turn to him what a mercy in our lives when we
come to this position of need where we need God to turn unto
me You see, He said, Oh, turn unto Me. This was a real prayer,
and it will be a real prayer. It won't be just words, because
if you're half dead, if you're naked, if you've been wounded
because of your sin, you'll recognize the wonderful blessing and desire
of this, Oh, turn unto Me and have mercy upon Me. Mercy is
welcome news indeed to those who guilty stand. Yes, give my
strength and my servant and save the son of mine handmaid. He goes on, show me a token for
good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because
their Lord has hope for me and comforted me. See, David did
not pray in vain. And my friend, you and I do not
pray in vain if God indicts prayer, God gives us that prayer. It doesn't have to be a long
prayer, it doesn't have to be framed with clever words. It
can be very, very simple. And we have a very, very simple
prayer on two occasions. One was by a woman who said,
Lord, help me. Another was by that publican,
God be merciful to me, a sinner. They're two very simple prayers,
aren't they? and not very complicated and
we're thankful the Gospel is not complicated it is gloriously
simple and so here we have this certain Samaritan as he journeyed
he came where he was and when he saw him he had compassion
on him now it wasn't just a thought there was action and the action
was he went to him bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine,
set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took
care of him." Well, that was a wonderful blessing, wasn't
it? This man, this Samaritan, he used his own oil and wine,
and that was the normal way for wounds in those days to join
together, oil and wine, and mix them together, pour them in to
the wound which had a wonderful healing effect so this man had
done all that he could he went to him he went to him and he
bound up his wounds pouring in oil and wine now what a mercy
it is for you and me today in a spiritual sense if we find
Jesus comes to us this Samaritan went to him. What a blessing
for us when Jesus comes to us. He knows where we are. He knows
our need and he supplies that need and went to him and bound
up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine. We might say, well,
in a spiritual sense, what does that mean? Well, of course, really
it means if we are a needy sinner, what do we need? I'm sure I asked
you the question, if you're a needy sinner, what do you need? Well,
the answer of course is, we need the Gospel. That's what we need,
to be poured into our heart, the Gospel. And what is that
centred in? That's centred in the finished
work and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oil and wine, the
blood, the Lord Jesus Christ the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
that's what we need and that will bring healing nowhere else
this man we didn't just stop he went to him he bound up his
wounds pouring in oil and wine and if we are wounded under the
sins of which we have done, perhaps in our youth, perhaps in our
lives, whatever the situation is, to realise we need our wounds
to be dealt with. We can't heal the wounds. They're
gaping. They're open. And we need those
wounds to be bound up. And it's not something which
naturally man can do, because here was the priests and the
Levite religious people. They passed by on the other side.
but the Samaritan came where he was and he did that which
was needful and blessed be God today the Lord Jesus Christ comes
to his people in their lost condition in their desperate need he comes
to them and he binds up their wounds and he pours in oil and
wine well I wonder if you and I understand what that means
in a spiritual sense if Jesus has truly come to us and he's
been gracious to us and he's had mercy upon us mercy indeed
is wonderful news to a sinner realising that they are lost
and ruined because of their sin in the epistle of Paul to the
Romans in the 9th chapter we read in verses 15 and 16 these
words well perhaps the previous verse what shall we say then?
is there unrighteousness with God? God forget bid for he said
to Moses I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I
will have compassion on whom I will have compassion so this
man had had mercy, had received mercy and compassion from this
Samaritan what a great blessing it is when the heavenly Samaritan
the Lord Jesus Christ comes where we are and looks upon us and
deals with us and has mercy upon us and has compassion on us I
will have compassion on whom I will have compassion the Lord
is very sovereign his work we cannot say well I am worthy of
notice I think God should look upon me the opposite will be
true you will feel you are unworthy of any notice from Almighty God
you will not expect him as it were to stop and look at you
but the glory of the gospel is the Lord comes he comes and saves
us And so the Apostle goes on, So then it is not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. Well, have we been half dead? Have we been, as it were, left?
As it were on the roadside, half dead. Can't help ourselves. No strength to get up and move
on. no ability to dress ourselves
half dead and then the Saviour's come and he's poured in oil and wine
he's shown us the glory of the gospel perhaps he's shown us
his hands and his feet perhaps he's shown to us the cost of
our salvation perhaps he said all this was done for you personal
application wonderful blessing to know that Lord Jesus Christ
has not passed us by he stopped where we were where we are and had mercy upon us and had
compassion upon us and it wasn't anything in ourselves oh what
a glory it is to understand the blessing of the Gospel and we
don't understand it until the Lord brings us down to realise
our need of it we are distressed we are cast down we need the
Saviour to come to us and then what a mercy He comes and He
stops where we are doesn't pass by on the other side He doesn't
avoid us. He comes and touches our heart. And we understand how it is that
you and I need then to be healed. You know, Jeremiah, in his day,
there was that prayer. He cried out, heal me. Heal me,
O Lord, and I shall be healed. True it is. When the Lord comes,
when the Lord works, it is done. it's complete there's no lack
it is fulfilled all his purpose of love toward us that man didn't
deserve anybody to stop really and you and I don't deserve any
mercy from God we don't deserve any favor but how wonderful it
is to know that the Lord Jesus looks upon us and has mercy upon
us. That's really the glory of the
gospel. That's really the glory of the
words that Isaiah was able to speak in the 40th chapter when
he came and said, Comforji, Comforji, my people saith your God speaking
comfortably to Jerusalem. These are comfortable words.
The Lord comes and speaks to our heart, pouring in oil and
wine, the truth of the gospel it's healing it's healing to
us we've got deep wounds the wounds of sin we can't touch
them they're just too deep they're just too bad the Lord knows the
Lord comes and He speaks speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem to
the church of God and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished
that her iniquity is pardoned for she hath received the Lord's
hand double for all her sins see the Lord deals so graciously
so wonderfully so mercifully with his people and you know
Isaiah goes on in this same chapter and he says behold verse 10 behold
the Lord God will come with a strong hand He lifts us up. This man, this Samaritan, lifted
this certain man up, didn't he? He lifted him up. Put him on
his own beast. Behold, the Lord God will come
with a strong hand and his arm shall rule for him. Behold, his
reward is with him and his work before him. He shall feed his
flock like a shepherd. A shepherd feeds his flock naturally.
the heavenly shepherd feeds his flock spiritually what a blessing
that is he shall feed his flock like a shepherd he shall gather
the lambs with his arm and he carried them in his bosom and
shall gently lead those that are with young the Lord carries
his people this Samaritan he lifted this man up and he put
him on his own beast you think of the wonderful occasion of
the Lord Jesus Christ when he went after that lost sheep in
the wilderness and he found him and he lifted him up he put him
on his shoulders he brought him back to the flock well the sheep
was exhausted the sheep you might say was half dead the Lord knew
where that sheep was and the Lord knows where you and I get
to and where we are perhaps the Lord comes where we are and grants
us his favour and grants us his blessing went to him and bound
up his wounds pouring in oil and wine well the gospel is oil
and wine to the sinner and the Lord Jesus Christ indeed shows
the value the cleansing power of the shed blood that he shed
on that cross at Calvary yes without shedding of blood there's
no remission sins and if you and I are like this certain man
wounded because of our sins and we need the blood of Christ to
cleanse from all sin everything all sin yes the blood of Christ
heals heals and what a mercy it is to have such a Savior it's
a wonderful little parable really it's a wonderful depth of the
Saviour set before us in these words and to thank God that it
is so and to thank God that He is a very merciful and gracious
God you know this 40th chapter of Isaiah it goes on towards
the end in verse 29 it says He giveth power to the faint this
man had no power did he? and you and I perhaps have no
power No power. It reminds me of the position
that sometimes we can find ourselves in. You know, when you are ill,
when you are really ill, perhaps when you're on the point of death,
you won't feel. You won't be able to pray. You won't be able to read. You'll be in a very desperate
situation you'll be really faint you know it's very dangerous
for people to think well I know I need to repent to my sins I
know I need to turn to the Lord but well I've just got these
things to do and I'll perhaps tomorrow I'll think about it
and Paul perhaps in a week's time or so well you may come
to that situation where you are unable to do that you may think
I don't believe that well I can tell you it's true when I was
very ill five years or so ago in a situation where I couldn't
pray and I couldn't read it's a very sanitary lesson to not
put things off to earnestly plead for mercy while you have the
ability to do so and of course you don't know the Lord might
take away your breath might say that for you time is no more
how important it is then to be found in that right place and
ready well here we have this statement He giveth power to
the faint strength to pray power to the faint and to them that
have no mind He increases strength even you shall faint and be weary
and the young men shall utterly fall but they that wait upon
the Lord wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall
mount up the wings of eagles they shall roam and not be weary
and they shall walk and not faint so don't give up don't give up
you may think you're half dead you might think there's no hope
of course there is of course there is wait upon the Lord Because
He said, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength
in His time and in His way, in accordance with His purpose,
to His timetable, not to your timetable. And God's timetable
is best. Be sure of that, because it will
be best for you and it will bring honour and glory to God. But
they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They
shall mount up their wings as eagles, they shall run and not
be weary and they shall walk and not faint and so there we
have a wonderful picture and this man, this Samaritan said
he brought him to an inn, took care of him and on the morrow
when he departed took out two pence and gave them to the host
and said unto him take care of him and whatsoever thou spendest
more when I come again I will repay thee what does that mean?
nothing to pay Nothing to pay. The Lord has
paid the great price for our redemption. There's nothing to
pay. What a wonderful mercy that is. Rejoice in it, in the finished
work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoice in that which He has
done and pray that there may be the wonderful application
of it In your heart, if you have not received it, the Lord will
come. He will bless. He will pay all that's necessary. And whatsoever thou spendest
more, when I come again, I will repay thee. The Lord Jesus Christ
has paid it all so that we are without debt. We owe nothing. Christ has paid the price for
our salvation, and that price is his death, he shed blood upon
the cross at Calvary. Well, what a great heavenly Samaritan
we have. May we know it, may we bless
God for it, may we thank him for it, and may we go on our
way rejoicing for the favours of God to such unworthy sinners.