Moment in the Word

He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. (Psalms 147:3) (Greek Septuagint - Psalms 146:3)

Jesus once told a story about a poor fellow who was attacked by outlaws and thieves, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead... But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him." (Luke 10:30, 33-34)

Never expecting to be reimbursed for his time, expenses, or effort, the kind Samaritan made a personal sacrifice to care for an individual that did not know him or might not even like him if the situation was reversed. The compassionate helper was under no obligation to care since the gesture contributed absolutely nothing to his betterment. As with the thoughtless Levite and Temple Priest, the Samaritan would have been ahead to pass by and let the wounded stranger die. However, he did not.

Similarly, I recognize the same unselfish concern that Jesus had for his friends on the eve of His crucifixion. The text of John 13:3-5 begins this way, "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God." Christ's mission on earth was virtually finished and required nothing more since all authority was now His.

However, there were others who would soon struggle alone after Jesus returned to His heavenly throne. These sad individuals still needed to be loved. Their broken hearts needed to be healed. Their unseen emotional wounds needed to be bound up, "So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." (John 13:3-5)

Just as the Good Samaritan was hated and despised by the Jews, Christ would be crucified by the very same people. Regardless, both men stopped long enough on their difficult journey to care for the desperate situation of others rather than demand that their own needs be met first.

Since the day Jesus knelt to gently wash the disciples' feet, nothing has changed about His sincere love for us. We are still invited to "give all our worries and our cares to God, for He cares about us." (1 Peter 5:7)

Although circumstances have changed all through our lives, the same loving faithfulness that we recognize in the story of the Good Samaritan, in the kindness of Jesus, or even in the benevolent promise made to Noah; God still offers to us during the storms of our lives, "...Neither when thou art threatened, shall the mountains depart, nor shall thy hills be removed: so neither shall my mercy fail thee, nor shall the covenant of thy peace be at all removed: for the Lord who is gracious to thee has spoken it." (Isaiah 54:9-10, Greek Septuagint)