An appropriate topic for Disaster and Famine Relief Day, May 13.
I. The Stories of Jesus
A. Everybody loves a story.
1. World masterpieces told by Jesus.
2- Mark says the common people heard Him gladly.
3- Why? They could understand. They were held spellbound by His illustrations.
B. Where Jesus found materials for His stories.
1. From nature.
2. From human nature, life, everyday living.
3. His stories have color, movement, feeling.
II. The Story Setting
A. One day a man in the crowd asked Jesus a question.
1. The man was a scribe, a lawyer.
2. He asked for argument, not truth.
3. Instead of debating Jesus told one of His great stories.
B. We see Him pause to choose a subject.
1. The artist begins painting the living picture—
2- The desolate roadway, the lonely traveler.
3. The robbers' attack; the bleeding victim abandoned.
C. Another traveler comes on scene.
1. A priest, going home from church.
2. Gathers his robes to make a wide detour.
D. A member of his church follows, a church officer.
1. This man looks, shudders, passes by.
2. By now the victim is near death.
III. The Hero
A. Finally the hero appears.
1. He senses the wrong and the need.
2. He goes into immediate action.
B. He dismounts.
1. Stoops in the dust, treats wounds.
2. Touches cooling drink to victim's lips.
3. Gently lifts him on his mount.
C. In the final scene they are at the inn.
1. The Samaritan sits up all night.
2. In the morning he pays the bill, promises to return.
IV. The Question
A. His audience spellbound as Jesus completes picture.
B. He turns to ask the lawyer:
1. 'Who do you say was this wounded man's neighbor?"
2. Well chosen is the illustration, clear its lesson.
3. Even a lawyer cannot dodge the right answer.
4. "He that shewed mercy."
C. Then Jesus preached the rest of His sermon.
V. The Samaritan a First-Aider
A. His training was evident; he knew what to do in emergency.
1. First, stopped bleeding.
2. Cleansed the wound, applied healing agent.
3. Covered with robe to combat shock.
4. Improvised bandages.
5. Provided emergency ambulance.
6. Got the injured to aid station.
B. A model welfare worker.
1. He did not confine services to his church (Gal. 6:10).
2. He helped an enemy.
3. He helped one unable to repay.
4. He did not excuse himself because other agencies turned down the disaster victim.
5. He did not excuse himself on the ground the victim was partly to blame.
6. He worked without thought of personal consequences.
7. He had an emergency welfare fund.
8. He did not give cash to the victim.
9. His charity went beyond his purse—he gave tender, loving care.
10. He enlisted the aid of others.
11. He came close enough to give personal help.
VI. Painting His Own Picture
A. Jesus was telling His own story.
B. We were weary travelers.
1. Attacked by the devil and wicked spirits.
2. Wounded by sin, robbed of our powers.
3. Left dying on wilderness road of this world.
C. Jesus came.
1. He touched us, bound up our wounds.
2. Covered our nakedness.
3. Led us to refuge—His church.
4. Paid the bill.
5. Did more than the Samaritan—He gave His life.
6. He promised: "I will come again."
7. What if Jesus had passed us by?
VII. The Lawyer's Need—and Ours
A. Jesus was also painting the lawyer's picture. 1. The way he was; his great need.
2. Heb. 4:12 (see Phillips' translation).
B. Did Christ in this story picture the inner thoughts, motives, failures of our hearts?
1. Are we so anesthetized to human need we cannot see or feel the sufferings of the sick and hungry?
2. Are we too busy to help people? too busy to learn how?
C. Christ's question—"Which ... of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour?"
1. The question had this implication: "Are you a true neighbor? '
2. The lawyer's answer was a confession—the sin of omission—"He that shewed mercy."
VIII. Our Pattern
A. Then Jesus said: "Go, and do thou likewise."
B. Every follower of Christ is included.
1. Relieving humanity's need not to be left to a few Dorcas women.
2. Significant that this model disaster relief worker was a man.
3. You go. Visit homes, hospitals, prisons, refugee camps, every place where people are in need.
C. You go and do.
1. Preaching is not enough.
2. Demonstration precedes.
3. 1 Peter 2:9 (see Phillips' translation).
D. Go and do likewise.
1. We are called to be the good Samaritans of these latter days.
2. Every church, Christian home, to be a rescue station.
3. Our work to rescue and help save men.
4. World now needs the greatest demonstration of Christ's love.
IX. World Need—Christian Opportunity
A. Never has the world been so filled with human needs.
1. Sickness.
2. Hunger (half the population always hungry).
3. Refugees—ours has been called the century of homeless man. (Hong Kong, one million; Middle East, one million; other millions in North Africa, East Bengal, Korea, Europe, the Congo, et cetera. Every one a person, and in at least one sense, a child of God.)
4. Disaster victims (1960 Chile earthquakes and tidal waves, greatest disaster of modern times).
B. All of these are opportunities to exercise and develop Christlike character (see Welfare Ministry, p. 17).
C. The Disaster and Famine Relief Offering offers opportunity.
D. 1 Peter 4:9 (see Phillips' translation).
E. We are God's almoners (see Welfare Ministry, p. 268).
Resource material and illustrations:
White, Ellen. G., The Desire of Ages, chapter 54. Welfare Ministry, pp. 42-49, 134-139.
Guenther, C. E., "Helping the Children of the World," GO magazine, May, 1961.