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Jesus - Good Samaritan

Lesson

The four gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are about the life and teachings of Jesus. Jesus used parables many times to teach. A parable is a story about familiar things which helps us understand spiritual truths. Many great preachers and teachers use this same method relating a story about things in everyday life and tying them to a message about God’s plan for our lives.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus defines who is our neighbor.  The story is found in Luke chapter 10, Jesus was teaching that there were two commandments, the first and greatest Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength and the second Mark 12:31 ...Love your neighbor as yourself.... To which he was questioned who is our neighbor? Jesus then told the story of the Good Samaritan.

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. A priest (a religious leader or pastor) happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite (a deacon or church leader), when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan (a person not respected in Jewish community), 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. The next day he took money from his own pocket and gave it to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

After the story Jesus asked: “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

They replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Through story we learn what grace means. The Samaritan did not know the man who had been beaten and unlike the Priest and Levite he chose to help he did not have to give. Grace is giving someone something they did not deserve. I liken it to someone not beating you up because you broke their favorite toy. God gives each one of us grace through his son’s death on the cross for our sins. God’s definition of grace means that God offers us His love and forgiveness as a gift and not because we have earned it or deserve it.

In Romans 12:16 Paul tells us how to get along others,

·         Live in harmony;

·         Do not be proud;

·         Willing to associate with people of low position;

·         No conceited (think yourself better than others)

Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Jesus restates his second commandment as the Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.

Salvation

Because Jesus lived an absolute sinless life his death was not a payment for his sins but for our sins. The blood he shed on the cross has the power pay our debt. If Jesus had sinned then His death would have been the penalty of His sin and would not have had the power to atone for our sins.

All we must do is four things to be saved:

  • Ask God to save us;
  • Believe Jesus Christ was raised from the dead;
  • Confess and repent of our sins;
  • Declare Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord

Pray: Dear God, I am sorry I have sinned, and I believe you sent your son Jesus to save me with his sacrifice of a sinless life. Please save me. I accept you as Lord and Savior of my life.  Amen.

 

Story Links

Crossroads Kids - The Good Samaritan (3:50)

Saddleback Kids - The Good Samaritan (3:08)

Living Scriptures - The Good Samaritan (3:31)

Share Faith - The Good Samaritan (2:59)

VeggieTales - The Good Samaritan (31:32)

Legos - The Good Samaritan (3:01)

Object Lesson Links

Wright Ideas - The Good Samaritan (3:06)

Ministry-To-Children - The Good Samaritan (7:04)

Craft Links

10 Minutes - The Good Samaritan.1 (:29)

10 Minutes - The Good Samaritan.2 (:28)

Songs Links

Brentwood Benson - Samari-Friend (2:45)

Andy Johnson - Mark 12:30-31 (2:02)

Jumpstart3 - Mark 12:30 (2:47)

Steve Green - Matthew 7:12 (1:40)

BibleVersing - 1Corinthians 13:13