What About That Guy?

I’ve been pondering the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30 – 37; certainly one of the great short stories of all time, right along with the Prodigal Son. Jesus can tell a story and make a point without wasting one word.

The Samaritan got his hands bloody as he nursed the man left for half-dead. We’re told that the Samaritan “took care of him”, we can see him tenderly tending to the stripped and beaten man. Neither the priest or the scribe would get their hands bloody, neither the priest or the scribe would interrupt their day to help. Neither the priest or the scribe would be identified with the bloody and naked pulp lying on the road.

I wonder if the man who was robbed ever came to his senses enough to see the Samaritan? Assuming the victim was a Jew, and I sense that he was, did he realize that it was a Samaritan who was saving his life?

Did the innkeeper know the Samaritan? Perhaps he did, or else why would he take the Samaritan’s word that “whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.”

Did the man who was near death inquire of the innkeeper who it was that saved his life and who was paying for his care? What was his reaction when he was told that the man was a Samaritan?

Jesus told this story in response to a lawyer asking him, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Had the lawyer passed by people in need without stopping to help? Have I? Have you?

What about the man who was robbed and beaten? Had he passed by people in need prior to his own tragedy? Had he played the roll of the priest and the scribe?

More importantly, what was he like after he walked out of the inn, once again a healthy man? Did he give credit to the Samaritan when he told his story…to his family…to his friends…in the synagogue? What about this guy? What was he like afterwards? How did he look at Samaritans? How did he view those in need – of whatever background?

What about that guy? What about me?

What about you?