A certain lawyer asked Jesus what
He must do to get to Heaven.
Jesus asked him how he read
The Law that God had given.
The lawyer quoted from the law how
We should love God & neighbor.
Jesus told him that he was right.
Then his heart began to labor.
"Who is my neighbor?" he asked,
(As if he didn't know who.)
Then Jesus told a story that would
Show him what to do.
A certain man left Jerusalem
A long the Jericho road
Some thrives there were who
Robbed him of his only robe
They struck him and they beat him
Until he freely bled
And then ran suddenly away
Leaving him half dead.
A certain priest came by who
Could have given aid
But he was in a hurry and he
Could not be delayed.
A certain Levite came and looked
But left him lying there.
I am sure he said to himself,
"Of course I really care
But no one would expect of me,
Unskilled in CPR,
To try to help this man and
I have to travel far."
Then came a certain Samaritan
Like those his people hate
I am sure the sun was getting low
The hour was getting late.
I wonder if he thought to himself,
"This man is just a Jew,
And if I were in his place
I wonder what he would do.
Now his own people have left him
In this place to die.
Why should one lone Samaritan
Even start to try
For I can not take care of him
I have too much to do
If I try to hire another man
The coins I have are only two."
I doubt he ever thought like that
I am sure as he saw the hurt
He climbed down from his donkey
Tore strips from his shirt
He poured in the oil and the wine
It was the best he could do
Then he placed the man on his beast
Took him to the Inn he knew
He must have had some credit there
For he promised to make good
Whatever it cost to make him well.
And I am sure he would!
Who is the neighbor? Jesus asked
The lawyer answered indeed
The neighbor is any man that I can
Help to relieve his need.
Now here is the ending of the story
For to win the final prize
We must obey what Jesus said,
"Go thou and do likewise."
Go to the TOP
