once while Jesus was preaching a man decided to test how good a teacher Jesus was
Jesus, I have a question for you can you tell me what it is I should do so that I can live eternally in heaven
Jesus looked at him with a quiet smile for some time and then replied
do you read the Bible?
of course, I do what kind of a question is that?
so if you read the Bible can you tell me what the Bible says?
the Bible says that I should love God with my heart and soul and that I should love my neighbor as I love myself
well then there you have your answer
what I don't understand is who my neighbor is supposed to be whom I should love as I love myself
Jesus was quiet for a few moments and then replied
the answer to that question is not so simple, let me explain it to you in a different way
and this is the story, Jesus related to the man for the answer he was seeking
a Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho
there were many small hills around the road he was walking with many rocks lying there
it was a lovely sunny day and the man was softly singing to himself as he walked along
suddenly as he was passing a small hill some men came running out from behind the hill and charged at him
they took away everything that the man had even tearing away his clothes
the evil robbers beat up the poor man mercilessly
he was bleeding badly but they just kicked him even more and left him by the roadside
soon after a priest came walking down the road
when he saw the bleeding man he thought to himself
I wonder who that fellow lying there is I don't know what has happened to him but I am already very late
I do not have the time to stop and help him
I'm sure someone else will come and do something
it was dead to me already anyway
the priest just crossed the road and continued walking without a backward glance
a little while later levi a man whose job was to help priests in their work happened to pass down the same road
he too saw the beaten and bleeding man lying there
he stopped for a moment and slowly made his way up to the man
I cannot make out if this fellow is dead or alive
even if he is alive I doubt he will be alive for long the way he is bleeding
I don't think I can help him in any way I better be going along on my way
the Levi too left the injured man without even trying to help them and walked away hurriedly
after about an hour later a Samaritan was walking down the same road with his donkey
as soon as he saw the man lying on the road he ran up to him
now the Jews were known to dislike the Samaritans and treat them very badly
however, this Samaritan did not even stop to think of all this
he just saw a bruised human being needing help very badly
and because of his compassionate nature went forward to try and do what he could
Oh, what has happened who has done this to you?
the man opened his eyes and tried to talk but winced in pain when he tried to do it
you poor man I can see you are in a lot of pain
don't try and talk now, here let me have a look at your wounds
hmm they look quite bad
don't you worry now I will try my best to see that you are comfortable and get well soon
the Samaritan went to his donkey and came back with a bag containing some oils and wine
he then proceeded to apply them on the man's wounds so that they would heal
when the man saw what the Samaritan was doing he made a feeble attempt to stop him
no no too expensive
why are you looking at the cost of some oil and wine my good fellow
at this moment it is your injuries that matter not money
now just relax and let me apply these to your wounds, I'm sure they will give you some relief
the Good Samaritan very carefully applied the oil and wine to the injured man's wounds
and put on some bandages also to prevent them from getting infected
ah now that that is done let us get you to some Inn where you can rest and recover
very gently the Samaritan helped the man up onto his donkey and started leading him to the inn
after walking for a few hours they reached a small town where the Samaritan asked for directions to the nearest Inn
there we have arrived now just wait here for a few minutes while I talked to the man in charge about getting a room for you
no money
I have told you not to worry about that I just want you to get well soon
the Samaritan went inside the inn and found the man who is in charge
my good man, I have outside a man who is badly injured
I would be grateful if you could give him a comfortable room where he can recover
here I am leaving with you some money for his room as well as his food
please take good care of him and let him live here till he is recovered enough to go on his way
the inn owner assured him that the man would be taken care of
the Samaritan then went outside helped the man down from the donkey and accompanied him to the room in the inn
well my friend it is time for me to leave I have taken care of everything you just rest and get well
don't.. know.. how.. to.. thankyou
you don't have to thank me I have just done what the good Lord would have wanted me to do
when the story ended Jesus looked at the man who had questioned him
now can you tell me who you think would be your neighbor?
the priest? the Levite or the Samaritan?
the Samaritan of course he was the only one who showed compassion to someone who badly needed help
you are right the priest is the one who serves God but he was indifferent to the plight of the man's pain
yes even the Levite who works in the house of the Lord did not help
it was only the Samaritan who came to the man's help and he was helping a Jew
even though he knew that the Jews do not like Samaritans
yes Jesus I understand now who we should consider our neighbors who God wants us to love as we love ourselves
so if you want to go to heaven and live there eternally
love the Lord with your whole being and love your neighbors too