In Jesus’ parable: it was not the religious and “good” people who stopped to help the Jewish man. It was the enemy — a despised Samaritan. The Jews hated the Samaritans.
The Samaritan could have walked on, and nobody would fault him for that. But he had compassion for the man. He cleaned and bandaged his wounds. Put him on his donkey and paid for his care at the inn.
Who would do that for an enemy? Somebody who hated you? Who wouldn’t walk on the same side of the road as you?
Do you know: we were once God’s enemy? We were left to die.
Col 1:21 “This includes you who were once far away from God. You were His enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions.”
But even though we were God’s enemy, Jesus still came to die for us.
He had compassion for us.
He cleaned us with His blood.
He bandaged us up.
He lifted us and took care of us.
He paid the price of our sins for us.
And because of that, we can now be God’s friend, we now have His life in us.
Romans 5:10For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
The teacher of the law had asked Jesus: “What should I do to inherit eternal life?” We don’t have to do anything to earn an inheritance; it’s a birthright, a gift. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we are born again as sons and daughters of God, and we have eternal life! Hallelujah!
Memory Verse: Romans 5:10While we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son.
3. Activity ideas:
Card: Print picture, let kids stick on card, colour and cut out shape.