WATCHWORD:
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “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. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 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. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:25-37
Meditation:
Roads: Part 1
Oak Creek Canyon scenic drive, Arizona State Road 89A is one of the most beautiful and scary roads in the US. Approximately 24 miles between Flagstaff and Sedona, a change in elevation of 4,500 feet. That doesn’t quite tell the story. Most of that change in elevation is in the first 19 miles or so. If you do the math, the grade is STEEP!
I have driven down that road twice, first as a frightened passenger, white knuckles and all, frequently stifling screams, among my prayers. Then years later, as a driver…much better but I am not sure my passengers then would agree. Yes, it is scary, but, oh, so beautiful, winding through sandstone canyons and rock formations, pine forests everywhere, tight hairpin turns, and steep, brake-burning grades. At the bottom, you are rewarded with a canopy of cottonwood trees, along a wondrous, broad mountain stream of crystal clear water.
There is another road, nearly as steep, but far more rugged, and even more dangerous. A road that Jesus trod that ended, days later, on Calvary’s Cross. Jericho Road, 17 miles of twists and turns, and a change in elevation of 3,300 feet, from Jerusalem, north, down to Jericho. The road bed is not pavement, but gravel, rocks and uneven grades. To add to the danger, robberies were common and anyone traveling that road was cautioned not to go it alone.
I have never been to the Holy Land, never traveled that road, but there are thousands of photos and videos of Jericho Road, Jordan River Valley, and other features of this dangerous route. The color? Shades of desert tan, rocks, sandstone. Vistas? Breathtaking, because the road is narrow, and at the edge, a sheer drop, right there by your foot! Occasionally, the traveler is rewarded with views of the Jordan River, far below.
The south-bound traveler, leaving from Jericho, will stop and re-fill water jars at Elisha’s Spring, the sweetest water in all of the valley. It was here that Jesus paused, on his way to His crucifixion, and restored sight to a man blind from birth.
Your next destination would be Wadi Qelt, pronounced ‘Wadee Kelt’, a large cavity carved in the face of the valley wall by the Qelt Stream, spacious with a fresh water spring. Today, this cavity is the site of the Monastery of Saints John and George, but in Jesus’ day, it was used as an over-night stopping place for large groups of pilgrims heading to the Great Temple in Jerusalem. As many as a thousand could over-night in this rustic location.
In those Biblical years, the Wadi was a place of serious worship services and praying for safety for those making their way up the longer stretch to Jerusalem. For those returning from the Temple, the Wadi was a place of rest and thanksgiving prayers for the safe passage they had experienced on their way back to Jericho.
So, two rugged, breathtaking roads; or are there three? What about these roads you and I are on? Sandwiched among the peace and joy of our lives, are time when we, too, are confronted with danger, unseen, like a robber crouching on the roadside ready to inflict injury, boredom, loss of freedom, fear, separation. Yes, this is not always a fun road. Not always easy, but, are we stronger for our travel on it?
Where is our Wadi Qelt? Where is our zone of safety, our times of happiness, our joy? Where, indeed? I believe if we are honest with ourselves we would see that this isolation, these restrictions, has reordered our values and refreshed our relationship with our Lord. Our prayers; sincerer, more heartfelt, more reassuring over these weeks. How else would we be able to put aside much of our old normal, which may have been interfering with relationships, not just with our Lord but with loved ones and friends, and the realization that we are joined together, a recharging of the valued, in our lives. Our Wadi Qelt? Our Lord and Savior.
We know about the Jericho Road because we know about the good Samaritan parable. But we also know that this was a time when Jesus offered some of his most powerful lessons for us. We pray that our Jericho Road, world-wide, will be cause for a more God-centered life, following those lessons. Amen?
© Stan Escott 2020
Bulletin Board:
Stan — In tomorrow’s Meditation, we’ll look at the ministry of our Lord, along the Jordan, through Jericho, up the road to Bethany, and on to the blessed and awful Passover, gateway to the Resurrection.
From Pastor Morris – Hebrew word for blessed, also means happiness and joyful. Does that ring a bell for anyone? Or maybe, a well, yeah!
Closing Prayer:
Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts
we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up ourselves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
