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"My little children, for whom I am again suffering birth pangs until Christ is completely and permanently formed (molded) WITHIN you..." (Galatians 4:19 Amplified Bible) So, what does this spiritual "birth" of Christ within us look like? "...only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through LOVE... For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is complied with in the one precept, You shall LOVE your neighbor as [you do] yourself." (Galatians 5:6, 14 Amplified Bible) Jesus answers this question for us by painting a word picture. "Jesus, taking him up, replied, A certain man was going from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothes and belongings and beat him and went their way, [unconcernedly] leaving him half dead, as it happened." (Luke 10:30 Amplified Bible) The verse starts out, "A certain man..." So here we find a "certain" man... He is not just ANY man, he is a "certain" man. He has a certain destiny built into his DNA. He was "going down" from Jerusalem to Jericho.
Although Jericho is northeast of Jerusalem, travelers go "down" to Jericho. The first-century road was about eighteen miles long. A traveler descended from Jerusalem's height, approximately twenty-five hundred feet above sea level, to Jericho's depth, some eight hundred twenty-five feet below sea level. In that short geographical space, the descent was approximately six-tenths of a mile that is a steep descent. This road was notorious for its danger and difficulty, and was known as the "Way of Blood" because of the blood, which was often shed there by robbers.
Nobody arrived on this planet by mistake, each individual was planned in the heart of God with a potential to fulfill their destiny. Everyday we cross paths on this road of life with people who have a certain destiny, however through circumstances or choices they are "going down." Their destiny is not being realized because of the descending road they are on. And what lies at the end of this road? Jericho. When someone says "Jericho," what is the first thing that comes into your mind? WALLS! Yes, this descending road often leads to a place where we build fortified emotional, mental, spiritual walls. Walls intended to protect us, that only end up imprisoning us. If ever there was a "road" that needs the influence of Christ, this is it!
You see, there are "robbers" on this road... "he fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothes and belongings and beat him and went their way." In Biblical symbolism, clothing/garments speak of identity. Originally Adam was clothed with the glory of God (Psalms 8:5) and his clothing befit his identity/nature, as he was made in the image of God. After his rebellion, he was clothed with the skins of a beast, once again his clothing befitting his new beast- nature (the fallen nature). On this descending road to Jericho, many are robbed of their true identity and left naked, questioning their very purpose and existence.
"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him..." (Luke 10:33) The word translated as "compassion" is splagchnizomai in Greek, it is from the root word splagchnon, whose definitions include bowels. The bowels were regarded as the seat of the more violent passions, such as anger and love; but by the Hebrews as the seat of the tenderer affections, especially kindness, benevolence, compassion; hence our heart, tender mercies, affections, a heart in which mercy resides.
Some people just seem to have compassion naturally...they see someone in need and their heart goes out to that person. For the rest of us it is something that seems as if it must be "God induced." I think perhaps this might have been the case with this Samaritan, as there would have been plenty of reason for him to just pass on by, given the situation between Jews and Samaritans.
This idea of something "God induced," feelings and actions contrary to our natural "self" tendencies, is the essence of and illustration of the spiritual "birth" of Christ within us! And it is different for everyone, because everyone is different.
"And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him." (Luke 10:34) The word translated as "bound up" is katadeo in Greek. Interestingly enough, this is the one and only appearance of this word in the entire New Testament. Katadeo is from two Greek words, kata- meaning "according to the case with which it is joined, about, according as"; and deo- meaning "to bind, put under obligation, of the law." The word "deo" seems to have a legal connotation.
When we put these definitions together, katadeo gives us the idea of legally binding (however in a spiritual sense) someone to the "case with which they are joined" and of course, the "case with which they are joined" is their God ordained destiny! We can, by our words and actions, "bind" people to their woundedness, brokenness, failures, shortcomings, etc. We can also, by our words and actions, "bind" people to their God ordained destiny!
"And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine..." In Biblical symbolism, oil speaks of the anointing of Christ (the Anointed One) and the Presence of the Holy Spirit. In Biblical times in that part of the world, with its scarcity of water, wine was a necessity rather than a luxury, so it came to symbolize sustenance and life. Wine also represents joy, celebration, and festivity, expressing the abundant blessings of God. As we, by our words and actions, "bind" people to their God ordained destiny, we release the Presence of the Spirit and sustaining Life, as we "celebrate" their true identity. The bottom line is this - Treat people like the person they were created to be, not necessarily like the person they are behaving like. Obviously, this is easier said than done, however remember, God can "induce" feelings and actions contrary to our natural tendencies.... (To be continued)
Doug Fortune
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