Domes - Our Monthly Newsletter
Dunbar UCC
Easter
March 23, 2008
Luke 10:25-37
Becoming Christian
- This morning is Easter Sunday, and for four of our children here, it’s also the day of their Baptism into the family of Jesus Christ. In the past month, these children, and Morgan Kane -- who was baptized as an infant but wanted to attend this class to understand better what her baptism meant -- these five children met with me to understand what baptism means. What does it mean when we say we follow Jesus?
- When your children ask you, what do you tell them? Why don’t you tell them the story of the Good Samaritan? Children -- and adults -- love stories. And this one is short -- but it says everything we need to know to understand what it means to follow Jesus.
- Do you know why Jesus told this story? A lawyer was confused. He told Jesus there are more than 600 laws in the first 5 books of the Bible. That’s a lot to remember. And some of the laws were important -- like don’t murder -- but some weren’t -- like don’t wear clothes made from certain blended fabrics (who cares?). So the lawyer said, “Jesus -- simplify this for me. If I was just going to follow one law -- if there were just one law that would keep me on God’s path -- just one law that would make my whole life meaningful and good -- what law would this be?”
- Jesus said: “Why are you asking me? You’re the expert on law -- you must know. What do you think?” So the lawyer thought about it and said, “Actually -- I’d combine two laws and make them one. I’d take the law from Deuteronomy that says “Love God” and the one from Leviticus that says “love your neighbor as you love yourself. This is the most important law.”
- Jesus said: “You’re right! You could say the whole Bible is based on that law.” But the lawyer was still confused. He said, “There’s just one thing. I’m not sure who my neighbor is.” That’s why Jesus made up the story of the Good Samaritan -- to answer the Lawyer’s question, “Who is my neighbor?” A Jew was beat-up, and two of his own country-people didn’t help him. But his enemy, a Samaritan, took care of him. Jesus said, “Which of the three was a neighbor?” The lawyer said, “The one who took care of him.” Jesus just said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
- Our whole religion -- the Bible -- all of our creeds -- and the meaning of our baptism as followers of Jesus Christ -- everything we need to know -- is revealed in that simple story. Take care of everyone -- our enemy included -- like they were our best friend or our own child. When we do this, we most truly follow Jesus.