A lawyer goes home to his family after being out all day; his children are asleep; his wife is waiting up for him. The house is dimly lit and seemed more solemn than when he left, he suddenly became aware of his own lack of aroma. Maybe he didn’t deserve to have a pleasing aroma tonight. He reclines on the floor next to his wife rubbing his hand on the purple woolen rug; he hasn’t greeted her or allowed his eyes to gaze any higher than his own chest. Moments pass as his mind comes out of his circular thoughts. He finally takes a deep breath, which came out to any outside observer as a sigh. “You know the others and I went to see that teacher today” he said.

“Yes, I assumed you must’ve gotten caught up when I didn’t see you at your normal time, did you get to discuss the topic we discussed yesterday?” she gently prodded.

“I did, and not only did He not answer; He left me to answer my own question. I got to speak my own knowledge and understanding of the law, and I stated it as clearly as I know it, ‘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.’”,

He took another deep breath before continuing “I know the law and I know that God has affirmed me in my knowledge of it. I’m the counsel to many. You and I both know I’ve struggled with my pride, being blessed with such knowledge.” Continuing he said, “After I answered; He affirmed my knowledge with a truly genuine smile, saying I answered correctly; but then he said, ‘Do this and you shall live’”.

He finally looks up at this wife and says, “How can anyone do that fully? He didn’t say follow this or try this, he said ‘Do this’, and it was obvious in my heart what he meant. But It was my next question that was my undoing, I asked ‘And who is my neighbor?’, as the words left my mouth, I immediately knew He already knew the answer to my question before I asked it.”

There was a brief pause as he took a breath; a wife trying to support her husband said, “Since he does teach and travel, I’m sure he’s been asked similar questions before — ”

He cuts her off sharply “No! he knew My question, he knew I was trying to justify my own actions. There was no hesitation, there was no questioning, or contemplating; he knew the answer. He told another of His parables. Listen to what he 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 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.’”

In the candle light as he finished, he could see his wife’s spotted face, the tears rolling down her face fell onto his and he realized he was crying too. He could hear her chest heave as she swallowed before speaking “How — ?”,

The lawyer continued “He could have left me where I was, but then He made me answer His question of 36 ‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’ I said, ‘The one who had mercy on him’, then I left the others and have been walking since this morning.”

His wife and him were now sitting up facing each other, both of their hands were layered on top of each other’s as they wept, time passed, then he was the one to speak a prayer. “A Samaritan?! I pray that God takes away my hate, I pray that he takes away this hate that I’ve considered righteous hatred, I pray that he forgives this household and I pray God’s blessings on the Samaritan man, that I never knew, who saved my life that day rather than leaving me where I was. I thank you for Jesus who saved my life today rather than leaving me where I was.”