Real Christianity, Mixed Media, Marcia Carole
Sacrificial Giving, Mixed Media, Marcia Carole
Restoration, Mixed Media, Marcia Carole
Real Christianity means sharing in each other’s pain. (Bonhoeffer, Agent of Grace)
Jesus continues the story we have been looking at with a Samaritan having compassion in his heart for the dying man. Extending true compassion to another with no strings attached, always begins in the heart. Now, the man who was left for dead was rescued, surprisingly, by someone who was a, so called, enemy – a Samaritan. This must have disarmed the lawyer who had been questioning Jesus. The Samaritan must have done the hard work of forgiving his enemies in order to reach out to one.*
The Samaritan bound up the man’s wounds, covered his nakedness, brought him to a safe and restorative place, spent time with him and paid for the expense of the dying man’s care to renew his life. This is real Christianity – really loving one’s neighbor. I have certainly been loved, extended compassion, by many on my cancer journey; countless people have entered into my road of pain, and I am being restored in many ways. They have taught me what true Christianity is – entering into my pain.
Jesus is the Good Samaritan for each of us. He entered into our pain in this life by coming and living among us 2,000 years ago. His coming was a rescue operation for each of us. We were each left for dead on our way to eternal separation from God in our hearts and minds. Our wrongs separated us from our Holy Master Artist.
Jesus, showing overwhelming compassion, arrives on each of our roads, He forgives, covers our shame and darkness with His perfection, binds up our wounds, has loving relationship with us, and pays for all our care and restoration, both now and eternally- on the cross. We can have intimate, loving relationship with our Good Samaritan, Jesus, by faith in Him and what He has done for us. As I wait for His healing, in my own little Inn here in Seattle, Jesus is teaching me much about real Christianity.
But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back. Luke 10:33-35
*With great thanks on this subject to Dianne Barnett Collard at http://www.montageinternational.org/ who has forgiven her son’s murderer. She is now encouraging artists all over the world.
