One of the most famous characters in the Bible is not identified by name but just about every Christian has heard of him and his story. Matter of fact, the United States even has a law named after him. He’s the Good Samaritan.
The Bible may not name the Good Samaritan but if we consider the details of the story told by Jesus, we just may be able to identify who he is. The story is found in Luke 10:25-37. A religious expert asked Jesus how he could obtain eternal life. Jesus told him to love God and then to love his neighbor as himself. Trying to justify his bigotry, he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”
Jesus then tells him a story of a man who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. The man was attacked by robbers which left him “halfdead”. While he was in his half dead condition, a priest and then a Levite passed by, avoided the man, and refused to render this poor man aid. Then a Samaritan, a group despised by the Jews, came to the man giving him aid of oil and wine for his wounds. He then took him to an inn and gave the keeper two days’ wages, promising to return and pay any additional costs incurred. Jesus then asked the religious leaders, which one loved his neighbor as himself. He reluctantly admitted it was the despised Samaritan.
