He Knows it All

Published: May 28, 2021, midnight

b'Joshua was unable to cry out for help, but he could have burst for joy when he saw a man in priests\\u2019 garb walking towards him. The Road to Jericho was quite narrow, and Joshua lay exposed right beside it. There was no missing him. Joshua stretched out his hand and tried to speak, but the priest merely edged around him and went on with his business.\\n\\u201cOh, I\\u2019m invisible again,\\u201d Joshua thought.\\nHours later, a Levite walked by. Joshua stretched out his hand, but the Levite stepped right past. Joshua watched him walk away, farther down the winding road, and then Joshua swore he could see this man reach to tear off his garment where Joshua had touched it.\\nJoshua blinked. \\u201cAm I invisible or not? At this point, am I even alive? Am I real?\\u201d\\nLater still, Joshua saw another man\\u2014a Samaritan\\u2014approaching the spot where he lay. Joshua didn\\u2019t stretch himself out; he couldn\\u2019t try anymore. \\u201cI\\u2019m done for,\\u201d he thought. \\u201cI\\u2019m dying here.\\u201d\\nJoshua felt himself being lifted up. \\u201cWhat\\u2019s happening?\\u201d he wondered. He felt wine and oil being poured on his torn flesh, his wounds being bandaged.\\nJoshua didn\\u2019t remember what happened after that, but he woke up in a comfortable bed. He saw a man in the opposite corner of the room, making food. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Where am I?\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Joshua asked.\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153An inn in Jericho. A Samaritan brought you yesterday. He had to leave but gave us good pay to look after you. Two days wages. He took excellent care of you.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153And I thought I was invisible. A good Samaritan, of all things.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d \\u2022 Lauren N. Simmons\\n\\u2022 This story is inspired by a parable Jesus told. At that time in history, many Jews hated Samaritans based on centuries of national, religious, and ethnic strife. They couldn\\u2019t imagine any good coming from a Samaritan. But in Jesus\\u2019 parable, a Samaritan showed mercy when Jewish religious leaders didn\\u2019t. Why do you think Jesus told the parable this way? \\n\\u2022 Read John 4:1-43. What did Jesus do when He saw a Samaritan woman? \\n\\u2022 How might it affect your relationship with Jesus if it\\u2019s true He really sees us\\u2014with all our desperate needs and all our shortcomings\\u2014and loves us so much that He would rescue us? How might this affect your relationships with others? \\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. He went over to him and bandaged his wounds\\u2026and took care of him.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Luke 10:33-34 (CSB)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nPsalm 139:1-4; John 4:29'