Simple Sunday: The Inn of the Good Samaritan

The Inn of the Good Samaritan... would it surprise you if I told you that it existed?

As with most of Jesus' parables many scholars believe Jesus was telling a story of an actual event. There was after all a known fact that the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was dangerous, and it was also a widely known fact that in the midst of this deserted area there was one inn, a fortress like structure, that was a place of safety for travelers.

Whoever makes the journey from Jerusalem to Jericho finds the words of our Lord again and again recurring to his mind: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves.”

One passes, in going eastward, directly between rugged hills, “sad and silent heights” of white rock now and then relieved by a curious rose-colored stratum with stripes of green on the terraces where shepherds watched their flocks of sheep and goats. Jericho lies thirty-six hundred feet below Jerusalem, so that the eastward journey is a literal “going down to Jericho.” The sudden appearance of the head or spear of a Bedouin above a pile of rock or the unsuspected encounter with a group of horsemen reminds one, of the man of the parable “who fell among thieves.” 

The Jericho road has been the dread of travelers for twenty centuries because of the lawless Arabs that infest these hills, making their strongholds, as even David was obliged to do for a time, in the caves of the rocks high above the reach of pursuers. In these very defiles Sir Frederick Henneker was robbed, and that as late as 1820. 

The inn of the Good Samaritan is not far from Jericho. It is a large shed with a courtyard at the back upon foundations much more ancient than the present structure. A Roman watch tower on an overlooking point nearby gives a view of the approaches in all directions. All around is desolation without an inhabitant, but here one can find refreshment. 

Marion Harland says: “We were surprised to learn that the parable of the Good Samaritan is here considered a real incident as historic as the fall of the tower of Siloam.” 

The site of this inn is very old, and has probably borne for hundreds of years the name “of Him who showed mercy to a feudal foe.”

Today, remember that for every good deed someone takes notice... whether an inn keeper who sees what is done for an enemy and spreads the story, perhaps the man who was beaten as he shares this experience with his family years later, or the ones who are picked on, the downcast, the oppressed.

With every good deed, you can change one person's world.

And for those things that no one notices... Can I remind you the words of our Lord?

"Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." -Matthew 6:2-4

Who knows? You may be part of a story that gets passed down through the ages.

With every choice we make we invite either heaven or hell to this planet... Today, and tomorrow, and the day after that... and on and on and on... Will you invite heaven to earth with your choices?

He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
                          -Micah 6:8

* Adapted from an article in "Earthly Footsteps of the Man of Galilee, Logos Bible Software


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Nathan Bryant

Is a student of Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri. Majoring in Biblical leadership and Missiology, he has a combined passion for church unity and discipleship in the global church. Nate is a crazed sports fan, he enjoys fantasy football and watching baseball with friends. He works as an Admissions Counselor at Ozark as well as assistant to the staff at River Run Christian Church. Nate is also a Starbucks addict. Yay Coffee!

Christ's Kingdom is bigger than our causes.

Christ's Kingdom is bigger than our boundaries.
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