The Story of the Good Samaritan: How to Love Like Jesus
The story of the good Samaritan teaches us about kindness, compassion, and how to love like Jesus.
It’s a reminder that on our own, demonstrating true love can be challenging, but through our faith, anything is possible.
After picking up my daughter from school, she leaned out of the window, looked at her friend, and enthusiastically yelled, “I love you.”
Quizzically, I looked at her and asked, “Didn’t you just meet that girl?”
I knew better than to press the issue, but it made me think about what true love means and how easily we toss around words like “I love you.”
There are various types of love, including eros, or romantic love; philia, or deep platonic friendships; and agape, or unconditional love, which God shows us.
No matter the type of love, it is not usually instantaneous (other than Christ’s love for us), which is why I question rushed declarations of love.
God’s love for us is unconditional and filled with acceptance, but for us, true Love takes time to develop, at least for me it does.
But is there a way to love others like Jesus despite what we see on the outside or our programmed bias and self-focus?
The Story of the Good Samaritan
In the story of the good Samaritan, we see unconditional love expressed through action.
“But a Samaritan, as he was traveling along, came across the man. When the Samaritan saw him, he felt sorry for the man, went to him, and cleaned and bandaged his wounds.
Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.”
Luke 10:33-34 NLT
How is it possible in the story of the good Samaritan that a stranger was able to show love?
-He felt sorry for the man, which indicated he took time to notice him.
-After noticing the man, the good Samaritan went to him, which is often inconvenient and takes courage.
-He also touched him and cleaned his wounds, which shows compassion.
The stranger’s last act was to find a new place for him to heal, a sacrifice of love.
The Samaritan demonstrated sacrificial, tender love without judgment.
This kind of love in action, without expectation, is possible through Holy Spirit-led agape love.
How to Love Like the Good Samaritan
The Greek term agape refers to selfless, unconditional, and compassionate love. This love focuses on others without expecting anything in return.
Agape love is a choice, an action-oriented love that seeks the good of other people.
Jesus lived a life of agape love and still offers His love to us.
In the book of John, Jesus shares quotes about love.
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.” John 15:9 NLT
“This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:17 NLT
It is possible for us to love one another with more than empty words by taking action, just as the good Samaritan did.
Jesus expressed His love in many ways, even washing His disciples’ feet, including Judas, who would betray Him.
After He finished washing their feet, Jesus declared,
“I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” John 13:15 NLT
The story of the good Samaritan and this generous action by Jesus challenge us to be on the lookout for people who need love.
It isn’t easy to push through our own needs and see what people really need, not just what they can give us.
Emotional platitudes without action lead to a love depression that cannot withstand the test of struggles.
When we base love on feeling instead of choice, it is fleeting and can be painful.
Love Like Jesus
Later, after my daughter and I got home, I waited for a good moment to bring up the issue of love bombing.
She was defensive and said, “Oh, Mom, that’s just what friends say to each other. It doesn’t mean anything.”
I challenged her, as I do myself, that love should always mean something.
Love is powerful and when genuine and expressed in action, one of the greatest feelings in the world.
My prayer is that we don’t diminish love but elevate it to the standard set forth by Jesus and demonstrated in the story of the good Samaritan.
A Prayer to Love Like Jesus
Dear Jesus, help me overcome shortsightedness and see others as you do.
Help me love extravagantly, as in the story of the Good Samaritan, through words and actions.
Amen.
This devotional on the story of the Good Samaritan was originally published on Crossmap.
Author
Mary Rooney Armand
Mary is the founder and writer for the faith-based blog Butterflyliving.org. Her writing appears in multiple anthologies and on websites, and she is the author of Uniquely Made: Understanding and Embracing Your Identity in Christ and Life-Changing Stories, a devotional collection available on Amazon. Get to know Mary and the other authors of ButterflyLiving on YouTube.
