July 16, 2022
So [the Samaritan man] went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. Luke 10:34
Our Samaritan Friend, upon making contact with the wounded one, bandaged his wounds. This “first aid” is the spiritual equivalent of stopping the active bleeding. It is a direct address to the most painful, festering injury. To bind up a wound not only stops the bleeding, but it protects the wound from further injury so that the healing process can begin.
By now, beloved, you have quite figured out that the “good Samaritan” is Jesus! We also know Him as our Great Physician. The enemy of our souls has wounded each of us “to death” with a “deadly wound” – exactly what he intends toward the objects of God’s love. But the healing power of Jesus avails for the restoration of life, reversing the devil’s work of leaving us half dead only for what remains of life to slowly ebb away.
Yes, Jesus comes in mercy to bind us up wherever we are wounded so that the healing process can commence. And the sooner the better! What are the divine agents for healing? They are oil and wine, and they must be generously poured into every wounded place. The oil is the pure, illuminating light of the Holy Spirit. And the wine represents the pure doctrines derived from God’s word. Both are necessary for healing, for they work together. Apart from the Holy Spirit, a misunderstood doctrine will ferment (become corrupted), which can inflict great harm. The Holy Spirit consistently leads us into the illuminated study of God’s word. The fact that the Samaritan is pouring on the oil and wine denotes the generosity and abundance of the healing grace of God; not dripping or daubing, but pouring!
He set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The Samaritan had to walk. This is a picture and example of using whatever means you have to get someone into a safe environment, a place where the oil and wine will continue to be poured. Jesus chose the word inn to represent the church. This place of rest and nourishment implicitly highlights the Lord’s Sabbath. Our time with the Lord and His people is designed to bring rest and refreshment, as the illumination of God’s Spirit causes us to feast upon the Bread of Life. Life principles—or doctrines—of the Creator come into clear focus when His word is viewed in the light of His Spirit. This “fresh pressing” brings the juice of the grape (Greek: oinos) so that we may drink in the life principles that will restore us into the image of our Maker. Therefore the church should also be a hospital. Moving toward health—physical, spiritual, mental, emotional—in preparation to live in eternity with Him begins with joyfully accepting His righteous ways into our lives and viewing others as He sees them.
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16