(Part 1)

THE PARABLE’S SETUP
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, a “certain man” falls among “thieves” who strip him, beat him, and leave him half dead. The “certain man” represents Adam (& Eve), and thus by extension, all mankind. And the “thieves” represent Satan and his demons. Jesus described Satan as the “thief” who comes to steal, kill, and destroy:

“The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life” (John 10:10).

Remember, in the Garden of Eden, Adam & Eve were NOT to eat from the tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil, or they would die. But Satan, the thief, came along and coerced them into eating from that dangerous tree! In so doing Satan STOLE from Adam & Eve (and all mankind!) their happy existence, KILLED them spiritually, and ultimately wants to DESTROY us in the lake of fire one day, which is the Second Death.

The parable of the Good Samaritan accurately describes this situation, for it says the thieves (Satan) left the man (Adam) HALF dead. This is what happened, for Adam & Eve experienced the FIRST death with one more possible to suffer — the SECOND Death. Therefore, they were half dead! And what happened to Adam & Eve was passed down to all mankind, so we are all born half dead.

THE PARABLE’S SAVIOR
But then the “Good Samaritan” comes along, representing Jesus, and he has compassion on the half-dead man. Over and over again, the Bible talks of Jesus’ compassion for us:

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)

So the Good Samaritan (Jesus) picks the man up, puts him on his animal, takes him to an inn, and takes care of him. This is what a shepherd would do for his sheep, if they were lost or hurt. And of course, the Bible says Jesus is our Shepherd, who laid down his life for us:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

It was Jesus’ death on the cross that made LIFE (eternal) available to us. Christ’s (sinless) death is now available to pay our death sentence for the sins we committed. In this way, Jesus “took care of us” like the Good Samaritan did to the half-dead man in the parable, seeking to nurse the man back to life again.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)