Brandon Gilliland

Opposite is definied as being contrary or radically different.

Good Samaritan Story- Luke 10:30-37

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”

And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he 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. On the next day, when he departed,he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

The Jewish Levite and the priest were too concerned about rituals and themselves to have compassion for the wounded man.

Jesus did not care about the “religious” thing to do; He cared about the right thing to do.

Just like Jesus, the Good Samaritan (Christ figure) in the parable went the opposite way of society to help someone in need.

The Samaritan:

• Showed compassion
• Demonstrated Empathy
• Counted the costs

 ”Going the Opposite Way” means seeing opportunities others are not willing to see

When I think of going the opposite way, I think of surfers (even though I am not one). When surfers are paddling out against the breakers, they are not going the easiest way. They are, however, going the right way. Once they persevere through the breakers, they can ride the long-awaited wave. This goes right along with the Christian life. We can’t just give up after the big wave. We have to do it all over again! Going the opposite way should be something we always strive to do. It is not easy…

Our Calling

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

-2 Corinthians 5:20

I am reminded of a song by Leeland titled “Opposite Way”. In fact, it was the title of their second CD as a band. The lyrics to this song discuss going the opposite way for Christ.

Living in the same town for all these years. Doing the same old things.

Hanging with the same crowd. And it’s starting to get crippling

You’ve never felt in place. And you tell yourself it’s all okay. But something’s different today. You want to run the opposite way.

And it seems like you’re locked in a cage. And you need to find a way of escape.

When everyone is setting the pace. It’s okay to run the opposite way.

The Father sent His Son down. The light of men. The cross He bore was crippling. Rejected in His own town. They couldn’t see the sun shining.

He knelt in the garden and prayed Father, let this cup pass from me. It’s not Your will for me to stay. Your will for me is the opposite way.

Are you willing to count the costs of going the “opposite way” for Christ?