Luke 10:29–37: “But the expert, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him up, and went off, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, but when he saw the injured man, he passed by on the other side. So too a Levite, when he came up to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan who was traveling came to where the injured man was, and when he saw him, he felt compassion for him. He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring olive oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, “Take care of him, and whatever else you spend, I will repay you when I come back this way.” Which of these three do you think became a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ The expert in religious law said, ‘The one who showed mercy to him.’ So Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do the same.’”

Remember I am using this to illustrate the fact that Jesus Christ is the good neighbor. Look at the emotions that are described here: “He felt compassion for him.” When he saw him, he felt compassion for him.

We have Jesus Christ described as a Man of compassion. That is clear. He had compassion for the crowds, seeing that they were like sheep without a shepherd. He had compassion and He healed them. He is a Man of compassion. He is the One who represents the love of God to us: “For this is the way God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). And Jesus Christ told Philip, “The person who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). I am saying that Jesus Christ is the epitome of the love of God to us.

We see this in the Samaritan, who felt compassion for him, who was moved with compassion. He already identified with the man, already feeling the feeling of the man, already putting himself in the place of the man. Jesus Christ also put Himself in our place on the cross and took on the judgment of God that was supposed to come upon us.

It did not end with compassion. He took action. Who is going to take care of you? Jesus Christ. He is the One who is going to take care of you. That is the truth. Who has compassion on you? Who is going to take care of you? He is not just thinking of Himself.

Philippians 2 tells us, “Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Before that, Paul wrote that each one should be concerned not only about his own interests, but about the interests of others as well (Philippians 2:4). Jesus Christ is concerned about the things that have to do with us. He is concerned. Peter wrote that we should cast our cares on Him, because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

Look at the language here: “He put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” What did he do to his wounds? He poured olive oil and wine on them to begin the process of binding up the wounds, the process of restoration. It was not the snap of a finger. After the initial binding of the wounds, it does not mean the man simply stood up on his feet and was now fine. It takes a while. Overnight he had to take care of him. He put him in his own place.

Right now we are seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). And you see the language of “pouring” here. He poured out the Holy Spirit on us. We see that in Acts 2. He said, “I will send you what My Father has promised” (Luke 24:49). He poured olive oil and wine.

We see a picture of the Holy Spirit as “wine.” We see a picture of the Holy Spirit as “oil” in the Scriptures. Paul wrote, “Do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). We see the picture of oil as representing the Holy Spirit, as a picture of the anointing. John wrote that we have an anointing from the Holy One (1 John 2:20). And we have been given the seal of the Holy Spirit, who is the down payment, the deposit of God (Ephesians 1:13–14).

So I am saying: who has all these things to give, to make sure this man is restored? Jesus Christ is the good neighbor. He said, “Take care of him”—in a way, “Take care of him on My behalf. He is My responsibility, but I am making him your responsibility now,” telling the leaders of the church. “I will repay you when I come back.” He is coming back. That is the truth.

God bless you.