Jericho – JourneyingWithTheWord

A Song about compassion that crosses boundaries

In a world filled with division, suspicion, and indifference, the story of the Good Samaritan remains one of the most powerful teachings ever told by Jesus.

My new song, “The Good Samaritan,” is inspired by the parable found in Luke 10:25–37, a story that challenges us to move beyond words and show mercy through action.

The Story Behind the Song

Jesus told the story of a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho who was attacked by robbers, beaten, and left half dead on the roadside.

Several religious men passed by him.
They saw the wounded man.
But they kept walking.

Then came a Samaritan, someone considered an outsider and enemy by the Jews of that time. Instead of ignoring the wounded stranger, he stopped, cared for his wounds, carried him to safety, and paid for his recovery.

Jesus ended the parable with a simple but life-changing command:

“Go and do likewise.”

That message became the heartbeat of this song.

Why This Message Matters Today

It is easy to talk about faith.
It is harder to live it.

The Good Samaritan reminds us that love is not measured by religious appearance, but by compassion in action. True faith bends down to help the hurting, even when it is inconvenient.

In today’s world, many people feel wounded:

emotionally
spiritually
financially
relationally

Sometimes the greatest ministry is simply stopping to care.

This song is a reminder that kindness still matters, mercy still heals, and God can use ordinary people to reflect His love.

Writing the Song

While writing The Good Samaritan, I wanted the lyrics to feel both biblical and personal, faithful to the Gospel narrative while speaking to modern listeners.

The song moves through:

the loneliness of the wounded traveler,
the silence of those who passed by,
and the unexpected compassion of the Samaritan.

Musically, I wanted it to carry both tenderness and hope, because mercy changes lives.

The Spiritual Challenge

The question behind the parable is not:
“Who is my neighbor?”

The real question is:
“Will I become a neighbor to someone in need?”

That is the challenge Jesus leaves with every believer.

Listen and Share

I pray this song encourages you to live out your faith with compassion, courage, and generosity.

If the song blesses you, please listen, share it with others, and help spread the message of God’s love through music.

Download

The Gospel according to Luke, by Dr Andrew Koh

https://storyoriginapp.com/giveaways/bcb88f94-7904-11ec-8dca-5361fbc9fae8

Dr Andrew C S Koh

Dr. Andrew C S Koh

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Luke 10:30-36

30 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. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 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. 35 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.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (read the rest of Luke 10).

Oxymoron

To the Jews, Good Samaritan is an oxymoron because to them, no Samaritan is good. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. The parable of the Good Samaritan is unique to the Gospel of Luke. Jesus told this parable in response to a scribe’s question “who is my neighbour?”

Commentary

A Jew was robbed and attacked by thieves when he was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They robbed, injured, stripped, and abandoned him by the roadside in critical condition. A priest coming down from Jerusalem passed him by but was afraid to even touch him. He turned a blind eye to the man and walked by on the other side as though he was transparent. A Levite passed him by and did exactly the same. These two pious religious Jews turned a blind eye to another Jew even though he needed assistance so desperately. They were hypocrites who did not do what they preached. They did not love their neighbour as stipulated in the Mosiac law.

A Samaritan man passed him by, stopped, rendered first aid, took him to an inn, and looked after him. The next day, he paid the inner keeper with a promise to reimburse all subsequent expenses.

The irony of the parable is that the most hated person in the parable is the hero. The most unlikely person to help stopped to help. The most unloved person showed love to someone who hated him. The good Samaritan man took care of the wounded man and saved his life.

Jesus answered the scribe’s question with another question. Which of these three men qualifies to be a neighbour to the man? This is the punch line of the parable. The scribe could not even pronounce Samaritan! All he could say was, ‘’he who showed mercy’’.

Jews hated the Samaritans and vice versa. Jews considered Samaritans as half-breeds, unclean, pariahs, outcasts, and marginalised them.

Application

The priest and Levite showed no compassion to another Jew even though he was in dire strait. Here is the shocking part. A Samaritan man showed love and compassion to a Jew. He saw a wounded man and not a Jew.

Will you show love and compassion to those who need your help? Will you turn a blind eye or stop to help?

Do you love your neighbour as yourself?

Your neighbour is someone who needs your help and whom you are in a position to help.

Your neighbour may not be someone you like.

Your neigbout=r may even be your enemy.

If you want to know who your neighbour is, go and look out for the needy, the sick, the poor, the destitute, and the marginalised. There are plenty of needy people in your neighbourhood whom you are in a position to help.

Will you be a good Samaritan to someone today?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for telling us this timeless parable. Help us to reach out to those who are in need of help. Help us to see suffering people through Your eyes of love, compassion, mercy, and grace. Help us to be good Good Samaritans who will reach out to the marginalised and needy. Do not let us turn a blind eye to anyone in need. Help us cultivate the spirit of the good Samaritans, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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