I listened to a sermon last week on the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and it started my thinking about the message Jesus was telling. We all know the story and we have probably heard many times the point of the message.

How we need to love and care for those who may be outcast and possibly even our enemy. How Jesus uses the history of the relationship with Jews and Samaritans to further emphasise his point that we should love those outside of our immediate sphere and even those who might be unclean. As I reread this story again some words jumped out at me.

Verse 34a says, "He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine." Now, I'm not too certain which medical school this Samaritan fellow attended but oil and wine don't seem to be the best for wound care. Wine I can understand a bit as I'm sure the alchohol content would kill the germs and bugs, but what's with the oil? As I pressed into this further some I felt the Lord giving me some revelation which made this story come even more alive for me.

Jesus uses parables to explain deeper theological points time and time again.  I think Jesus points out to this teacher of the law, who he was addressing this parable to, that the old way of interacting with those unclean is flawed.  He was bound under the control of the law but he must begin to operate under a new paradigm.

The wine and the oil point to our operation under the new paradigm.

Throughout the new testement wine is used as a symbol of the blood of Christ shed on the cross.  It marks the protection of a new covenant.  Just as the passover blood marked the Israelites doorposts and protected them, we too come under the protection of the blood of Christ.

In Leviticus 14 we read of blood and oil being used for the cleansing of lepers. A lamb must slain as a sin offering, "And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot" (:14). After this the oil was applied to the same spots … "And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering. And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD" (:17-18). We see how the oil is poured out after the blood, and that it must be applied to the same place the blood was. This is symbolic of the sinner's need of cleansing through the blood of Christ, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. They are treated as a single act in Leviticus.

Most Christians regard oil as a symbol of the Person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the Old Testament we see oil being used for holy purposes. The priests were consecrated and ordained unto God as oil was poured upon their heads … "Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head" (Exodus 29:7 - see also Leviticus 8). During such ceremonies oil was used abundantly, for it ran down the priest's beard and clothing … "It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments" (Psalm 133:2). The kings of Israel were also anointed with oil as they took up office.

Oil was used to keep the lamps burning in the Holy Place, and it was vital that they should never run dry … "Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning" (Exodus 27:20). Without the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and churches, spiritual darkness soon overtakes us.

So Jesus points out to this teacher of the law that the interaction with the sick and broken needs to happen under the covering of the blood of the cross (The Wine) and with the power of the annointing of the Holy Spirit (the Oil).  When we take that understanding of the wine and the oil into reading this passage it helps us in our approach to our neighbours.

1) We will have protection under the blood of Christ.  The cross brings freedom from the old way of doing things and a protection promise.
2) We receive the power to heal and bring restoration under the annoiting of the Holy Spirit

Go and do likewise!