“But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.” (Luke 10:33)

In the story of the Good Samaritan, three people traveled down the same road and encountered the same wounded man. The priest sees him. The Levite sees him. Both see a man who has been beaten, abandoned, and left for dead. Yet both of them pass by on the other side of the road.

Then comes a Samaritan — the most unexpected person to become the hero of the story in that day. Jesus says something important about him.

“When the Samaritan saw him, he had compassion.” (v.33)

The Samaritan doesn’t simply notice the wounded man. He truly sees him. And what he sees moves him into action.

The priest sees and passes by.
The Levite sees and passes by.
The Samaritan sees and draws near.

He crosses the distance. He stops. He cares for the man’s wounds. He places him on his own animal, brings him to a place of safety, and makes sure that his care continues after he leaves.

Compassion moves towards someone.
It doesn’t always have every answer.
It can’t always fix everything that’s been broken.
But compassion refuses to remain on the other side of the road.

And that’s an important part of See & Serve.

Last week, we remembered that Jesus sees us with compassion. He does not turn away from the crowded and broken places in our lives. Instead, He draws near to us.

In the Good Samaritan, Jesus shows us what His compassion looks like when it flows through us.

When we see someone who is hurting, will we pass by?
Or will we move toward them?

Moving towards someone may look different in every situation. It may be a phone call, a visit, a meal, a prayer, practical help, or simply the willingness to sit quietly with someone who’s grieving.

Sometimes, the most powerful thing we can say is, “I see that you’re carrying something heavy. You don’t have to carry it alone.”

The Samaritan doesn’t first ask whether the wounded man deserves help. He doesn’t wait until helping is convenient.

Instead, he sees him, and he serves him.

The Samaritan’s mercy points us to the greater mercy Jesus has shown us. When we were wounded by sin and unable to save ourselves, Jesus didn’t pass us by. He came near.

Through His cross, He carried what we could not. And He brought us from death to life. Because Christ came near to us, we can move toward others with His love.

Now he places people along our road. They’re not interruptions. They’re neighbors, they’re people He has given us the privilege of seeing and serving with His love.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for not passing me by when I was lost and wounded by sin. Thank You for coming near with mercy, compassion, and grace. Open my eyes to the people You place along my road today. When I see someone carrying pain or need, give me the courage to move toward them. Show me how I can serve with Your love — not only with words, but through compassionate action. In Your name I pray. Amen.

Final Thought
This is the heart behind Lutheran Church Charities’ annual campaign, See & Serve. Compassion is seeing others through the eyes of Christ and serving them with His love.

Over the coming weeks and months, we will share stories from our ministries, devotions, and opportunities to see how God is using Lutheran Church Charities to bring His mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation to people who are suffering and in need.

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