But there is even more to this. He was not put off by the cost he would incur: ‘I'm probably going to have to pay for him to be put up somewhere.
That is the last thing we see here in the Samaritan. He saw the case through, and took total charge. That is the salvation of Christ. He comes to the wounded, to the half alive, he tends the wounds, he washes away the sin, he pours in the oil to restore, and replenish, makes us whole; he gives us life, takes charge of us, and sees us right through to the end of life's journey. What is more wonderful than being a child of God, having been converted to him, coming to know him, and walking with him until he calls us to be with him? There are no blessings to exceed these. To be one who knows the Lord, who is his child, who has meaning and purpose, who walks with him and prays to him, and is guided and blessed by him. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Good Samaritan, sees it right through.
The Lord Jesus Christ came down from heaven to suffer and die, to bear our punishment in our place, to pardon and forgive us, to convert our souls. But he never did it for personal gain. What can you and I bring to the Lord Jesus Christ? What can we add to him? How can we extend his riches in glory? We can never pay him back. The thing is impossible and he knew that. He did it because we are the objects of his great love and pity. He is so full of love that he will come and bless us and tend to our needs and save our souls, even though, as far as we are concerned, there is absolutely nothing in it for him.
Here is the whole glory of Christian conversion. When a man sees himself as half alive, wounded and stripped of everything, in great need of salvation, with no hope of heaven unless Christ comes to him and converts him; when that man turns to Christ, and Christ washes him clean, it isn't something which can ever cease to be true. Christ comes and blesses us, he changes the life, and we are never the same again. He brings us a spiritual life, he restores our souls, he washes away our sin, he tends the scars of character, makes us whole and wholesome, and from that moment we belong to him. He will see us right through to eternity. He will tend us, he will take charge of us, he will watch over us, and he will deal with us as his followers and his children, his very brethren, right to our journey's end.
Is there somebody who has seen their soul's need. You are ready to see that you are only half alive, and life is stealing from you, even taking away even the few good things you have got in life. You are ready to see that you have sinned against the Lord God, that you have despised the Saviour, and lived selfishly, and are full of sin. What a message this is! That Christ will not hold against you the fact that you have spurned him and spat upon him. He will come to you the moment you are sincere in your repentance and faith, and he will wash you clean, and make you new, and take total charge of you. What do you have to do? You have to have your heart broken. Your eyes must melt with tears. You must see your sinfulness, your wretchedness, and how little you deserve it. You must throw yourself upon his love and give him your life. Ask him to pardon you and to convert your soul. And if you do that, and you mean it with all your heart, the heavenly Samaritan will do this wonderful work in you. May it be true.