THERE was once a lonely man walking in Palestine on the long mountainous road between Jerusalem and Jericho.
But suddenly a band of thieves sprang out of their hiding-place and robbed him of everything he had, and then cruelly wounded him and made off, leaving him by the roadside half dead.
Sad indeed was his plight, lying there in the glaring sunshine, aching with pain and consumed with thirst. Would no one come and help him? he thought.
Then some footsteps came close to him, and as he lifted his weary eyes, he saw one of the Jewish priests standing, arrested by the sight; but he only passed by on the other side of the road, and went away.
Then a Levite came along the road, and catching sight of the wounded man, he came over and looked at him; but he, too, passed by on the other side.
But at length there was a traveller who was making the same journey; and he saw the poor man lying there dying, and when he saw him he had compassion on him, and a great pity filled his heart. So he quickly went to his side, and bound up his wounds; and then he lifted him on to his donkey, and walking by his side, he brought him at length to an inn, and stayed with him all night.
At length the morning came, and the traveller was obliged to proceed on his journey.
So he called the master of the inn, and gave him some money, and told him to take care of the stranger, and promised to repay the innkeeper when he returned, whatever he had spent in caring for the sick man.
And now, I think, our Lord Jesus, who looks down from heaven at all that is happening here, says to each one of us, as we pass on our journey through this world: "Go thou, and do likewise."