Who is The Good Samaritan?

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a familiar one to most.  It encourages the fairly basic idea of serving our fellow man and helps us to think about who our "neighbors" are.  Since I was young, I have always read this story relating myself to the figure of the Samaritan.  I need to be the person to take the time to help those around me and to "...be faithful" and "...succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees."  It is important to pray and look for opportunities to serve, especially those who can't help themselves.  This week however, I thought of this parable in a different way than I ever have in the past.  The parable of the good Samaritan can be found in Luke 10:25-37.  A certain lawyer tries to tempt Christ by asking what he needs to do to inherit eternal life.  Christ, always turning back to the scriptures asks this man what the scriptures tell him.  He replies that the law tells him to love God and to love his neighbor.  Christ confirms what he has said and tells him that if he does this he will live.  But, unsatisfied with this answer that provoked no confrontation, the man continues and asks who then, his neighbor is.  Christ responds with the parable.

The parable has various figures: 

-The wounded man

-The thieves

-The Priest

-The Levite

-The Samaritan and

-The innkeeper

In the end, Christ asks the lawyer to summarize the point of the story.  He asks in verses 36-37, "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him.  Then said Jesus unto him, Go and do thou likewise."

Because of the situation with this lawyer and the conclusion that they draw, I think that we always tend to look at this story as a story of service and loving our neighbor.  It is an obvious lesson to take away.  We are to look at our neighbors as the Samaritan did and care for them as much as we are able.

Joseph Smith said, however, that all "things which pertain to our religion are only appendages" to the Atonement of Christ (TPJS, p.121). Changing perspectives on this story can help us relate this parable to the Atonement better.  Instead of looking at this with the idea that I am the Samaritan, I need to relate myself to the wounded man.  I am the helpless one who needs assistance.  With this paradigm shift, the Samaritan becomes Christ.  He is the only one who can help me.  As much as the priest or the levite might be willing to help me, it is only Christ who is capable.  It is only through his mercy and compassion on me that I am able to stay with the innkeeper (who might be compared to Heavenly Father).  Christ has paid my debt and has left an endless account for my needs to be met.  He asks nothing in return.  His love is perfect.

While the lesson of service is valuable, I find this connection to the Atonement more substantial.  Christ is the one, also despised of the Jews, who in his own humility comes to my aide.  He is the only one who can save me.