Hey friends. Welcome back for another week of Carpooling with Jesus. I'm so happy you're with me today. So you may not be in school today. Maybe you're having breakfast, eyeing a puzzle or game you plan to play, or a trampoline out the window. Why? Because it's Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Have you ever heard of Dr. King? He was a leader who stood up for what was right and believed that love and peace could change the world. Sounds a lot like what Jesus teaches us, right? Well, Dr. King was also a pastor. He loved Jesus. And today let's learn from a story Jesus told that's all about love, kindness, and doing what's right, just like Dr. King believed. Let's dive into the parable of the Good Samaritan. First off, you might ask, what's a parable? A parable is a special kind of story that Jesus used to teach important lessons about life. These stories are based on everyday events that the people listening could understand. For example, imagine your mom tells you a story about a boy who shared his lunch with a friend who forgot theirs. That story might be her way of teaching you about being kind and generous. Parables work like that. They use simple, relatable stories to help us learn how to be good, kind, and caring toward others, like Jesus. In the Bible, Jesus told a story called the parable of the Good Samaritan in the book of Luke in the New Testament. Remember, New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke. It's the third book. And in chapter 10, verse 25 through 37. Let me retell the story in a shorter way. One day a man was walking down the road when some robbers attacked him, hurt him, and left him lying there. A priest walked by and you'd think that he would help, right? But nope, he walked right on by. Then a Levite, kind of like a helper in the church, came along. But guess what? He didn't stop to help either. Finally a Samaritan came by. Now Samaritans and the man on the road didn't like each other, kind of like rivals. But the Samaritan didn't care about that. He stopped, helped the man, bandaged his wounds, and took him somewhere safe where he could get better. The Samaritan showed love and kindness, even when no one else did. What a story. And that's the short version. Go read it in Luke chapter 10 when you have time. But let's think about this for a second. Imagine you're the person lying on the road and people just walk past you without helping. How would you feel if someone stopped to help, even if they were different from you? Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. loved this story. He said he would be like the Good Samaritan, showing love and kindness to everyone, no matter where they came from or what they looked like. He believed we should stand up for what's right and use the love of God to make the world a better place. And that's exactly what Jesus teaches us too. Dr. King said, darkness can't get rid of darkness. Only light can do that. Hate can't get rid of hate. Only love can do that. This means that we can be like a bright light by showing love and kindness, even when it's tough. When we choose to be like the Good Samaritan, we can make a big difference in the world, helping to make it a better and happier place for everyone. Jesus didn't just talk about loving others. He lived it. Let's follow Jesus and honor people like Dr. King, who worked for justice and peace until the end of his life. No matter where you are or how you're listening, remember this, God loves you. Thanks for joining me on today's episode of Carpooling with Jesus. As we kickstart a brand new week, parents, if you love this podcast, share it with your parent friends. We'll see you tomorrow for another episode. But before we go, here's today's question. Take time and answer it together. What's one thing you can do to be like the good Samaritan?
