Showing results by author "Mike Haddorff" in All Categories

Jesus was a master storyteller, and his characters are well known, even to those who have never cracked the cover of a Bible. His famous Parable of the Prodigal Son features two sons and their father. The brothers represent the range of human behavior, from rebellious to self-righteous. Their father represents a father who deeply loves his children, regardless of how they act.

Almost everyone knows what a Good Samaritan is—someone who helps those in need, especially strangers. But in Jesus’ day, it was a contradiction in terms. Samaritans weren’t good; they were half-breeds and heretics. To the Jews, a Samaritan was more likely to be the villain than the hero. The Parable of the Good Samaritan is set on the Jericho Road. Finding a robbery victim there wouldn’t be unusual. A Samaritan helping such a victim would be. So, what made the Good Samaritan good? Our answer is in the subtitle: Awakening To Life’s Brutal Realities.