Did Jesus Promote Socialism? Part 4 - The Sick

*Updated 12/19*

Good news: this blog series is coming to an end. We are trying to look broadly at Jesus’ teaching and lifestyle as it relates to socialism. It is not uncommon to hear both secularists and Christians ponder if Jesus promoted socialism. The past three weeks we've looked at Jesus' teaching about how we are to care for the poor. In case you haven't read these yet, you can go read Part 1, Part 2, or Part 3 at your convenience. This week we’ll address how Jesus handled the sick and next week we’ll look how Jesus dealt with taxes.

The Sick

“Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.” (NASB, Luke 10:30-37)

We are all familiar with the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. Jesus was teaching when He was asked a question by an expert of the law. The question was about receiving eternal life. Jesus then asks “What is written in the Law?” The expert knew the Biblical moral code was based on Mosaic Law. He said “to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor.” Jesus says “Yes. Do it and you’ll have eternal life.” The expert then asks “who is my neighbor?” In other words “What does that mean? Who is really my neighbor?” Jesus answers in a parable.

The Jewish man is coming down the road and is robbed, beaten and left “half dead.” First a Jewish priest and then a Levite, probably someone who assisted the priest, came upon him and passed him by. These men were both Jews and should have stopped to help him. Instead they ignore the dying man! We do not know why they passed him, but they did. Last a Samaritan came by and helped the man! Jews and Samaritans were enemies. Samaritans were viewed as half-breeds. We see in the parable that the Samaritan does not only come upon the man but had sincere concern for him. The Samaritan dressed the Jew’s wounds and took him to an inn. Did he stop there? No! He gave the inn keeper a blank check to care for the man.

Jesus then asks the expert of the law “So, who was the neighbor to this hurt man?” “His enemy showed him mercy”, the expert replied. “Go and do the same thing” Jesus concludes.

Throughout the Gospels, Christ cleansed men of leprosy (Matt. 8:2-4, Mark 1:40-45, Luke 17:11-21), healed the crippled and paralyzed (Luke 5:17-26, 6:6-11, John 5:1-9), restored sight and hearing (Mark 8:22-26, John 9:1-7, Luke 18:35-43) cast out demons (Mark 1:32-34, Mark 5:1-20), healed miscellaneous ailments (Matt. 8:14-17, 9:18-22, 14:34-36), and raised the dead (Luke 7:11-17, Mark 5:35-43, John 11:17-44). This was a large part of His ministry. He had great compassion to help those become physically (and more so spiritually) restored.

Jesus’, the God-man, was capable of healing those with many afflictions– even death. But today we as Christians can heal through our prayers, skills, training, counsel, and financial resources. So there is no doubt Jesus valued people. They are made in God’s image, therefore, if possible and in accordance with His will we should be willing to help restore the sick. But again, the question posed is “Did Jesus promote socialism?” Is care for the sick a government required entitlement? Search Scripture and you cannot find any such mandate. But what Jesus, Peter and Paul did was heal through God’s power and leading – never out of compulsion. Let us as Christians do the same.