Full of Compassion and Mercy

“As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” – James 5:11 Today I will continue unpacking the story of the Good Samaritan.  Jesus describes a man walking down this road between Jerusalem and Jericho in Luke 10. Those days, that road was known as the Way of Blood for its narrowness and downward slope. Why was it so dangerous? Jerusalem is actually quite high – 3000 feet above sea level. In contrast to Death Valley in California, which is 280 feet below sea level, Jericho is actually 900 feet below sea level by the Dead Sea.   A Jewish man walking this road was mugged, robbed, and beaten, his belongings taken and he was left for dead. A priest passing by on his way back