Took Care of Him

We typically focus most of our attention when reading the Parable of the Good Samaritan on what happened on the road to Jericho, but what took place at the inn is also very instructive. We read that the Good Samaritan “brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee” (Luke 10:34-35). We would love to have more of the story, but it is clear at least that this Good Samaritan did more than help the unfortunate traveler on the trail. His influence on the man who fell among thieves lasted much longer as he continued to look after the man and made sure others took care of him as well. As we consider that the Good Samaritan is a representative of the Savior, this helps us understand that He doesn’t just come to our aid once in our most difficult moments. Rather, He wants to help and heal us continually until we are ultimately made whole and return to Him.

In the most recent general conference Elder Gong spoke about the Parable of the Good Samaritan. In particular, he taught what we learn “as we come with the Good Samaritan to the Inn,” where the inn can represent His church and is a “refuge for all from life’s bruises and storms.” I love thinking about the inn in this parable as the church, suggesting that we all come like the traveler with our wounds that need healing. There the Savior continues to watch over us and see to our complete healing. That is the purpose of the church, a place for the sick to be healed by the Savior through the ordinances and covenants that we make. In the parable the man gave money to the host to care for the injured traveler with a promise to provide whatever was needed. This surely is symbolic of His infinite atonement—He never runs out of the ability to help us or forgive us. His sacrifice was unlimited and thus He will never not have enough capacity to succor us each through our sins and weaknesses. Elder Gong also highlighted that this parable implies that the Savior’s arm is also unlimited in the sense that it is available for all of God’s children. He declared, “We rejoice that God loves His children in our different backgrounds and circumstances, in every nation, kindred, and tongue, with room for all in His Inn…. As we create room in His Inn, welcoming all, our Good Samaritan can heal us on our dusty mortal roads. With perfect love, our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, promise ‘peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.’” His Inn where healing takes place is available to all who will come and who desire to “be encircled in His understanding arms of safety.” I love the simple phrase in the parable that the Good Samaritan “took care of him” at the Inn. And so He can take care of each of us at the Inn as we come into His Church and keep our covenants with Him.