Thankful for the Real, Sacrificing Friendship of Jesus!

I have written previously about friends. However, last Saturday I was blessed in a way which deserves recognition. I also believe we can all learn more about the parable of the Good Samaritan, and about Jesus, from the kind giving help I received from my new ‘friend.’

I have been back in Alaska about 10 days. But, last week my son, Tim, wanted to fish for red salmon on the Kenai River. I have been doing some work on my boats, so I had not taken my Kenai boat on an actual fishing trip. Nevertheless, in order to take Tim fishing I arose at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 3, and drove to the Kenai Peninsula to fish. My truck pulled back into my driveway in Palmer at 1:20 a.m. Sunday morning.

Partly because I was hurrying to make the fishing trip happen, I did not have everything totally in order. I had tested the boat and knew it ran. I was loaded with fishing gear, and life jackets, and full on fuel. However, I had moved items around in my storage compartments and was not 100% sure where everything was. Also, I had charged the battery in the boat for about 2-3 hours on Tuesday. But, the boat has been idle since the 2023 fishing season. As you will see, I should have charged my battery longer. I just did not yet realize that fact.

We pulled into the Bings Landing Boat Ramp on the Kenai to launch the boat. Tim has developed skills with trailers, and he helped me launch the boat. With my vessel in the water on the trailer, the motor fired right up, and Tim drove the trailer about a half mile away to find a parking space. When he arrived at the dock, I turned the key. This time, the motor did not start right away. Then it did not crank as well as before. Finally, when I turned the key, nothing happened to my outboard.

What does a person do in a situation like this? We had left Palmer and Anchorage early in order to fish. The drive was about 185 miles from my house one way. I wanted to spend time with my son, and he wanted time with a pole in his hand. But I also did not want to be unsafe! I was actually thinking of giving up on the trip.

Perhaps surprisingly, a man in the boat in front of us on the dock asked if we were having battery troubles and needed help. I later learned his name was Doug. Doug’s boat also had a 50 HP Yamaha outboard, and he had a pull cord. However, the boat battery needs to be charged enough for the pull cord to work. Well, the next option Doug came up with was to jump my battery from his. Our jumper cables were in our truck. So Tim ran ½ mile to the truck, and a half mile back to the boat. Yup! Our motor started right up on the first turn of my key. But, did I want to go upstream wondering if my boat would die, or if it would not start after fishing? Doug gave me his phone number, and suggested I follow him to his place on the river. He said, if need be, he had a volt meter, and a charger, and could help me out. I followed Doug to his family cabin and the boat was running well (if not the boat driver – but that is another story). So we went upstream and fished for about 7 hours. Yes, the motor did start later when I fired the ignition and we made it home safely with 2 nice sockeye salmon.

Through all this ordeal I felt like the helpless man in Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. In that account, a man was beaten and left beside the road, in need, to possibly die. Thankfully, a Samaritan, a man who was considered an outcast – almost an enemy, stopped to help the injured Jewish man. The Samaritan put his life in danger in an area where robbers worked. The Samaritan showed concern and care, nursing the wounds of the wounded man. The Samaritan paid for the injured man’s care. The Samaritan did not even know the wounded man, except that he was a fellow human being. Yet this nameless Samaritan man gave of his time and concern and resources for the wounded Jewish man. By the way, Jesus taught this parable to a Jewish religious leader who had asked Jesus whom he was required to love. “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29) After relating the parable, Jesus’ answer to the religious leader was, “You, go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37)

When Christians hear God’s law, what we are supposed to do, the law always reveals our failings. As St. Paul writes, “ . . . through the law comes knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20) When we know our sin and short-comings, we also learn that we need a savior. But, do you remember the words of Jesus in John 15? “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Jesus is our ultimate friend, our best friend forever! Though we willingly reject His love, His guidance, His wisdom, and His truth, Jesus did come to earth and lay down His life for us. The Good Samaritan put his life in danger. But Jesus GAVE His life to save us. He calls us friends. What a GIFT!

When I think of my new friend, Doug, I realize he went above and beyond. He did not know me. I was just a stranger in need. Doug did not have to take his time to help me. But he did help, and offered more help if I needed it.

Have you considered God’s love for us through Jesus in this way. We want to be able to take care of ourselves – silly us! But when we weren’t asking for help, God the Father sent His Son. When we didn’t want to admit our need and sin, Jesus lived for us and, more surprisingly, Jesus died to pay for our sins. For people who are totally helpless on their own – like we are - Jesus rose and won eternal life for people who truly have no hope in themselves. Jesus is The Friend we may wish we did not need, but The Friend who went beyond anything we would do, so that He could save us.

Since Jesus has been THE Friend who lays down His life for us, with whom can you share friendship and love, even if you do not know the person? With whom can you share Jesus’ love?