is be a good samaritan (Luke 9-10)

I am not sure how I feel about having several gospels.  Sometimes it helps to reread a story and think about it again.  On the other hand, they can not only confuse the issue with separate stories and contradictions that muddy the infallibility of the gospels, but when I am reading the third gospel and the third retelling of the same story, my mind sometimes drifts and I need to pay attention or lose sight of the new stories that pop up.  

In Luke, Mary Magdalene who shows up in Matthew and Mark only when the empty tomb is discovered, is introduced much earlier when a list of several women who followed Jesus are mentioned.  Mary had been cured of seven demons.

The death of John the Baptist is mentioned only in passing.  Herod is wondering about the authority of Jesus and says that he had John’s head cut off and now he has to worry about Jesus.

As in the other gospels Jesus sends out the 12 disciples (although Luke has him also send out 72 more).  Jesus  speaks with Moses and Elijah.  He continues with the parables.  Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah.  Jesus speaks of his suffering and death and his resurrection.  He claims that there will be some people who will not die before they have seen the Kingdom of God.

We also have a story about a Samaritan town that rejects Jesus.  This is followed by what will happen to the unbelieving towns (less mercy than shown to Sodom) and that is followed by the story of the Good Samaritan. And I find this story very interesting.   Most of us know the story about the Samaritan who helped the man who had been beaten and robbed while other people had ignored the victim.  

But I had forgotten or never knew how the story was introduced.  A teacher of the law asked Jesus how to gain eternal life.   When Jesus asked him what the scriptures said, the teacher replied love god and love your neighbour.  Jesus said that was correct.  But the teacher then asks “Who is my neighbour?”  And Jesus replies with the parable of the Good Samaritan and concludes that helping everybody – even those who aren’t necessarily your friends – will gain you eternal life.

And here is where there seems to be two threads going on with Jesus and his later followers.  One is how to behave.  The good deeds and proper behaviour towards others are very important.  Now maybe I am missing something but Jesus doesn’t always add the caveat that you have to believe in him as well.  When the unbelieving towns are talked about what exactly are they rejecting.  Are they rejecting Jesus as Messiah or are they rejecting his call for peace and goodwill to others.  I know that somewhere there is a statement about good deeds vs faith but I really haven’t heard that from Jesus.  He tells people to follow him and the way to follow him is to be kind, forgiving, etc.  Because he is actually there, what faith is required?  

So how does that help us today?  No clue.  But it seems to me that if you follow the teachings of Jesus whether you believe in him or not, you are doing just fine.