What if the hero of Jesus’ most famous parable was the one person you swore you’d never trust? In Luke 10:25–37, the Good Samaritan isn’t a gentle Sunday school tale—it’s a scandal that shook the first listeners to their core. For them, “Samaritan” meant enemy, desecrator, traitor. Yet Jesus dared to say: that one can show you mercy.

In this episode of The Semi-Seminarian Podcast, Pastor Jim walks the bloody road from Jerusalem to Jericho, tracing the dust beneath your sandals, the sting of religion that excuses avoidance, and the shock of mercy that comes from the last place you’d expect. This isn’t just about a neighbor—it’s about crossing the road, breaking empire’s economy of fear, and stepping into God’s economy of mercy.

Pull up a chair on the porch, let the Spirit crackle through the static, and hear the gospel that still scandalizes: Go and do likewise.