A story on the theme of Luke 10.25-37

Topic: Growing into an Emotionally Healthy Adult

Theme: Spiritual maturity has less to do with knowing or even keeping “the rules” and more to do with learning to love others in healthy ways.

Change the names and genders and parental configurations as works best for your context.

Justin was walking home from school one day with his friend, Lucas. Justin was just a second grader and he loved the fact that Lucas, who was a fifth grader, would walk with him. He thought it might be because they both went to the same church and were in the same class together. There was just one class for all the grade schools kids and Justin and Lucas had become friends.

Justin really looked up to Lucas because he was older and bigger and in Sunday School class he knew all the Bible stories and could memorize Bible verses really easily.

Justin had just looked up the block and saw a few kids stopped in a small group. He knew right away what they were doing. They had Kenny a little kid from the third grade and they were punching him. They did that lots of the time and sometimes they threw his books around or even stole money from him. Justin couldn’t figure out why they did it. He liked Kenny, even if Kenny wasn’t so good at games or in small groups in class.

When Justin saw what the kids were doing, he looked over at Lucas, wondering if Lucas would try and stop the kids from bullying Kenny. Lucas didn’t say anything. He just shook his head and crossed the street to the other side. Justin couldn’t believe it. If Lucas had just yelled at the kids they would have stopped. He was much bigger and stronger and they respected him. But he didn’t do anything to stop them.

Justin wasn’t sure what to do. He knew what those kids were doing to Kenny was wrong. He knew that he could probably stop them, but he might get beat up himself. Or worse, they might jump him at school the next day. But he couldn’t help himself. It was wrong what they were doing to Kenny. So he took off running and yelling. He called for Lucas to come with him. He at least wanted the kids to think that there were two of them, but Lucas just kept going across the street. What was wrong with Lucas, Justin wondered?

Even if Lucas hadn’t come with him, he saw his plan was working. One of the kids in the group had heard him and ran off. The others started to scatter and by the time he reached Kenny, they were all gone. 

Kenny had a big red spot on his forehead and his shirt was torn and his books were on the ground. Justin started picking up his books and backpack. Kenny rubbed the spot and tucked his shirt back in. “Thanks, Justin,” Kenny said, “If you hadn’t come along I would really be hurting. You saved me from getting beat up worse.” Justin just sort of nodded and kept helping Kenny.

When he looked around to see if the kids were coming back, he saw Lucas down the street. Lucas wasn’t looking at them. He was just looking the other way and walking. “I wonder what happened to Lucas. I thought he would know better.” thought Justin.