Danger on the lonely road

This is the story of the Good Samaritan and the pompous Pharisee, retold by Jennifer Rees Larcombe with illustrations by Steve Bjorkman, for the "Best Bible Stories" series.

A Jewish teacher questioned Jesus, 'Surely a good Jew can only love good people?'.

Jesus replied with this story. A man was travelling along the dangerous road between Jerusalem and Jericho when a gang with sticks and knives robbed him of his money and beat him, leaving him to die on the ground.

A priest walked by on his way to the temple. 'Tut, tut,' he said, hurrying on past. A Pharisee crept round the wounded man, worrying that the robbers would come and attack him too.

Then a Samaritan arrived on his donkey. Surely this enemy wouldn't help. But the wounded man was astonished to find the Samaritan giving him a drink, rubbing ointment into his cuts and taking him to safety on his donkey.

The embarrassed Pharisee knew which person really loved the injured man.