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The theme of universal love - helping whoever is in need no matter who they are - is common in Luke's gospel. Besides the parable of the Good Samaritan, another example of this theme is Jesus resurrecting the son of a weeping widow. This is not the only example in which he helps a woman. In Luke 7, he forgives a woman who is a sinner. These two examples are significant because at that time, women have low social status. Therefore these examples show that "you should love your neighbor as you love yourself" (Luke 10.25) no matter who they are. Jesus also cures a slave, who is at the edge of death. This further shows the theme of universal love because Jesus even loves those at the bottom of the social hierarchy - the slaves. The theme of universal love is summarized by Jesus:.
Love your enemies, do good to those who.
hate you, bless those who curse you, pray .
for those who abuse you. To him who strikes .
you on the right cheek, offer the other also; .
and from him who takes away your cloak do .
not withhold your coat as well.
Luke (7.27-29).
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John is not so concerned about who we should help, but who Jesus is. In his Gospel, John uses many signs to show who Jesus is. When Jesus meets the Samaritan woman, he tells her that he is the "living water" (John 4.7). Jesus also says, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8.12). At Galilee, Jesus performs the miracle of providing food for five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fishes. To this he says that he is the "bread of life" (John 6.35). From these signs we see that John portrays Jesus as our water, light, and bread - three things we need to live. The purpose for John to write these signs could be best summarized as follows:.
These are written that you may believe .
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, .
and that believing you may have life in .