St. John has seen God on the throne in heaven. Jesus has been given the scroll of human history to open. Only the Lamb who was slain, who had experienced suffering, could open the scroll and its seven seals, and so reveal the answers to the mysteries of life. As he opens each seal an image appears to explain what is going on in the world of the reader.

What if that visitor were Jesus, and he meant: "Wake up to your true condition. Don't live off your reputation. Don't be self-deceived. What you think you are and what you really are is quite different." Churches that live off their reputation slowly die and eventually disappear. They may appear strong, but they are undermined by becoming comfortable with the culture in which they live.

It is highly significant, therefore, that the man in the story is a Samaritan. Of all the men who came by, and saw the wounded Jewish victim of a criminal attack lying on the side of the road, the Samaritan was the least likely to want to help him. Why should he help a man who, no doubt, was entirely prejudiced against him? Perhaps, if the victim were awake and alert in his helpless condition, he would fear the Samaritan's approach.

God has ordained that the prayers of church leaders and anointing with oil in the name of the Lord, may be used to bring wholeness, healing, peace, to a troubled and sick soul. The anointing with oil is the outward and visible sign of the inward anointing of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.