One of the parables Jesus told about healing was with an aromatic essential oil. Most likely, you will wow your audience. He was referring to how we should generously heal each other with healing substances, in particular essential oils. We all know the story of the Good Samaritan in which Jesus praises the Samaritan for compassionately healing a stranger. In this parable, the Samaritan poured wine and oil on the man’s wounds. The wine we know would have acted as an antiseptic, cleaning wounds due to its alcoholic content. The oil was probably not just any cooking or lamp oil, but a healing aromatic essential oil that even in those days would have been extremely expensive. Think about it. Why would a traveler go down a road carrying his cooking oil? Has no sense. But what traveler would go on a long journey and not carry a first aid kit with him, just in case he needed it? Aromatic essential oils were his medicine cabinet. These oils were used for all kinds of medical problems, including injuries, trauma, fractures, skin problems, as well as internal problems such as digestive disorders, respiratory and kidney problems.

Jesus’ audience would have been very impressed with these actions and with the Samaritan’s generosity in using his own healing oil on a stranger. Unfortunately, in our modern retelling of this story, we only remember how significant it was that the Samaritan was a hated second-class citizen despised by his Jewish counterpart.

As Jesus recounted the story, the Samaritan left the wounded man in the care of the innkeeper and generously offered to pay for any additional care the man might need. The use of oil and wine in this story was a sign of how great this man’s compassion was towards the situation of a total stranger. The deciding factor in this story, however, was when Jesus advised his listeners to be as generous and supportive in their mutual healing as this Samaritan. I can only imagine the ruckus this would have caused. It’s one thing to use an expensive aromatic essential oil on yourself or a family member, but for a stranger? And a Samaritan in that ?! Jesus went too far in this parable for some to hear.

The story of the good Samaritan is one for our day

How does this parable about healing relate to our modern age? The Samaritan felt compassion for a human being who was hurt and needed help. He didn’t hesitate to share what he had even though that meant he didn’t have it then. What can we share with other people who need mind / body / spirit healing? First, we can share our knowledge on how to use essential oils for health and healing. There are hundreds of different essential oils, each with different chemistry, different healing properties, and different delivery methods: inhalation, rubbing them into the body, and some can even be taken internally. Second, we can share the essential oils we have with others, either by showing them how they can obtain these precious healing oils that come from nature and not from a laboratory, or by giving some of our essential oils to those in need. Sharing from the heart is what the parable of the Samaritan is about. And when we share our knowledge and our oils, we in turn are spiritually elevated as part of the family of man.

How can we learn the ancient art of healing with aromatic essential oils today? Christianity-based educational courses can help us regain our rightful role in healing and anointing for the health of body, mind, and spirit. The Institute for Spiritual Healing and Aromatherapy does just that.