251. The Rembrandts "I'll Be There For You"

"I'll Be There for You" is a song recorded by  rock duo The Rembrandts. It is best known as the theme song to the American sitcom Friends, which premiered during 1994 and ended in 2004. The song was also released as the first single from the group's third studio album LP. "I'll Be There for You" was co-written by Friends producers David Crane and Marta Kauffman, Kauffman's husband, composer Michael Skloff, and songwriter Allee Willis, along with Phil Sōlem and Danny Wilde, both of the Rembrandts. It was initially offered to the rock bands They Might Be Giants and R.E.M. It is strongly influenced by The Beatles, especially reminiscent of the "I Feel Fine" guitar riff, and is also highly reminiscent of The Monkees' "Pleasant Valley Sunday." The original theme, which is under one minute long, was later re-recorded as a three-minute pop song. After Nashville program director Charlie Quinn, along with radio announcer and music director Tom Peace, looped the original short version into a full-length track and broadcast it on radio station WYHY, it became so popular that they had to re-record it. "Our record label said we had to finish the song and record it. There was no way to get out of it," lead singer Phil Sōlem said.

So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's D.O.A.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year, but

I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)

You're still in bed at ten and work began at eight
You've burned your breakfast, so far things are going great
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these
But she didn't tell you when the world has brought you down to your knees that

I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)

No one could ever know me
No one could ever see me
Seems you're the only one who knows what it's like to be me
Someone to face the day with, make it through all the rest with
Someone I'll always laugh with
Even at my worst, I'm best with you, yeah!

It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year

I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)

I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)

This track "I'll be there for you" is a classic friendship track taking in the theme of standing with someone through thick and thin. It explores what it looks like to be commited to being a freind when life is really bad for the other. This touches the very heart of Jesus story of the Good Samaritan, The theme of being there for someone else during the worst times of their life. This is the truth behind the story Jesus told but it has an extra sting in the tale. The freindship that Jesus talks about comes from one who has been a sworn enemy of the other. Amazing stuff indeed from Luke 10:25-37.

The story here takes an even more ironic twist, which would have shocked Jewish listeners, as the Samaritan turns out to be the moral hero here. The Samaritan felt compassion. The nearest inn would be in the Jericho area, where Samaritans would be unwelcome (Jews there would even assume that the Samaritan was responsible for the man’s injuries). The Samaritan not only helps the victim, but goes beyond all normal expectations and makes sure the man is cared for until he recovers. He does not need to stop and weigh his actions or the man’s ethnic identity, but reacts promptly out of the compassion of his character. So the Samaritan left the victim at an inn to rehabilitate, and he paid generously for his care (two denarii would be enough for the man to stay and eat for about three weeks).

The Samaritan did not blame the injured person for the collective attitudes between Jews and Samaritans, and use that as an excuse for doing nothing. He dared to act as a concerned individual, in three specific ways. He Showed Compassion. "But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him." (Luke 10:33) This word means much more than passing pity. The original has with it the connotation of being deeply moved inside. It is the word used to describe the way the Lord feels about lost sinners. Compassion describes the way God feels about us. When we show compassion we are merely demonstrating our family likeness. He showed compassion.

The Samaritan aslso took the initiative. "He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. (Luke 10:34) The Samaritan could have excused himself. He was a foreigner in a hostile country. He was alone and vulnerable, but Agape, God's love does not look for excuses, it looks beyond obstacles. It does not ask why, but why not? The Samaritan cleansed the victims wounds with wine and soothed them with oil. He bound up the wounds so they would begin to heal. He took the man to the inn to recover and promised to return to pay the bill. The lawyer was willing to talk, the Samaritan took the initiative. He demonstrated compassion. He took the initiative and, thirdly

The Samaritan also bore the cost. "The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have." (Luke 10:35). He interrupted his schedule to help this man. It may have made him late for a business appointment, it may have delayed him from seeing his family. But he paid the cost. He gave a living sacrifice. What did he have to gain from this personally? Nothing - except the joy and strength that come when you help others. When you serve in love without expecting recognition or reward. What did the Samaritan show? Compassion, initiative, sacrifice. Jesus said, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" (Luke 10:36) When Jesus asked the lawyer which of the three was a neighbour to the victim, the lawyer gave the correct answer but he would not even bring himself to use the word "Samaritan". He was still resisting Jesus attempt to reach his heart.

I wonder whether we have got the message? With continued anxiety over the world in which we live in we would do well as the question - who is my neighbour? For Jesus teaches that we cannot separate our relationship with God from our responsibility toward those he brings across our path. The lawyer wanted Jesus to define the limits of his responsibility of neighbourliness. He wanted Jesus to identify those he had to be a neighbour to and those he could ignore. Jesus turned the question round. The question is not to whom need I be a neighbour? But rather what kind of neighbour am I? - to anyone I meet?

This is not what Jesus’ listeners would expect from a Samaritan or from Jesus for that matter, And certainly not like to hear of a Jew being helped by a Samaritan. Jesus intends this story to be scandalous, even offensive. When the lawyer answers Jesus parting question, he avoids the word Samaritan. But if even a Samaritan is your neighbour, then everyone is. That is the point!