Rebuked by Jesus
Scripture reading for March 14: Luke 9
“When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem. And He sent messengers ahead of Him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for Him. But the people did not receive Him, because His face was set toward Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But He turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.” Luke 9:51-56
Jesus had been consistently revealing to His disciples that He was going to Jerusalem where He would die and be raised on the third day. As the time drew near, He ‘set His face’ towards Jerusalem. He saw His destination and divine purpose clearly. The disciples still did not see as Jesus saw. (Luke 9:44-45) Their minds were still set in the Jewish culture and their religious understanding from the Law and Prophets. Jesus chose to go to Jerusalem through Samaritan territory. His ministry was to all peoples and nations. But the Samaritans were a mixture of Jewish and Gentile backgrounds. There was jealousy and religious hostility in their culture, and they refused hospitality to Jesus and His disciples because they were Jews going to Jerusalem for Passover.
James and John, the messengers sent by Jesus, were indignant over the religious attitude of the Samaritans in refusing hospitality. They went to Jesus with a proposal–calling down fire on these Samaritans and destroying them on the spot! They likely got this idea from the prophet Elijah who called down fire on his enemies. (2 Kings 1:10) The forgot Jesus’ teaching to love your enemies and do good to them or just to leave and shake the dust off as a witness against them. (Luke 9:5) Jesus rebuke them and they went to another village that would receive them. Adopting Jesus’ worldview often takes time and some failures can be teaching points!
Have you ever wanted to get even with someone who has mistreated you or your family? Have you tried to use Scripture to justify your attitude or actions? Are there actions that you need to take in repentance to adopt Jesus’ worldview?
Prayer: Father God, forgive me for wanting vengeance on those who have mistreated me. Thank You for rebuking me when I have wrongly used Scripture to justify my attitude or actions. Teach me to love my enemies and do good to those who mistreat me. Mercy triumphs over judgment. Amen.
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