Knowing The Word in Luke 9:5`-56

A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus

9:51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53 But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 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?” 55 But he turned

and rebuked them. 56 And they went on to another village.

Comments

This section began Jesus’ march toward Jerusalem and the cross at the close of his ministry. He courageously headed south from Galilee to his destiny, passing through Samaria. The Samaritans’ centuries-long feud with the Jews was so bitter, they wanted to have nothing to do with someone dead set on going to Jerusalem. The Zebedee brothers, who get things as wrong as Peter, decided to help Jesus in a most interesting way. They wanted to treat this village the same as God did Sodom and Gomorrah. They had a total misunderstanding of Christian service, which Jesus quickly corrected.

Application

How much help and protection does Jesus need from you? Early on in my walk with the Lord, I thought I need to help protect God from unorthodox beliefs and practices. It was if I were God’s self-employed security guard. Eventually, I came to my senses and understood God was very good at protecting himself and had no need of me in that area. Instead, I was called to preach and teach and love through serving others. What a relief! How about you?

Prayer

Lord God, how easy it is for me to have prejudices against others. Wash me through and through of this sin, that I may love the people you love and serve them sacrificially as did my Lord during his earthly ministry.