Thursday, January 31st, 2019

These days, if you watch the news, it seems that the entire nation is splintered into their own little camps based on common political ideologies, skin color, or any number of differentiators. What’s worse, each group seems to be at odds with each other and constantly seeking dominance over their rivals. It makes for a terrible living condition for all and prevents so much good from occurring together. Rivalries between peoples is nothing new for us; even in the Bible, some people did not like each other and actively sought to destroy each other. Such was the relationship between the Jews and the Samaritans. These two peoples had fought for years and years, and it showed in the attitude of disciples James and John. The Book of Luke captured an interesting interaction between the two and Jesus that is fitting for today’s divided culture. It says, “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village.” John and James thought their mission was to conquer and destroy those whom they did not get along with, but Jesus sternly rebuked that desire. Can you imagine what Jesus would say to you when you say something derogatory about someone else? Can you imagine the look of stern, fatherly disapproval he would give you upon hearing those words leave your lips or seeing your words written online? Today, remember that Jesus died to save all of us, not just the ones we personally like. For that, we should all be thankful, because just as easily as others get our our bad side can we find ourselves on their’s.

“As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village.” — Luke 9:51-56 NIV