"Can we call down fire"(6/30/2019) 10:30am

Luke 9:51-62

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. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" 55 But he turned and rebuked them.........

We recognize the need to justify our views, prove we are right, defend our beliefs. But often we don’t stop there. We also have the impulse to attack -- to argue how that person is wrong, misguided, even unfaithful. If we have any cultural or relational power, we may move to shut them down and “command fire to come down from heaven and consumer them” figuratively if not literally.

Our own Christian history demonstrates that triumphalism is our besetting sin. It is a subtle and short step from rejoicing in the good news of Jesus Christ to attacking those who will not share in it. Our history shows that when we have the power to harm others we consider outside our circle of triumph, we are likely to use it. And Jesus will have none of it.

Jesus’ answer is to rebuke his disciples, then instruct them to get on with the work of the gospel. “They went on to another village.” Jesus won’t let James and John stop to argue or give up there. Jesus says: move on! 

Next, when his disciples want to finger-point, Jesus instead requires them to examine their own life commitments, calling all who follow him to order their priorities so that their lives are radically free to follow him (verses 57-62).

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In the service of LOVE,
Pastors Dennis and Heather Drake