My personality and passion identifies with James and John, labeled "Sons of Thunder" by Jesus. Here they are, deep into their experience with the Boss and something happens that triggers their initiative and compels them to demonstrate what they presumed to be a reflection of the God that Jesus represented. After all, they could support their bold suggestion from the Scripture, using the well-known story of Elijah calling down fire on the Baal worshippers as the basis for their initiative.
Surely James and John expected Jesus to applaud both their passion and their application of the Old Testament to a New Testament context. They were showing that they could "rightly divide the word of truth". The fact that Luke records this suggests that the shock James and John must've experienced upon Jesus' rebuke was palpable. They, once again, had to recalibrate their theology in order to digest the words of the man they believed to be their GodMy personality and passion identifies with James and John, labeled "Sons of Thunder" by Jesus. Here they are, deep into their experience with the Boss and something happens that triggers their initiative and compels them to demonstrate what they presumed to be a reflection of the God that Jesus represented. After all, they could support their bold suggestion from the Scripture, using the well-known story of Elijah calling down fire on the Baal worshippers as the basis for their initiative. e
Surely James and John expected Jesus to applaud both their passion and their application of the Old Testament to a New Testament context. They were showing that they could "rightly divide the word of truth". The fact that Luke records this suggests that the shock James and John must've experienced upon Jesus' rebuke was palpable. They, once again, had to recalibrate their theology in order to digest the words of the man they believed to be their God's son.
What was the "sin" of these Samaritans for which such severe punishment was due? Were they promiscuous, greedy, abusive, violent, disrespectful, etc.? Perhaps they were having sex with the wrong gender or judging those that do. Apparently, the problem for which they deserved a good dowsing of heavenly fire was that their expectations of Jesus did not match Jesus' plan. Their narcissistic ignorance seemed like a golden opportunity to suggest something that would no doubt enlighten them.
As an ex-professional minister, serving a variety of churches in a variety of paid and voluntary capacities for over 25 years, I see myself in this story- and not in a good way. I sport an aggressive if not arrogant posture toward those who don't share my understanding of and relationship with Jesus. It's all too easy for me to suggest severe judgement on institutional churches who reject Jesus because his mission is different that their historical expectations.
And yet my self-righteousness is, and ought to be, rebuked as not matching the the character of God as much as I think it does. God's ways and thoughts remain higher than mine and instead of praying for permission to judge those who are less enlightened then me, I should allow them their place and know that God's desires for them are exactly the same as for me: salvation over destruction.
And the beautiful part of this story is that Jesus was heading to the cross for that universal purpose. God was to save both those that appear to reject Jesus and those who appear to accept him.
What was the "sin" of these Samaritans for which such severe punishment was due? Were they promiscuous, greedy, abusive, violent, disrespectful, etc.? Perhaps they were having sex with the wrong gender or judging those that do. Apparently, the problem for which they deserved a good dowsing of heavenly fire was that their expectations of Jesus did not match Jesus' plan. Their narcissistic ignorance seemed like a golden opportunity to suggest something that would no doubt enlighten them.
As an ex-professional minister, serving a variety of churches in a variety of paid and voluntary capacities for over 25 years, I see myself in this story- and not in a good way. I sport an aggressive if not arrogant posture toward those who don't share my understanding of and relationship with Jesus. It's all too easy for me to suggest severe judgement on institutional churches who reject Jesus because his mission is different that their historical expectations.
And yet my self-righteousness is, and ought to be, rebuked as not matching the the character of God as much as I think it does. God's ways and thoughts remain higher than mine and instead of praying for permission to judge those who are less enlightened then me, I should allow them their place and know that God's desires for them are exactly the same as for me: salvation over destruction.
And the beautiful part of this story is that Jesus was heading to the cross for that universal purpose. God was to save both those that appear to reject Jesus and those who appear to accept him.
