Luke 9:51-56: a reflection

51It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem 52and sent messengers before his face. They went and entered into a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him. 53They didn’t receive him, because he was traveling with his face set toward Jerusalem. 54When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky and destroy them, just as Elijah did?” 55But he turned and rebuked them, “You don’t know of what kind of spirit you are. 56For the Son of Man didn’t come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” They went to another village.

As Jesus travels toward Jerusalem, a Samaritan village refuses to receive him. James and John, indignant at the rejection, ask Jesus: Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy them, as Elijah did? But Jesus turns and rebukes them: You do not know what spirit you are of; the Son of Man did not come to destroy lives, but to save them. Their impulse, to answer rejection with destruction, was not the spirit of Jesus, who came to save.

Notice the contrast between the disciples' impulse and Jesus' heart. Rejected and insulted, James and John wanted to destroy those who had rejected them, to call down fire in vengeance. But Jesus rebuked this impulse: it was not the spirit he came in. He came not to destroy those who rejected him, but to save them; his heart toward the rejecting Samaritans was not vengeance, but mercy. The desire to destroy those who reject us is not the spirit of Jesus, who came to save.

That contrast searches our own hearts, for when we are rejected or opposed, the impulse to vengeance, to want harm to come to those who wronged us, rises easily. Like James and John, we can wish destruction on those who reject or oppose us. But Jesus rebukes that spirit; it is not his. He came not to destroy but to save, and his heart even toward those who rejected him was mercy, not vengeance. When you are rejected or opposed, do not give way to the desire to see harm come to those who wronged you; that is not the spirit of Jesus. He came to save, not destroy; let his heart of mercy toward the rejecting shape yours. Do not answer rejection with the wish for destruction, but with the mercy of Jesus, who came to save even those who reject him. Ask him to give you his spirit toward those who oppose you, a heart to save rather than to destroy.

Lord Jesus, as you traveled toward Jerusalem, a Samaritan village refused to receive you, and James and John wanted to call down fire to destroy them; but you rebuked them: you do not know what spirit you are of; the Son of Man came not to destroy lives, but to save them. Let that contrast search my own heart, for when I am rejected or opposed, the impulse to vengeance, to want harm to come to those who wronged me, rises easily. Like James and John, I can wish destruction on those who reject or oppose me. But you rebuke that spirit; it is not yours. You came not to destroy but to save, and your heart even toward those who rejected you was mercy, not vengeance. When I am rejected or opposed, keep me from giving way to the desire to see harm come to those who wronged me; that is not your spirit. You came to save, not destroy; let your heart of mercy toward the rejecting shape mine. Keep me from answering rejection with the wish for destruction, and help me answer with your mercy, who came to save even those who reject you. Give me your spirit toward those who oppose me, Lord, a heart to save rather than to destroy.