Anchor My Faith

Rejected Forerunners

Scripture: Luke 9:52-56

In the previous lesson Jesus made it very clear that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer and die to meet our need of salvation. In preparation ^{LK 9:52} “[Jesus] 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.”

These messengers were probably James and John as they are later mentioned in this narrative. Their assignment was to go ahead of Jesus and those traveling with him to a village of the Samaritans and make arrangements for lodgings and meals while they were there. When the Samaritans determined that these arrangements were being made for Jesus and those with him and that he was going up to Jerusalem to die, the people rejected the messengers.

Why the rejection? One of the reasons may relate to the temple and where it was built. The Jews contended that it should be located in Jerusalem while the Samaritans wanted it located on Mount Gerizim and eventually, they built one there. The Samaritans most likely heard about the miracles of Jesus and his claim to be the Messiah. With his visit they may have hoped that he would decide that their temple was the correct one, but when it was determined that he was headed to the temple in Jerusalem to be among the Jews, the Samaritans resolved to have nothing to do with him and they rejected him.

This rejection greatly offended James and John ^{Lk 9:54} “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?” It is clear that even among the disciples of Jesus there is strong feelings against the Samaritans. They like Jonah wanted God to judge the people for their sin. They clearly did not understand that Jesus wanted to die for their sin that they might obtain salvation. Jesus was not sent by the Father to judge the people or to force them to follow him through the thread of immediate punishment, but to bring the free offer of the gospel of salvation.

^{Lk 9:55} “But [Jesus] turned and rebuked them. ⁵⁶ And they went on to another village.” The use of fire in a miracle was one element that Jesus did not use as it is reserved for the consummation of the age. In 2 Peter 3:10 ESV we find an example: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.”

After the disciples were rebuked by Jesus, they all move on to another location.

Conclusion

When being rejected or offended in some way, is it not human nature to want to somehow get even? But these are the ones we are to love and share the gospel with in hopes of leading them to repentance and to salvation. That is what God wanted Jonah to do and that is his plan for us.