Luke 9:51-62 (NRSV)
Read Luke 9:51-62 on biblegateway.com
Verse 51When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. Verse 52And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; Verse 53but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. Verse 54When 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?" Verse 55But he turned and rebuked them. Verse 56Then they went on to another village.
Verse 57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Verse 58And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." Verse 59To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Verse 60But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Verse 61Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Verse 62Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
Devotion
It seems like a rather drastic response from the disciples, doesn’t it? The people in Samaria reject Jesus, so the disciples volunteer to rain down fire from heaven on them! The story harks back to Elijah who, when threatened by the king’s soldiers, called down fire on them. The disciples no doubt know the story and apparently see Jesus as Elijah.
But Jesus rebukes the disciples, teaching them who he really is. He is not, as some say, John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the prophets but rather, as Peter confessed, “the Messiah of God” (Luke 9:19-20). The disciples may not understand it yet, but Jesus is headed to Jerusalem. He goes there to his death. He goes willingly, not only to save Jerusalem, but Samaria too! And even you and me, and all people, to the ends of the earth.
Prayer
Christ Jesus, show us the people to whom you send us today and help us to be messengers of your grace. Amen.