December 15 Firmly Forward

Luke 9:51-56 As the time approached for him to be taken up to Heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”  55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went to another village.
 
DO you notice how nearly every gospel passage is Jesus in conflict with someone? Many times the conflict comes from government and religious authorities. Often, too, our Lord must resolve differences with his disciples. Let’s see four different ways Jesus confronts conflict in this passage.
   First, Jesus confronts death. Note how Jesus’ divinity gives him a courage and firmness put his mission over his impending death – “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” Other Bible versions say “received up to heaven”.
   Think of Jesus’ conflicting emotions here. He was certainly joyful the Father would receive him back to Heaven. But the Savior would also be grieving the torture he faced. Even more, he felt the great burden of mankind’s sin that made such a sacrifice necessary. I believe, too, he mourned the impending separation from his friends. Remember, he was fully man. These human emotions conflicted with his divine character.
   Second, there was the cultural conflict with the Samaritans – “but the people there (in the Samaritan village) did not welcome him.” As discussed in our previous lesson, we can become biased even hatefully against those who are different than we are. Here is the hatred of centuries-old differences and prejudices. The Samaritan-Jew division separated God’s people from God. This was a stumbling block for Jesus’ advance to Jerusalem. Still, Jesus moved through the cultural conflict.
   Jesus’ third conflict here is with his disciple John - “John asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’”  John was very confident of his Lord’s power now, wasn’t he? But he again demonstrated an intolerance for those opposing God. He will come to express very loving, forgiving emotions for unbelievers through his gospel and epistles when he writes such unifying and loving words as John 14:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.  
   Fourth, Jesus confronted Satan. Jesus knew Jerusalem’s suffering awaited. He heard the Samaritans’ rejection. He experienced the disciples’ misguided sense of importance and power. No, we do not see Satan mentioned here, but he is at work. Remember how Scripture declared at the end of Jesus’ battle with Satan in Luke 4:13 “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” This is one of those “opportune times”. Jesus firmly moved out of Satan’s grasp here just as he had done earlier.  
   Jesus knew it was his time to move to the cross. He also knew his mission would open the way for the Holy Spirit to expand the Kingdom of God on earth. He walked in the Father’s purpose, so the gospel would go into Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria (Yes, it is likely some of those Samaritans who rejected him that day would come to confess him.) and throughout the earth.
   Once again, learn Jesus’ resolute lessons on discipleship: Reject evil’s temptaions. Follow the Father’s will. Be focused on the gospel to be preached to the world.
 
Prayer: Father in Heaven, keep my heart resolute to your will on earth. I only desire to walk in your footsteps. Amen.