Reflecting on Luke 9:51-66
"Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" (Luke 9:54)(Trigger alert, I will be addressing politics, rulers, and christians who sell out the gospel to them).
Today’s reading deserves special attention.
I sense that evangelical christianity needs to hear this.
The Samaritans were viewed as a cult, a twisted version of Judaism.
Perhaps like Mormonism or the Jehovah Witnesses are viewed today.
Or like Islam, with its different views on God, Jesus and salvation.
Or like many Protestants view Roman Catholicism, with its saints, indulgences, etc.
It was scandalous enough that Jesus was opening the door to them.
But here the Samaritans were scorning Jesus and His gracious message.
For James and John, this was unacceptable.
This proved they were not worthy, and therefore needed to be punished.
Notice how they didn’t ask about fire for Jewish villages that rejected Jesus.
Their response seems to be linked to the prophet Elijah.
The king of Moab/Samaria had sent soldiers to arrest Elijah.
“The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!’ Elijah answered the captain, ‘If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!’ Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men.” (2 Kings 1:9-10)
If Jesus is a Man of God, then may fire consume the the Samaritans who reject Him.
This logic is biblical, it fits with Elijah the Man of God.
The only problem is that Jesus is NOT Elijah with us, He is God with us.
This raises the question; didn’t God send the fire in response to Elijah’s words?
Was not Elijah speaking for God, and was not God supporting Elijah?
Those who read the bible as one equal revelation of God argue this way.
But as we saw with the transfiguration, Jesus does not equal Moses or Elijah.
How God worked in the OT does not fully reflect how God is… Jesus does.
God allowed and permitted and accommodated many un-God-like things in the OT.
[For example, Moses allowing divorce, though it is not God’s will (Matthew 19:8)]
[Slavery, polygamy, slaughter of whole people groups, war].
Moses and Elijah are NOT a complete revelation of God… Jesus is!
God with us in Jesus does not send fire; if He did, we would all be burned.
God with us in Jesus is excessively gracious, patient, merciful, sacrificial.
Again and again Jesus showed His disciples how God’s grace worked.
But the disciples still did not get this.
They were more shaped by Moses and Elijah, than by Jesus.
This is what I believe evangelical christianity needs to hear today.
We do not follow Moses or Joshua in establishing God’s kingdom on earth.
We do not use force or fire to convert and control those who oppose us.
This is how worldly empire works, not how Jesus works.
“You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)
When Empire and its Caesar invade Ukraine, I am not surprised.
I do not expect Christ-like bevahiour from non-Christian powers.
But when the Russian Orthodox Church sanctions and supports it, this is anti-Christ!
When Empire and its Caesar invade Venezuela, I am not surprised.
I do not expect Christ-like bevahiour from non-Christian powers.
But when the Evangelical Church sanctions and supports it, this is anti-Christ!
(From Franklin Graham) “Thank you President Donald J. Trump for what you’ve done for the people of Venezuela. The President is strategically working to protect our nation and better the lives of people around the world. He said in an interview this morning that illegal drugs flowing into the United States by ship is now reduced by 97%—that’s incredible, and we thank God! He said that our country was previously losing 300,000 lives a year to illicit drugs. President Trump is trying to fix this tragedy and keep America from becoming like these countries that have been ruined by socialism, communism, corruption, crime, and drugs. Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse have worked for many years with churches in Venezuela—over 4,500 of them. Please pray for these congregations and ministers of the Gospel as they share the hope of Jesus Christ.”
Nowhere does Jesus call for military action against the evils of Rome.
Jesus refuses to take up the sword against the Roman occupiers.
This is not because they were not as bad; Rome was as bad as drugs are today.
Yes, drugs are evil, and many government leaders are too.
But sending military fire is NOT the Jesus Way.
However good the BGEA and Samaritan’s Purse may be, sending fire is anti-Christ!!!
Jesus could have called legions of angels to deal with Rome.
But that is not why He came; and not why He sends us into the world.
Please be clear: I am not anti Republican/Conservative.
Neither am I pro Democrat/Liberal.
Like Jesus I do not expect much from any government.
And I think all sides need to hear the gentle rebuke of Jesus.
I pray for Caesar, but I do not promote, support or endorse Caesar.
I pay my taxes, but I do not expect them to use them in a God-like way.
We are followers of Jesus, not Trump or Trudeau or Polievre or Carney, or any other.
They may have their good qualities, and they all have their bad qualities.
But to elevate any of them as on God’s side, or as agents of Jesus is wrong.
Jesus did not spend a lot of time criticizing or promoting the government.
He was most critical of the religious leaders who claimed to be loyal to Caesar.
As Jesus followers, we do not save lives by attacking those who are harming lives.
We save lives by humbly serving and sacrificing for those who suffer.
We follow Jesus in humble, gracious love, and trust God’s power to overcome evil.
‘Sending fire’ didn’t work in Vietnam, Iraq, or Afghanistan; it won’t in Venezuela.
Bombs do not end evil, they just spread it (like water dousing an oil fire).
“Jesus turned and rebuked them.” (Luke 9:55)
If James and John were listening, they learned better Who Jesus was.
May the evangelical church today that supports ‘fire’ hear Jesus’s rebuke.
And may I hear it too, when I harbour feelings of revenge and violence.
The wonder of God’s gracious love revealed in Jesus comforts me.
It comforts me because I see that in the end Jesus overcomes.
This gives me hope, that evil governments and drugs will be defeated.
God’s goodness and love, as shown by Jesus, DOES overcome evil.
This convicts me every time I think forceful words or actions are the better way.
I may not actually send fire, but I do use my words like fire to burn others.
This is NOT the Jesus Way.
The gracious love of Jesus challenges yet compels me to trust gracious love more.
I don’t need to organize legions of christians to force others to obey.
I don’t need to support sending fire on those who refuse to obey.
The Spirit-fire of gracious love is more than a match for the empire of evil.
May we all hear Jesus’s rebuke, and understand more fully the Way of gracious love!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, forgive us for not understanding the gospel of grace. Forgive us for linking You to the false gospel of power. Rebuke us when we become more like the world, and less like You. May the world know that we are Your followers because of our Jesus-like, humble and gracious love. Help us to get it! Help us to live it!