June 24, 2013

“What Kind of spirit Are You Of…?”

Blessings folk!

Today’s reading:

Luke 9:52-56


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This vignette would be humorous if it were not so serious.
It reveals much about the disciples.
It reveals much about us.

Jesus and His entourage were traveling to Jerusalem.
Jesus sent messengers ahead of Him. The messengers went ahead to make arrangements for Him.
They entered a village of the Samaritans.

The Samaritans learned that Jesus’ destination was Jerusalem, they refused to receive Him.

The disciples James and John were indignant.
How dare these Samaritans reject The Teacher!
How dare they reject The Messiah!

The disciples knew exactly what to do.

They petitioned Jesus for permission to call down fire from heaven upon them.

Several thoughts here:

1. The disciples totally believed that “calling fire from heaven” was possible.
2. The disciples believed that the Lord would grant them the ability to do such.
3. The disciples believed that this was a proper response to those who rejected Jesus.
4. This is another example of the need to read several translations of the Bible. Only the KJV has the complete story.

The Authorized version states “Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?”
They knew of Elijah and his encounter with Jezebel’s false religion.

1. All versions state that Jesus rebuked them. Only the KJV and NASB give a non-foot-note account of what Jesus said. “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of: for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”
2. James and John were functioning with a “non-Holy Spirit” spirit...the flesh? Perhaps.

The enemy? Likely. The same had happened to Peter earlier

1. Jesus declares that He, the Son of Man, did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.

Too often we act in the same spirit as James and John.
We literally want to destroy those whom the Lord seeks to save.

Hear the Word of the Lord.