Keeping focus

And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?" But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village.  - Luke 9.54-56

While travelling through Samaria the disciples tried to make preparations for Christ, probably for a meal and a place to stay. Jesus was dead set on going to Jerusalem so the Samaritans would not receive them. The place of worship was a source of contention between the Jews and the Samaritans.

The disciples were furious that the town would not receive them – ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy them like Elijah did?’

These guys were like us when we face opposition – ‘let’s just blow away the opposition and move on. We are on God’s side, if they don’t like us – let’s just wipe them out!’

But Jesus had a different response, ‘I didn’t come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.’ And then they just moved on to a different town.

From all appearances we live in a world that deserves destruction. It makes sense that those who openly oppose God and His work ought to just be dealt with so that we can carry on. It makes sense, in our feeble minds to just have God wipe out the opposition.

But Jesus didn’t have that attitude. His purpose was to save, not to battle the enemy. I think there is something here for us as well. Our purpose is to share the gospel and bring men to Christ.

We have to expect that the world is going to oppose us. That is between them and God. Jesus kept His focus on Jerusalem and would not be distracted. We need to keep our eyes on our task and do the same.