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Luke 9:51-56
In Luke 9:51-56 there is an obvious change in the ministry of Jesus as recorded by the Apostle Luke. The teachings and ministry of Jesus will continue, but Jesus has now come to a point where He must put His focus on going to Jerusalem to fulfill His ultimate purpose in coming to earth – to be the sacrifice for the sins of humanity by dying on the cross, and then ultimately, His resurrection to defeat sin, death, and Satan once for all (Romans 6:10).
The issue with the Samaritans is that the Jews viewed the Samaritans as outcasts and an unclean people because the people of Samaria had intermarried with the Gentile nations that had been placed in Samaria. The inhabitants of Samaria had also built their own temple and had taken on the worship of false gods that were brought in by the Gentiles (2 Kings 17).
James and John are full of zeal for the Lord as they have recently been given power by Jesus in ministry (Luke 9:1). They were most likely ready to act as did Elijah in 2 Kings 1:9-14, however, Jesus reiterates His Words from John 3:17 in that He did not come to condemn the world but to save it.
This is an example of the promise of forgiveness in Christ Jesus.
This is an example of our quick reaction to condemn one another as did James and John in their view of the Samaritans.
The Jews considered the land of Samaria to be defiled because of the history of Samaria in 2 Kings 17. They would even wipe the dust off their shoes once they returned from Samaria if they were for any reason to step foot onto it. They believed that this dust, if allowed to get on their possessions or themselves, would make them defiled as well; a great example of our outside actions revealing the inside of our hearts. In an attempt to show the unclean lives of others, the unclean lives of the accusers are revealed.
Jesus taught forgiveness, and we are all “defiled” without repenting and receiving the forgiveness that God offers to us through Christ Jesus. Jesus did not come into this world to condemn us all, but to save us all from condemnation (John 3:17). Jesus commanded His disciples to wipe the dust off their feet if not received by the Jews as a testimony to the Jews own conceit (Luke 9:5).
Jesus commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves as He has first shown His love to us (John 13:34). As Christians, we are to forgive one another as Jesus has set the ultimate example of forgiveness in dying for our sins so that we may live. We are not worthy of this action by Jesus, but in respect for what He has done for us, we should also forgive everyone who has sinned against us.
Dear Lord,
As sinful human beings, we are unable to extend the forgiveness shown by Christ Jesus. It is only through receiving the forgiveness that You offer to us through Jesus that we can then begin to forgive others. Please help us to see the importance of humbling ourselves to forgive those who sin against us by putting on the forgiveness that Christ Jesus has first given to us. In Jesus name I pray, amen.