The Life of Christ

The Greek word for "resolutely" means to firmly establish His decision to go to Jerusalem where He will die.

• Jesus certainly didn't favor that direction, but nevertheless, He pointed His face toward Jerusalem and began the walk.

Lk. 9:52 “…and He sent messengers on ahead of Him. And they went, and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make arrangements for Him.”

When He earlier sent out the twelve, He told them not to enter any of the cities of Samaria.

• The timing has advanced; He now sends disciples on ahead into these cities to announce His soon arrival.

Lk. 9:53 And they did not receive Him, because He was journeying with His face toward Jerusalem.

The mutual religious prejudice prevents the Samaritans from receiving Him.

• Had His course not been set toward Jerusalem, their response would have been different.

Lk. 9:54 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?”

James and John also seem to have their own prejudice toward the Samaritans.

• This rejection triggers something very deep within these “Sons of Thunder,” which brings out this brutal suggestion.

• We often forget that James and John were former bruisers on the waterfront.

They cloak their anger within spiritual lingo, somehow comparing this moment to when Elijah called down fire upon the groups of soldiers sent by King Ahab (2 Ki. 1:10-12).

• John will eventually have the opportunity to call down fire upon the Samaritans when he and Peter later pray for them to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-25).

Lk. 9:55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of….”

They actually thought they were being guided by the Holy Spirit; what prompted them, however, was their angry filthy human spirit (2 Cor. 7:1).

• In the height of emotion, it becomes very easy to confuse human and divine emotion.

SECTION 132

Lk. 9:57-58 And as they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

213