Playing It Safe

6-26-22Sermon Notes“Playing it Safe”

Earlier in Luke 9, James and John (along with Peter) had gone with Jesus up on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9: 28-36). They had seen Jesus shine with the glory of God, and talking with Moses and Elijah. Wow! Peter (who was not thinking, but never let that keep him from speaking) misunderstood the experience and suggested building three booths on the mountain – one for Jesus (the Messiah), one for Moses (the Lawgiver), and one for Elijah (the Prophet). The idea must have been to hang out there with them as long as possible. But Jesus had been talking with Moses and Elijah about his mission – which was moving forward to Jerusalem, where he would be crucified and rise again.

In Sunday’s Gospel reading, we see that James and John also misunderstood their experience on the mountain. We can see that from what they said as the went ahead of the group into a Samaritan village to prepare for the arrival of the rest of the group. The village did not like the idea of receiving them, since Jesus had set his face toward Jerusalem. (The Samaritans worshiped at Mount Gerizim, and not in Jerusalem, and had long-standing animosity with Jews). James and John (nicknamed “the Sons of Thunder”) thought that they ought to call fire from heaven to destroy that village…after all it had worked for Elijah (see 2 Kings 1). Jesus rebuked them. Rebuked whom? The Samaritans? No! Jesus rebuked James and John. You see, Jesus’ ministry was connected to the Old Testament Law and Prophets, but was not a duplication of them. There were things in the Law of which Jesus said, “But I say to you…” And he taught that adversaries/enemies should be blessed and not cursed. (See the Sermon on the Mount). Here is the passage for Sunday:

51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to prepare for his arrival, 53 but they did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 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?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they went on to another village.
57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 And Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9: 51-62 NRSV)

Following Jesus is often not what we think. If Jesus’ first disciples can misunderstand what it means, then we certainly can too!

See you Sunday,
Pastor Sam