Vengeance

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

VENGEANCE

Luke 9:51-56

51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went to another village.

NIV

It was time, Jesus had kept himself from Jerusalem long enough as it was there some had the design to kill him and that would have been before his time. But now was the time for him to complete his mission and he set his course for that purpose. It seems a little strange why we are told about this incident in this particular Samaritan village. We know there was always tension between the Jews and the Samaritans, as the Jews kept the law, or faith in Yahweh and the Samaritan, although they may have feared Yahweh they also worshipped other Gods. They were not true Jews both as they had intermarried with heathen clans and diluted their once pure Jewish heritage both physically and spiritually. But our life lesson is not about who the Samaritans or about Jesus setting his path for the cross. It is in the response of James and John regarding the unwelcoming attitude of the Samaritans. Because they felt shunned or unwelcomed where they thought they should have been accepted, they wanted to call down fire from heaven on this village, which would have not only destroyed the town, but most likely killed all the inhabitants. Even after spending that much time in the presence of Jesus they still wanted to exact vengeance on these people. It does seem that all throughout the Old Testament we can find where God told he will have vengeance or is going to, or will if someone does or doesn’t do something. But that word is not found in the New Testament at all. There is a new covenant in Jesus and the vengeance of God is now the grace and mercy of God. This is why Jesus rebuked them and moved on to another village. But we should learn that when we are mistreated as Christians, or treated as if we are foolish for believing in Christ, believing he will provide, believe he will heal, believing we have to be born again to see heaven, or any other aspect of our faith, it is not us who is being mistreated, it is Jesus and we should not want to exact any form of vengeance upon anyone for their attitudes, words or actions. Only God has the authority, if he desires to take vengeance on anyone, we do not, and yet Jesus would not for he had set his course to die on the cross, and yes even for those Samaritans who did not welcome him. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans admonishes them and us not to take revenge, but to leave room for God’s wrath, again he being the only one with that authority, but here we see Jesus abounding in grace and mercy and this is what should abound in us instead of vengeance.