Putting Away Pride
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village.” Luke 9:51-56
I was struck by this verse. First, Jesus is preparing spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically for what he knows is to come. I can’t image that to be an easy process. What he is about to do is save his people, be ridiculed, rejected and endure one of the most painful death process of that time. I don’t know about you, but I would most likely be having a panic attack. Meanwhile his disciples are kind of clueless about what is really about to take place. They are a little absorbed in their world. Did they not notice the change in Jesus’ demeanor? While I sense that Jesus was always intense, serious at the same time loving and joyful. I am quite sure that his attitude was somewhat different as the days drew closer to palm sunday, munday thursday and good friday. We have to remember Jesus felt emotions and pain.
In this verse the disciples were trying to do the “godly thing” and punish people for their sins. There is an attitude of “holiness” that I sense from the disciples in this passage. Sometimes as Christ-followers, our pride of being “in the family” with the big kahuna (that would be GOD), can distort our perspective and side-track us from why we are here. To know the heart of Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit, to love each other through and from that love. Being a Christ-follower doesn’t mean throwing fires of Bible verses in a person’s face to shame them. That is completely missing the point!
The disciples were missing the bigger picture here. In the end of the passage it states “but Jesus turned and rebuked them.” This has a double meaning for me. He rebuked the town for not accepting him. At the same time, I perceived he was also rebuking the disciples for being blind with pride of having the “skills” to be able to “request fire” from God; rather than not forgiving with love or being there for Jesus, realizing that something huge is about to happen. Their best friend is about to die (for them) and go to heaven. Their world is going to change drastically.
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for you to gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit tour very self? If any of you are ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the Holy angels. Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:23-27
It’s easy to get into a certain flow being in a relationship with God. We have to continually keep our eyes, hearts, minds and ears open to allowing out Lord to teach, guide and use us. True daily reality check when looking in the spiritual mirror. One of the challenges of being a follower of Christ is sometimes one takes pride in that “title” (showing off the gold crosses) and holds onto the name rather than living the description. We might be missing something big that God is doing.
My prayer is that we don’t allow ourselves to get comfortable where we are, who we think we are or in what we know. God is always preparing us for what’s to come, teaching us to be ready for anything.
