Daily Devotion, October 27, 2021

 

Devotion:

Read Luke 9:51-56.

“Jesus turned and rebuked them” are probably not the words you were expecting to be greeted with in this devotional. The disciples were also probably surprised by Jesus’ rebuke! Jesus, who truly loved and cared for his disciples, cared enough to be honest with them, and he cared enough to teach them new ways.

It helps to see the bookends for this passage. The first bookend is Luke 9:1-2, “Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. “ Jesus called them together and gave them power and authority. These disciples who had very little power and authority before meeting Jesus, now had these gifts!

The second bookend is Luke 10:29-37 when Jesus tells the Parable of The Good Samaritan. Jesus helps them see that the Samaritan was the true neighbor, who helped the man who fell among the robbers and thieves.

All along the way to Jerusalem, Jesus is trying to teach his disciples not to misuse their power and authority. He is broadening their understanding of who is welcomed into the kingdom of God. He is planning to go through Samaria to get to Jerusalem! Luke 9: 51-56 is a clash of the disciples’ misunderstanding of the power and authority they had been given and their understanding of how to deal with rejection. This was true especially when the rejection was given by a group of people which the disciples considered to be outside of God’s favor.

The disciples wanted to use their new power to “command fire to come down from heaven and consume the Samaritan village.” Jesus loves them enough to rebuke them. The disciples’ offer for retaliation is not the way of Jesus. Retaliation is not the reason they have been given power and authority. They need to open their eyes to see the people of Samaria the way God sees them. They have much to learn. And we do too.

Personal Worship Option:

Loving and gracious God, help us to remember that you love us and care enough to be honest with us and you never give up teaching us the ways of Jesus. Open our eyes to see others with the love and compassion you have for them. Amen.