Do You Want to Burn Them Up?

Should they burn up?

He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, "Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them. So they went on to another village.  Luke 9:52-56 

Meditate. Consider opposition.

 

What were James and John thinking? "Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?" They wanted to destroy that Samaritan village. It couldn’t have been the same Samaritan village of Sychar, where the woman at the well lived, described in John 4. Many people came to believe in Jesus as the Messiah, so they would likely have welcomed Jesus. Jesus didn’t come to destroy, but to heal, as He described to John the Baptist’s followers.

Then he told John's disciples, "Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor." Luke 7:22

The opposition from the Samaritans was cultural, since they didn’t respect the Jewish faith, the Temple, and Jerusalem. They were a mixed race that created resistance, conflict, and hostility with the Jews. But Jesus didn’t choose to destroy them. He didn’t want them to burn up. Would you? Remember that God sent His Son to earth because He loved people…and He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed. He wants them to believe in Jesus as their Savior.

            Jesus and His disciples went on to another village on their way to Jerusalem. Were they greeted more hospitably there? Would you welcome Jesus and His disciples?

            What do we learn about Jesus from this scripture passage?

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you for Your compassion and love for those Samaritans who didn’t welcome You into their city. Forgive us for times that we oppose that same type of people now—those who contradict Your values and goals. Those who resist You. Give us wisdom and boldness to stand up for You.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. Ephesians 4:2-6

 

Happy Birthday, Naomi!

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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