Seven Weeks ‘til Easter

The Road to Redemption Begins

Easter is arriving soon, in seven weeks.

Seven is a good biblical number (days, sabbath, etc.)

I figured we could take some selections of Jesus journey from the northern parts of Israel to Jerusalem for his appointed time at an appointed place.

We find in Luke that this time is drawing near:

Luke 9:51–56 NLT

As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 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.

I want to do a thought experiment with James and John:

Did their theology influence their request?

Did their psychology play a role?

Possible rebukes of Jesus.

What, possibly, did they believe about God, Jesus, and their mission?

Jesus is like the messengers at Sodom

Rejecting Messiah is a grave sin

God’s pattern of final judgment should apply

Jesus can call down fire (he calmed storms)

Messiah’s kingdom judges the wicked with fire

Fire would be a clear sign of Messiah’s authority

Jesus Is the Ultimate Messenger Like the Angels Were in Sodom → If Sodom was judged for rejecting God's messengers, how much more should the Samaritans be judged for rejecting God's Son?

The Samaritans' Rejection Is a Grave Sin → They believed that rejecting the Messiah was not just a disagreement but an act of moral rebellion deserving immediate punishment.

God’s Pattern of Judgment Should Apply Here → Since God has previously destroyed cities for rejecting divine messengers, He should do so again.

Jesus Can Call Down Fire Like Yahweh Did → If Yahweh destroyed Sodom, and Jesus is His anointed King, then Jesus should be able and willing to do the same.

The Messiah’s Kingdom Requires Judgment of the Wicked → If Jesus was about to establish God's rule, they might have assumed purging the unfaithful was part of the plan.

Fire = Proof of the Kingdom’s Power → A dramatic firestorm from heaven would be a clear sign that Jesus is the true King, much like Elijah's fire on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18).

What, possibly, did they believe about themselves and Samaritans?

They saw themselves as messengers, like Sodom

The Samaritans rejection of Jesus was a rejection of the disciples

They believed they had authority to do this (healing and demons)

They did not see Samaritans as their brothers

They could judge the Samaritans

They Saw Themselves as God's Messengers, Like the Angels in Sodom → They may have misunderstood their role, thinking they were agents of wrath rather than of grace.

They Thought They Had the Right to Judge the Samaritans' Sin → Their closeness to Jesus led them to believe they could discern the hearts of the Samaritans, deciding that their rejection deserved destruction.

They Overestimated Their Authority → Instead of seeing themselves as students of Jesus, they viewed themselves as executors of divine will.

They Mistook Rejection for Rebellion → They assumed that rejecting Jesus meant moral evil, rather than simple misunderstanding or prejudice.

Pride and a Desire for Vindication → Being refused hospitality wounded their sense of importance as Jesus' inner circle, leading them to respond with anger instead of patience.

Jesus’ Rebuke: A Correction

You are a disciple: you follow me

Only God is judge: life and death

Messiah’s kingdom: redemption, not wrath

The fire you call down: you call upon yourselves

"You Are Not Angels—You Are My Disciples" → Jesus rebukes them, making it clear that they are not heavenly beings with divine authority but followers called to serve, not destroy.

"Only God Can Judge the Heart" → Jesus reminds them that fire from heaven is God's decision alone; their job is to spread the good news, not condemn people.

"My Kingdom Is Not About Wrath but Redemption" → Unlike Sodom, the Samaritans are still within reach of salvation, and Jesus came to save, not destroy (Luke 9:56).

"Your Power Is for Healing, Not Destruction" → They had been given authority to heal and cast out demons (Luke 9:1-2), but now they wanted to use power for destruction—Jesus corrects this misuse.

"Don’t Confuse Historical Judgment with My Mission" → God's past judgments (e.g., Sodom, the flood, the exile) were specific to those moments; Jesus' current mission is about offering grace, even to enemies.

"You Must Learn Mercy Before You Can Lead" → James and John would later become great church leaders, but they first had to learn the heart of Jesus—which was mercy over judgment (see John 4:39-42, where Samaritans later believe in Jesus).

What they (James and John) fail to see is that calling for fire from heaven on Sodom, is calling fire, the judgment of God on themselves:

For they will reject Jesus (but they do not know this)

They are unforgiving, so they will be unforgiven (Lord’s prayer)

Consider your road to redemption:

When did you last test your theology?

What do you believe about yourself?

What might Jesus rebuke?

Titus 2:11–14 NET 2nd ed.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good.

There is not much more opposite than what James and John wanted to do to the Samaritans.

The Road to Redemption Begins