06252022 – Luke 9. 51-62
It is a life lesson.
Not everybody is going to agree with you.
Not everybody is going to like you.
Not everybody is going to like “all of the time.” It is called reality. Heck, we don’t even like ourselves, 100% of the time!
“And he sent messengers ahead of him.”
Now, I get it, this is 2000 years later.
But the work of “the advance team” is still somewhat the same. It was necessary work.
It was about “protecting him.”
Everything needed to be secured.
The people who may have been opposed to Jesus were many, a great many. More, than we probably want to consider.
There was potentially a whole host of opponents, Herod, Pontius Pilate, and members of their households, members of the Sanhedrin, the elders, and Scribes, the Sicarii, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the High Priest, theTemple priests, Synagogue rulers, religious Zealots, the money-changers, other Rabbi’s, not to mention the occupying forces of the Roman garrisons…and those who were opposed to any and all Roman sympathizers, like Jesus of Nazareth.
Opponents are always “a plenty.”
Not everybody loved RAYMOND, or Jesus.
Please do not think that people living NOW, have the corner on being “deranged, demented, disturbed, mad, and insane.” We do not!
“Irrational and crazed individuals” have been with us from the beginning of time.
Now certainly, things were not as bad THEN, as they are NOW, but threats are still – THREATS.
And threats are NEVER to be taken lightly.
And, they can come from any direction, from any source, at any time.
Today, “ADVANCE TEAMS” worry about making sure everything is PERFECT. It is all about the optics, the fine-art of setting the stage: setting up interviews, sound-bytes, photo-ops, kissing children, televised moments, social media events…the like.
2,000 years ago it was probably more about making the necessary accommodations for a large group, seeing to food resources, making payments, and preventing any unforeseen issues from arising, IF, at all possible.
It was all about “the coordination” and “the orchestration.”
And you thought, being a disciple was simple, just fun and games!
These guys were the forerunners of “roadies”…making sure that everything comes off, without a hitch.
EVERYTHING had to be considered.
This is a part of the “JOURNEY MOTIF” in the Gospel of Luke. It is peculiar to Luke.
Luke will actually divide this into three sections or three stages. Each section begins by strongly emphasizing Jesus’ Journey TOWARD Jerusalem.
Jesus’ face is set, he is resolute, determined, resolved, adamant, insistent and will be undaunted… he is going to Jerusalem. And he will die there.
This is all about discernment and destiny. He cannot falter and he will not be twarted. This WILL happen.
Nothing or NO ONE can stand in his way.
To this end, he sends out messengers ahead of him, James and John, the sons of THUNDER, also known as being “the sons of Zebedee.
We assume this was “normal practice.” That at least two of his men, went ahead of him, wherever he went…preparing the way.
This is kind of tell-tale. First stop, outside of Israel, and, Jesus is rejected.
They do not want him there. Especially if he is by-passing them for “the good people” of Jerusalem.
Who knows what the “sons of thunder” told them. “Jesus is on a mission.” “He is not going to have a lot of time for you, Samaritans.” “We are just “passing through.”
“No, he is not going to have a lot of time for religious discussion.” “No, he probably isn’t going to be doing much teaching, here, either.”
Yeah, HEALINGS are not really on his agenda this time around.
We are pretty much bound by time. He seems rushed. Whatever you are hoping for, or think will happen, you may want to rethink it…This is going to be IN and OUT…and we are ON OUR WAY!
James and John respond to this REJECTION with a surprising and rather alarming request.
THEY want to call down fire from heaven and incinerate the Samaritans…
Like they think they have that kind of power…
Like they think this would be even close to Jesus’ MODUS OPERANDI!
Jesus, the Prince of Peace…the forgiveness and love-your-neigbor-guy…
Seriously?
They were trying to stick up for Jesus. They were trying to protect him. The Samaritans had rejected them and HIM…and they were attempting to tell Jesus in no uncertain terms, that they had his back…
I imagine, Jesus rolling his eyes and thinking to himself, I obviously have more work to do. A LOT OF WORK.
Obviously!
Amen.