Rejection hurts –

  Rejection may desire retaliation –

James and John were ready to retaliate against a Samaritan village for not receiving Jesus and His followers.  These brothers were ready to use power from God to consume an entire village for rejecting them and their Master.

(NIV) Luke 9:51-54 “As the time approached for him (Jesus) to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.  52And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.  54When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’”

My old nature is like James and John in this historical occurrence.  I too, want God’s power, His wrath to consume those who reject me and the ones I love.

But what did Jesus say?  How did He deal with this rejection?
(NIV) Luke 9:55 “But Jesus turned and rebuked them”

James and John had not yet understood Jesus’ purpose…He had come to save lives, not destroy them if they did not know Who He was!

(NASB) John 10:7-10 “So Jesus said to them again, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 ‘All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9 ‘I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10 ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

How can those who are without Christ as their Savior know of His love if I (or you) do not have the same attitude as Christ Jesus did for those who rejected Him in that Samaritan village?
Jesus then demonstrated what He wanted His disciples to learn and do when rejected:
(NIV) Luke 9:56 “and they went to another village.”

The attitude of Jesus is to be the attitude of His followers today…when we offer the truths and promises which Jesus gives and they are rejected…we are to go to others who will receive the wonderful salvation found in Christ Jesus alone.