Luke 9:51-55 (ESV)
A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them.
There is no secret about the fact that in God’s Word we have outlined that the Jews did not care for the Samaritans. The Samaritans were half breeds. So, when Jesus was in one of their cities, who were not favorable to Jesus, the disciples wanted to call down God’s wrath on them. Yet, Jesus rebuked them. He wanted mercy on the Samaritans. The disciples just didn’t get it. Yet, they needed to know Jesus wanted to show mercy. Notice, later, what Jesus tells a lawyer asking about doing God’s will. I wonder if this following story happened just to re-emphasize to the disciples the desire to show mercy. Who was it that showed mercy to the one beat up on the side of the road:
Luke 10:33-37 (ESV)
But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
God wants us to show mercy. He does not want us to judge, that is God’s part. Our part is to show mercy. That is the point of Jesus’ life and ministry. Even on the cross He was showing mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. Judgment will come, but not from us. From God. Our job is to show mercy. This is the point of these stories.
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