They Went On

To Another Village

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. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face we set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.

Luke 9:51-56

The villagers had rejected Jesus. Jesus rebuked His disciples. People have to understand that Jesus came to save us, not to destroy us. We destroy ourselves. We are told not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good. We must leave vengeance with God.

Jesus commands us to treat difficult people with kindness and to seek to bring them to Him.

God’s wrath and mercy

are both seen in the

cross of Calvary.

Our Daily Bread – December 15, 2006