Call Down Fire from Heaven Upon Them? - Luke 9:54

The beloved physician Luke wrote concerning Jesus, “it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem”, and in chapter nine and verse fifty-four of his book Luke shared how Jesus' disciples James and John ask Him, “will you that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them” where we read:

And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, will you that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

The verse reads, “And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when” or “and at the time and moment” “his disciples” which means “Jesus' students, pupils and attendants” “James” which refers to “Jesus' disciple whose name means supplanter” “and John” or “and Jesus' disciple whose name means Jehovah is a gracious giver” “saw this” which means “observed the rejection of the Samaritans”, “they said” or “James and John uttered, declared and proclaimed” the following words. Luke shared how Jesus' disciples “James and John” took notice of how the “Samaritans” responded to the envoy sent to them and presented the following question to Jesus.

The verse continues, “... Lord, will you that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?” Luke added the word, “Lord” which means “the One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”, “will you that we command” or “would you, Jesus, like us to order, bid, speak and bring word that” “fire to come down from heaven” which means “fiery fire descend from the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”, “and consume them” or “and devour, use up and destroy the Samaritans”, “even as Elias did” which means “in the same manner and likeness that Elijah performed”? Luke shared how “James and John” asked Jesus if He wanted them to “call down fire from heaven” to devour the “Samaritans” in the same way “Elijah” the prophet “called down” fire in the past.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we see the response of “James and John” to the Samaritans' rejection and refusal to allow Jesus and His companions to travel through their village. “James and John”, known as the “Sons of Thunder”, desired to “command fire” to come down from the sky and destroy all of them like Elijah the prophet of old did. (See 1 Kings 18). Jesus will respond to their question in the next verse, but for now perhaps those reading these words can relate to what Jesus' disciples were feeling. God's desire is to “save” people, not to destroy them, and even when they refuse to accept Him, He continues to be patient so they may change their minds. God loves people, and when they believe and trust in His Son Jesus, they align with His purpose and plan to save the world. If they refuse Him, He will wait for them to alter their thinking.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus answered, “you know not what manner of spirit you are of”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".