How To Believe You Can Tell Heaven To Rain Down Fire
“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?’” — Luke 9:54 (ESV)
The end of Luke chapter 9 we see Jesus and his disciples on their way to Jerusalem. As they came to a Samaritan village on their journey, Jesus sent messengers ahead to make preparations for their arrival.
In general, Samaritans and Jews don’t like each other. The people of the village didn’t want them to come when the messengers said they were on their way.
James and John ask Jesus in Luke 9:54 if they can level the town for him by calling down fire from heaven. They were wanting to defend the honor, or get revenge for the dishonor, of their teacher.
Jesus rebukes them in the next verse, and they head to another village. Some manuscripts add that Jesus says, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man came not to destroy people’s lives but to save them.”
Clearly James and John were missing the point of Jesus’ mission in walking around teaching and healing people.
