Stinging Rebuke

Have you ever noticed how we attach that word "stinging" with "rebuke?" Most rebukes do sting. They strike like a wasp in a very specific place and cause intense pain for a few minutes. They usually do not cause any major damage, but they get our attention. We know we have just been tagged and put on notice that we have strayed into taboo territory. Impulsiveness got James and John into trouble with Jesus. They demonstrated just the opposite spirit from Jesus. His resoluteness was based on a plan laid out before time began, and prepared for throughout centuries of history, and staged for months prior by Jesus Himself. Jesus' problem with His brothers who suggested He publicly go up to Jerusalem was that they had no clue of what they were suggesting. They simply got a "bright idea" and threw it out. Jesus was not taking random suggestions from the crowd regarding His kingdom business. He had a plan, and He was working it. He was deliberate and self-disciplined. They were off the cuff and impulsive and fleshly. So what does Divinity do when some person, some created being, tries to get a Divine Agenda off track. You rebuke it. Jesus did this with Peter in Matt.16 for thinking he should save Jesus from the cross. In this case Peter was told he did not have in mind the things of God but of men. Sting! The horse that tries to take off on its own gets the sting of the bit in its mouth. The dog on lease who tries to take off gets the sting of the collar drawing him back.

Impulsiveness in the kingdom is a BIG problem. So much has been done in the name of Jesus that was not "thought through" as to its kingdom centeredness. Historically this has included something like fire from heaven, though the fire is often from earth. Many of the so-called holy wars were nothing more than James and John's approach to deal with unbelief. It sounds like jihad. If we can't convert them we will kill them. That thinking deserves rebuke. But, most of us would not think of literally suggesting this approach. However, we might "torch" folks in other ways. We might allow the fire of our tongues (James 3) to burn other's down. We might kill with sarcasm. We might destroy with gossip. Jesus was not saying this Samaritan village was right. In fact He told Capernaum that had the miracles done there been done in Sodom, it would have repented long ago. That stings.

But, the biggest issue here is flesh versus Spirit. Flesh is impulsive. It wants some immediate gratification. It wants to feel good. James and John thought their idea would make Jesus and them feel good to see a village go up in flames as they walked off into the sunset. They didn't think it through. Spirit considers the implications and consequences of one's actions. If I do this or that what will the outcomes be. Can you imagine the front page headline of the Jerusalem Times: "Samaritan Village Torched By Jesus-Followers on March To Jerusalem." Sounds like Sherman's march to the sea during the civil war. Sounds like a good way to start a war. I am sure the next village Jesus sought lodging in would open up its doors to Him and His entourage! When would they get it. Jesus was about saving people and not destroying people. Now was a time of preserving life so that when Jesus came again in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who know not God and who do not obey the gospel, many could be spared. Now is our time for this. We might feel sometimes like we just need to "burn it down" and start over, but Today is the day of salvation."