Luke 9:51-56
On His way to Jerusalem, for what would be the final moments of His life, Jesus passes through several villages in Samaria. None of these villages receive Him with hospitality, which infuriates at least two of His disciples, James and John. These two “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17) ask Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven to consume the people, “even as Elijah did?” (Mark 10:54).
The precedent that they are working off of happened in the very land of Samaria in 2 Kings 1:10. The prophet Elijah was dwelling on a mountain-top when an army from Samaria came to enquire of him. He called down fire from heaven on them in order to prove that he was a prophet of God, and then did it to the follow-up army as well. James and John feel the rejection of the Samaritans toward Jesus and wish to prove to these people that their Savior is the very Son of God. What better way to prove that God’s power is on them than to do what Elijah did?
Jesus does not condemn the action of calling down fire by Elijah, but he does tell James and John that they do not know the manner of spirit that they are being influenced by. How could the manner of spirit in Elijah that called down fire from heaven be proper, but then it be the wrong influence in the disciples? In this passage, we see the change of God’s treatment toward humanity under the New Covenant.
God poured out His wrath and His judgment on mankind from Mt. Sinai all the way through the Old Testament. People died wholesale as God swung a sharp sword of justice through nations, towns and villages. When Jesus came, the Bible says that He brought “on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). This “peace” was not between rival nations, nor was the good will between men; but rather the peace was with God and the good will was “toward men” from God. In other words, when Jesus arrived, God was sending us an emissary saying, “The war is about to be over at the cross”. When Jesus said, “It is finished” that war ended!
The manner of the Holy Spirit under the New Covenant is not the destruction of men’s lives but the saving of them. God is not against us, for He has exhausted His anger in the body of Jesus at the cross. Now, because of the arrival, perfection, death and resurrection of Christ, God has had His justice appeased, and His love for mankind shines through because of the cross. It is out of God’s character to kill men now, for He killed His Son at Calvary. In fact, if God is killing men for sin and destroying lives for their rebellion, He must apologize to His Son for the cross; because Jesus was supposed to bear all of the judgment (John 12:32).
The Holy Spirit plays His role perfect: He sheds forth the love of God into every area of our hearts (Romans 5:4); He helps with our infirmities and sicknesses by interceding to the Father on our behalf (Romans 8:26); He convicts us of our righteousness, reminding us of who we are in Christ even when we fail (John 16:10) and He guides us into all truth (which is Jesus), (John 16:13).
In light of how proper His manners are, let’s not mix covenants and place the Holy Spirit in the role of murderer and destroyer. When the church falls into this pattern, she knows not what manner of spirit she is of (Luke 9:55).
On His way to Jerusalem, for what would be the final moments of His life, Jesus passes through several villages in Samaria. None of these villages receive Him with hospitality, which infuriates at least two of His disciples, James and John. These two “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17) ask Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven to consume the people, “even as Elijah did?” (Mark 10:54).
The precedent that they are working off of happened in the very land of Samaria in 2 Kings 1:10. The prophet Elijah was dwelling on a mountain-top when an army from Samaria came to enquire of him. He called down fire from heaven on them in order to prove that he was a prophet of God, and then did it to the follow-up army as well. James and John feel the rejection of the Samaritans toward Jesus and wish to prove to these people that their Savior is the very Son of God. What better way to prove that God’s power is on them than to do what Elijah did?
Jesus does not condemn the action of calling down fire by Elijah, but he does tell James and John that they do not know the manner of spirit that they are being influenced by. How could the manner of spirit in Elijah that called down fire from heaven be proper, but then it be the wrong influence in the disciples? In this passage, we see the change of God’s treatment toward humanity under the New Covenant.
God poured out His wrath and His judgment on mankind from Mt. Sinai all the way through the Old Testament. People died wholesale as God swung a sharp sword of justice through nations, towns and villages. When Jesus came, the Bible says that He brought “on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). This “peace” was not between rival nations, nor was the good will between men; but rather the peace was with God and the good will was “toward men” from God. In other words, when Jesus arrived, God was sending us an emissary saying, “The war is about to be over at the cross”. When Jesus said, “It is finished” that war ended!
The manner of the Holy Spirit under the New Covenant is not the destruction of men’s lives but the saving of them. God is not against us, for He has exhausted His anger in the body of Jesus at the cross. Now, because of the arrival, perfection, death and resurrection of Christ, God has had His justice appeased, and His love for mankind shines through because of the cross. It is out of God’s character to kill men now, for He killed His Son at Calvary. In fact, if God is killing men for sin and destroying lives for their rebellion, He must apologize to His Son for the cross; because Jesus was supposed to bear all of the judgment (John 12:32).
The Holy Spirit plays His role perfect: He sheds forth the love of God into every area of our hearts (Romans 5:4); He helps with our infirmities and sicknesses by interceding to the Father on our behalf (Romans 8:26); He convicts us of our righteousness, reminding us of who we are in Christ even when we fail (John 16:10) and He guides us into all truth (which is Jesus), (John 16:13).
In light of how proper His manners are, let’s not mix covenants and place the Holy Spirit in the role of murderer and destroyer. When the church falls into this pattern, she knows not what manner of spirit she is of (Luke 9:55).
