Introduction
This week, we are plopped in the middle of Luke’s Gospel. As I mentioned last week, we have mostly been in the Gospel of John for the last couple of months but now we are returning to the primary Gospel of this year, the Gospel of Luke. But rather than starting at the beginning of the Gospel, we find ourselves running along at 60mph, right to the middle where a lot is going on.
But the Gospel text this week really needs to be understood in context. Because without that context, there are some really questionable teachings for us to hold onto.
Narrative Context
From just our reading today, we learn that Jesus has come to Samaria, but it is on the way to Jerusalem. We hear that Jesus has “set his face toward Jerusalem.” Meaning that that is where he is being called. That is where he must go. That is where all of his attention must be directed. Toward Jerusalem. Because it is in Jerusalem where he will be betrayed, arrested, and crucified.
But first he and the disciples stop in Samaria.
Now it should be noted that there is some historical tension between Israel and Samaria. Long before, the Samaritans used to be a part of the Jewish Kingdom. But after a few wars there was a split and Samaria followed its own ruler and no longer saw Jerusalem as the center of faith but instead Mount Gerizim which was in Samaria.
So, Jesus and the disciples stop in Samaria. But Jesus’ face is set on Jerusalem. The place of worship for Israel. And so, seeing this, the Samaritans do not receive him. That is, they don’t offer him or his disciples’ hospitality. Rather than hosting them or feeding them, the Samaritans turn away from Jesus (and the disciples) and let them fend for themselves.
Truthfully, it’s kind of understandable. If Jesus isn’t being so considerate of them, why should the Samaritans be considerate of him?
A “Not So Proportional Response”
54When 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?”
Now, without any further context, James and John’s reaction may seem almost comical or cartoonish. The disciples are mildly offended and James and John fly off the handles. They are like Philly fans at any sporting event. Something mildly offends us, and we rain boos down upon the entire world. It seems almost comical, or at the very least outlandish. And I think that is somewhat at play in Luke’s writing. It is supposed to feel like a drastic escalation. Not a proportional response.
But there is more to the story that adds some discomfort here.
Earlier in this chapter is the Transfiguration, when Jesus, Peter, James and John go up onto the mountain and Jesus is transfigured before their eyes. They see Moses and Elijah. And they hear a voice from a cloud and said “This is my Son, my Chosen.” Then they come down from the mountain and Jesus heals a child with a demon. And then (just a few verses before this text) Jesus is talking with the disciples and tells them for the second time in Luke of being betrayed. “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands (9:44).”
James and John have just heard it confirmed by a voice from the clouds that Jesus is in fact the chosen one, the Messiah. Then moments later, they hear Jesus say that he is going to be betrayed into human hands. And now, here they are in Samaria, where there is always tension—if not outright conflict with those who used to be outright enemies of Israel—and they have just rejected Jesus.
James and John are terrified that this could be the moment. The moment when he will be betrayed, and they cannot let that happen. James and John have left everything behind. Their homes, their families, their well-being, and their comfort. In their mind, all they have is Jesus. And they are holding onto Jesus tightly and terrified that they could lose him.
But Jesus’ face was set toward Jerusalem. And Jesus rebukes them for their suggestion.
The Urgency of Following
Luke doesn’t linger on this much. And the scene quickly shifts. Jesus and the disciples continue on their way as they weren’t welcome in Samaria. But along the way, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59To another he said, “Follow me.” But the man said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
We quickly have a scene where three different travelers are all invited to follow Jesus. The first will follow Jesus wherever he goes. The second will follow after he buries his father. The third will follow after he says farewell to those at home.
But Jesus’ face was set towards Jerusalem.
This context matters. It gives the urgency that is required for us to understand what Jesus is saying to these people who want to follow but may not be able to commit fully at this moment.
To the first man who will follow Jesus anywhere he is saying, there are not going to be many easy days ahead. To the second and third, Jesus is not saying that caring for family doesn’t matter or that saying goodbyes and farewells don’t matter but that time is of the essence, and you won’t be able to hold onto what you’ve left behind. There is too much ahead of us to worry about what was left behind.
Holding onto. Holding back.
To oversimplify the message today, this is what is at the center of these two stories from our Gospel. Holding onto and holding back.
James and John are holding on tightly to Jesus afraid to lose him. The potential followers are holding onto different things (to comfort, to family, to a sense of home). None of these things sound bad. And in truth, they aren’t. Each of these are things that we long for and in many ways, are the promises of the Kingdom of God.
So, to be nuanced here, not all of this context directly applies to us. We are not on the road to Jerusalem. We are not being asked to leave our families or abandon our homes. We are not asked to let go of everything. However, this text is written for the ministry of the Christian movement. As disciples, we who have Chosen to follow Jesus, we are being asked to respond.
So how might we see this story in our context today?
Preaching Possibilities
Holding Onto. Holding Back.
What are the things that we are holding onto too tightly as the church?
Like James and John, I have heard the Church talk negatively about those who are not a part of our church, blaming society for not embracing us automatically. We lament that we could be successful and relevant if only people would start coming back to church or if we had prayer in schools.
Like James and John, we hold onto the Church as if it were Jesus. Not wanting to move forward because things are good as they are. We don’t want to go to Jerusalem because we don’t want to be confronted with the sin of today. We don’t want to face or talk about racism or bigotry. We don’t want to talk about human sexuality or civil rights. We don’t want to talk about politics or division. We don’t want to talk about misogyny, abuses of power, and we especially don’t want to talk about abuse in the Church.
Like the travelers, we hold onto things behind us, the past, the idea that if we could just return to yesteryear then everything would be okay again.
But Jesus’ face is set toward Jerusalem.
Beloved, Jesus is moving toward Jerusalem. The crucified God is in this world.
We can’t just divert our eyes and pretend that everything is fine. We can’t keep looking back and thinking that we will one day wake up and the world that we saw with rose tinted glasses is magically back in front of us. Looking forward toward where Jesus is heading means seeing the world as it is, broken and imperfect.
But in moving with Jesus, following him and not holding back, we will not only see the crucified God, but we will be with him in the hope of the resurrection too.
We will see new life spring up in this world. We will see lives changed. We will see transformation and healing. We will see hope of the Kingdom of God coming to this world.
But first we must follow Jesus. No turning back.
Micah Krey 
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