Sermon Notes on James Part 2

There are a couple of passages in the gospels and one in the book of Acts where James shows up, either with John or by himself. Each of these passages gives us insight into the character of James.

The first is in Luke 9:51-56. Jesus has set His path towards Jerusalem and decided to take the quickest rout to it, which goes through the heart of Samaria. Jews traveling to Jerusalem usually took the long route around Samaria, but Jesus and the apsotles went right through. Unfortunately, the Samaritans refused them a VISA to get through. James and John were filled with outrage and demanded that something be done. They asked Jesus if they should call fire down from heaven to destroy the Samaritans.

They probably thought they had good historical precedent for this. Way back in 2 Kings 1, Elijah did exactly that...called down fire on some Samaritans in that very area and killed them. James and John thought they were on good historical grounds. Their motives were wrong...they used 'we' instead of 'you'. But their zeal to defend Christ was good.

Jesus' response to this request of theirs was to say, "For the Son of man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." Lovingkindness and mercy are virtues which are to be cultivated at least as much, if not more than zeal and passion.

Years later, Philip the evangelist (not the Apostle) had an amazing ministry among the Samaritans, bringing many of them to Christ. If the request of James and John had been answered, there might not have been any SAmaritans left to become believers.